The Importance of Surrounding the Athlete's Heart with a Team.

Providing medical care for an athlete can be challenging in many aspects. One specific aspect is the athlete's cardiovascular system. Athletic training and physical activity certainly can improve cardiovascular health, but it can also cause cardiac adaptations and place athletes at risk for sudden cardiac arrest. When an athlete has cardiac symptoms, a concerning family history, abnormal cardiac testing, or an underlying cardiac condition, a wide range of professionals are needed to appropriately care for the athlete under evaluation.

Non-Cardiac Conditions that Mimic Cardiac Symptoms in Athletes.

When considering the variety of complaints an athlete can present with, chest pain is arguably the most concerning given the potential for catastrophic outcomes. Luckily, these do not comprise the majority of cases, and indeed, are quite rare. The bulk of presentations of athletes with chest pain are due to musculoskeletal, gastrointestinal, and pulmonary causes. Each and every healthcare provider who works closely with athletes must have a thorough understanding of contributing conditions that present as chest pain. Here, we explore some of the more prevalent causes of non-cardiac chest pain, classic presentations, and management considerations.

Are you missing a concussion by watching American football? Video analysis of ball location in a Division 1 football program.

OBJECTIVE: Action in a football game occurs quickly. Medical staff can miss a sport-related concussion (SRC) if they do not observe it directly. The objective of this study is to determine if SRCs occur more frequently at ball than away from ball during gameplay. Game-specific concussion statistics can enhance medical provider care of athletes. METHODS: We used gameplay videos of an NCAA Division I football program to analyze SRCs and determine the primary tackler or ball handler during each concussion play. We compared the relative risk of SRCs for the primary ball handlers/tacklers to that of the other 10 players on the same team during that play. RESULTS: Over 10 seasons, 26 SRCs occurred at ball for the primary ball handler/tackler position (0.22 SRCs/game) versus 16 away from ball (0.13 SRCs/game). The relative risk of an SRC according to exposure (at ball) vs. no exposure (away from ball) was 16.2 (CI 8.7-30.2, P < .05). Special teams had more SRCs away from ball than at ball, but this was not significant (relative risk 3.32, CI 0.90-12.3, P > .05). CONCLUSIONS: The study provides medical staff guidance to more efficiently identify in-game SRCs and supports evidence for rules changes.

Complementary and Alternative Medicine Prescribing Practices Among Sports Medicine Providers.

CONTEXT: The drive for a quick return to sport after injury can be great. Athletes look to their sports medicine provider for guidance on a speedy and effective recovery. The sports medicine physician has a number of different treatment options to consider when they turn to their medical armamentarium. One of those treatment choices is complementary and alternative medicine (CAM). Unfortunately, there is limited evidence for many of the CAM modalities. Furthermore, CAM prescribing practices among sports medicine physicians is unknown. The aim of this study is to determine the prescribing practices of CAM among physicians for common sports medicine pathologies. METHODS: An online survey of the prescribing practices of CAM by physician members of the American Medical Society for Sports Medicine. RESULTS: A total of 257 physicians answered the question on prescribing CAM for a response rate of 11%. Of those who responded, 88% prescribed at least one type of CAM in the last one year. The responders identified 23 different CAM modalities they prescribed. Of those modalities prescribed, chiropractic/osteopathic manipulation was the most common followed by acupuncture/electroacupuncture and yoga. Less commonly prescribed CAM included omega-3 fatty acids, riboflavin, and meditation. Providers utilized CAM for common sports medicine pathologies including ligamentous, tendinous and muscle injury, concussion, and low back pain among others. The survey participants believed many of these CAM modalities to be effective. CONCLUSIONS: Among responders, the prescribing prevalence of at least one CAM therapy was high. Sports medicine physicians utilized a number of different CAM modalities to treat common sports medicine pathologies.

The medical observer in American football: a survey of use and efficacy.

OBJECTIVES: The growing concern over player safety and long-term health effects of sport-related concussion (SRC) led the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) to implement the medical observer, whose primary job is to identify SRCs not seen by sideline medical staff. The primary aim of this survey was to determine if the MO identifies SRCs the sideline medical staff missed during gameplay. METHODS: The authors distributed a 19-item questionnaire to all ACC athletic departments that assessed for SRCs or non-concussion injuries that were detected by the MO during the 2015-2016 ACC football season. RESULTS: Nineteen MOs completed the survey accounting for coverage of 56% of the total halves played by all ACC teams. A call to the field for concerns of an SRC carried a significantly higher risk of SRC diagnosis than no call to the field (RR 400.1, CI 244.6-654.1, P < .001). Four SRCs were identified by an MO that were not seen by the sideline medical staff. CONCLUSIONS: The MO detects SRCs that are not seen by the sideline medical staff. The survey also showed many ACC teams used the MO as a secondary injury observer. Each MO should be provided with the best available tools, communication, and viewing angles.

