Investigating Concussion Knowledge in US Born Versus Internationally Born Collegiate Student-Athletes in the United States.

OBJECTIVE: To compare concussion knowledge between US born and internationally born collegiate student-athletes. Furthermore, to investigate whether length of time in the United States impacted concussion knowledge. DESIGN: Survey. SETTING: Preparticipation physicals at a midwestern NAIA college. PARTICIPANTS: Three hundred one collegiate student-athletes. INTERVENTIONS: Demographic questionnaire and the Rosenbaum Concussion Knowledge and Attitudes Survey (RoCKAS). MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: t test was used to determine whether a difference in Concussion Knowledge Index (CKI) scores exists between US born and internationally born student-athletes. A one-way analysis of variance was used to determine significance for length of time in the United States. RESULTS: A statistically significant difference was found for CKI scores between US born (19.22 ± 2.38) and internationally born student-athletes (18.01 ± 2.57) (t = 3.895, P = 0.000). Analysis of variance demonstrated statistically significant difference for CKI scores (F2,300 = 13.883, P = 0.001). Post hoc analysis found significant differences in CKI scores between US born (19.22 ± 2.38) and internationally born student-athletes in the United States less than 2 years (17.31 ± 2.52) (P = 0.000), and between internationally born student-athletes in the United States 2 or more years (19.15 ± 2.25) and internationally born student-athletes in the United States less than 2 years (17.31 ± 2.52) (P = 0.002). CONCLUSION: Among this sample, being born in the United States and length of time in the United States contribute to student-athletes' concussion knowledge. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Standardized guidelines are needed to assist health care professionals in properly educating student-athletes about concussions as the recognition and management of concussions can be affected by a student-athlete's knowledge.

A randomized comparison study regarding the impact of short-duration, high-intensity exercise and traditional exercise on anthropometric and body composition measurement changes in post-menopausal women--A pilot study.

BACKGROUND: The mode and duration of exercise necessary to change body composition and reduce weight remains debatable. Menopause results in hormonal changes that preclude weight loss. This randomized pilot study compared the effects of short-duration, high-intensity interval training and traditional exercise on anthropometric and body composition measurement changes in post-menopausal women. OBJECTIVE: To compare the effects of short-duration, high-intensity interval training and traditional methods of exercise (walking) on anthropometric, body composition and body weight change over a 12-week period. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Subjects (N = 18) were post-menopausal, sedentary female volunteers, randomly assigned into one of two exercise groups. Both groups exercised five out of seven days for 12 weeks. The resistance group (n = 8) (54.3 ± 7.3 years; BMI = 28.0 ± 2.1 kg/m(2); mean ± SD) exercised for 15.0 ± 3.5 min, which consisted of five different exercise routines including upper and lower extremity, a cardio segment, yoga and abdominal exercises. The walkers (n = 10) (56.6 ± 5.2 years; BMI = 29.2 ± 2.6 kg/m(2); mean ± SD) exercised for 40.0 ± 5.0 min at 65% of their age-predicted maximum heart rate. Relative (%) body fat was measured via DEXA scan, along with five anthropometric measurements, all of which were taken prior to and after 12 weeks. Independent sample t-tests were probed for differences, p ≤ 0.05. RESULTS: No statistically significant changes were determined between the groups for pre-and post-measurements. CONCLUSIONS: The outcomes of this study provide a foundation for future comparisons of short-duration high-intensity interval training exercise and traditional exercise, or walking, on anthropometric and body composition measurement changes in sedentary, overweight, post-menopausal females over a 12-week period.