Video Analysis of Concussion Exposures in a National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I Football Team.

BACKGROUND: Research into improving player safety of sport-related concussion (SRC) in American football has been an ongoing endeavor. In an attempt to better understand the incidence of SRCs in American football, research has focused on the characteristics of SRC during gameplay. Determining SRC specifics and assessing them quantitatively can help identify high-risk scenarios and predict exposure risk. PURPOSE: To identify and assess the incidence of SRCs in a National Collegiate Athletic Association football team by comparing field location, player positions, collision partners, and player cues. STUDY DESIGN: Descriptive epidemiology study. METHODS: We used physician sideline reports of diagnosed concussions from a Division I football team from September 2010 to December 2018. Game videos were analyzed to identify the field location where the SRC occurred, collision partner, and player behavior postconcussion. The incidence of in-game SRCs by position was also assessed. We used the "words of estimative probability" model to categorize each concussion as certain, almost certain, probable, or even on the basis of our confidence in identifying them using game film. RESULTS: This study examined 44 SRCs that occurred over 9 seasons. The SRC incidence was significantly higher in the middle defense (5-20 yards from the line of scrimmage) compared with all other field locations (relative risk, 2.46; 95% CI, 1.14-5.29; P < .05). In-game collision partners were most commonly defensive backs. The most common player cue was a hand to helmet/face mask. The positions with the highest SRC incidence by athlete-exposure, game position, and position play belonged to the defensive backs, wide receivers, and running backs. CONCLUSION: The middle defense had a significantly higher incidence of SRCs than all other field locations. We pose a new method to categorize concussions during video analysis by using words of estimative probability. Knowledge of SRC gameplay characteristics can potentially guide the medical staff and medical observer to better identify them.

Osteopenia and Osteoporosis in Female Athletes.

Disorders of bone density are especially prevalent among athletic women. The severity of bone loss ranges from osteopenia to frank osteoporosis. In female athletes, a higher incidence of osteoporosis is due to a decreased rate of bone accretion in youth, often as a result of hormonal deficiency and/or excessive exercise. Low bone mass poses a particular challenge for athletes because it predisposes to stress-related bone injuries and increases the risk of osteoporosis and insufficiency fractures with aging. This article reviews the pathophysiology of bone thinning in premenopausal and postmenopausal women, the impact of exercise, and the treatment options presently available.

Watersport hands.

Aquagenic syringeal acrokeratoderma is a newly described condition of the palms and soles characterized by hypopigmented papules and plaques, elicited after submersion in water. Symptoms include a burning pain and a tightening sensation in the palms, as well as hyperhidrosis. Initially thought to be rare, its frequent citation in the literature points to a more common entity. It is more often found in young women and has been linked to a number of medications and illnesses, including nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs and cystic fibrosis. It is typically self-limiting, but certain medications such as topical aluminum chloride or salicylic acid ointment have been found to be an effective treatment option. This case details a collegiate-level coxswain who presented to the university athletic training room with a typical presentation of aquagenic syringeal acrokeratoderma. For an aquatic athlete, aquagenic syringeal acrokeratoderma can be a distressing condition that can limit training and athletic participation. As such, the sports medicine physician should be knowledgeable about aquagenic syringeal acrokeratoderma to provide effective counseling and treatment options for the athlete.

Cardiovascular screening and the elite athlete: advances, concepts, controversies, and a view of the future.

This article addresses programmatic cardiovascular screening and evaluation of the elite athlete at the intercollegiate, national team, professional, and Olympic levels. Although much of this content may apply to high-school and recreational sports at large, it is not specifically designed to address athletes participating in all sports activities.

The international athlete--advances in management of jet lag disorder and anti-doping policy.

To perform at the highest level of international competition, athletes need to maximize rest during long travel, and expeditiously overcome the detrimental effects of "jet lag" (JL). The negative effects of JL may be alleviated by adopting a multimodality approach, including the judicious use of melatonin and other pharmacologic agents to aid re-entrainment and improve sleep characteristics. Strict compliance with anti-doping policy is pivotal before and during competition. There have been several recent updates regarding the use of selected medications, which mandate constant vigilance by sports medicine personnel to both evaluate drug efficacy and judiciously prescribe approved medications. It is critical that medical staff maintain familiarity and awareness on a continual basis to effectively educate athletes and support staff.

Cost and yield of adding electrocardiography to history and physical in screening Division I intercollegiate athletes: a 5-year experience.

BACKGROUND: Electrocardiographic screening of intercollegiate athletes is controversial because the costs and yield are not well defined. Both the American Heart Association (AHA) and the European Society of Cardiology (ESC) have different criteria for screening, partly because the populations being screened are different. OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to determine the cost and yield of a 5-year ECG screening program at a United States Division I college. METHODS: At the University of Virginia, all 1,473 competitive athletes over the course of 5 years were screened with history and physical and with ECGs using ESC guidelines with follow-up testing as dictated by clinical symptoms and ECG findings. RESULTS: History and physical alone uncovered five significant cardiac abnormalities. ECGs were abnormal in 275 (19%), resulting in 359 additional tests. Additional testing confirmed eight significant cardiac abnormalities that were not found by history and physical: 1 bicuspid aortic valve, 4 rapidly conducting accessory pathways, 1 long QT patient, 1 with frequent premature ventricular contractions and low ejection fraction, and 1 with frequent premature ventricular contractions but normal ejection fraction. No cases of hypertrophic cardiomyopathy were found. Total cost of the program was US $894,870. Cost of history and physical screening alone was $343,725 or $68,745 per finding. The marginal cost of adding ECG screening, including resulting tests and procedures. was US$551,145 or US$68,893 per additional finding. CONCLUSION: ECG screening of U.S. college athletes can uncover significant cardiac pathology not discovered by history and physical alone. Although ECG screening also results in many false positives resulting in additional tests, the overall cost per diagnosis of adding ECG screening is similar to that of history and physical screening alone.

The daily management of athletes with diabetes.

The unique demands of exercise and competition can predispose diabetic athletes to harmful complications. A basic understanding of glucose metabolism during exercise, nutritional adequacy, blood glucose control, medications, and management of on-field complications is important for medical personnel who care for diabetic athletes on a daily basis. Diabetic athletes are best managed by "individualized"" preventive and treatment algorithms that should be developed by a team of medical professionals including the athletic trainer, sports nutritionist, and physician.

Community-associated methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus.

Methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), is a problematic infection which is becoming more common in a variety of athletic related environments. Early recognition, diagnosis, and timely management of infection can help minimize the severity of infection and decrease the rate of transmission. Since most sports physical therapists typically lack adequate knowledge and ability to identify cases of MRSA infection, the pur-pose of this review is to provide a background for associated risk factors, recognition, treatment, and prevention of community associated-MRSA in athletic environments.

Allergic disorders in the athlete.

Allergic diseases are common in athletes. As such, sports medicine practitioners will be involved in the management of allergic diseases on a nearly daily basis. Appreciating the wide array of allergic manifestations in this active population is essential to their accurate and efficient treatment. Although the bulk of allergic disease in athletes is mild, some allergic manifestations are far more serious and even potentially life-threatening. Aggressive and thoughtful allergy management should ensure that all athletes can continue to compete safely and at the highest level possible.

Training room management of medical conditions: sports gastroenterology.

Gastrointestinal (GI) illnesses are common in athletes. Various causes include adverse physiologic adaptations of the gut during exercise; excess ingestion of carbohydrate drinks, alcohol, and anti-inflammatory medications; emotional stressors; exposure to pathogens in closed environments and during travel; trauma; and abdominal wall pressure overload. Unfortunately, evidence-based management of GI illnesses in athletes is limited because most studies have compared various GI illnesses between different sports, rather than comparing athletes to nonathletes. This article reviews the evidence that is available specifically relating to etiology, pathophysiology, clinical presentation, relevant differential diagnoses, acute management, and recommendations for specialist consultation of various GI illnesses in the training-room setting.

Exercise considerations in hypertension, obesity, and dyslipidemia.

Sports medicine practitioners who care for a wide array of athletes and active individuals will consistently face issues regarding chronic cardiovascular diseases and their associated risk factors. Among these, hypertension, obesity, and dyslipidemia are common clinical conditions that may be encountered even amongst elite caliber athletes. Consequently, those entrusted with the care of this active population must recognize the presence of these disorders and feel comfortable with their management in the face of continued sports or exercise participation. This article reviews the pathophysiology of these conditions as they relate to athletes and outlines the value of continued exercise in the management of each of these entities while addressing the specific and unique treatment needs of active individuals.