Statistical Tests for Sports Science Practitioners: Identifying Performance Gains in Individual Athletes.

ABSTRACT: Harry, JR, Hurwitz, J, Agnew, C, and Bishop, C. Statistical tests for sports science practitioners: identifying performance gains in individual athletes. J Strength Cond Res 38(5): e264-e272, 2024-There is an ongoing surge of sports science professionals within sports organizations. However, when seeking to determine training-related adaptations, sports scientists have demonstrated continued reliance on group-style statistical analyses that are held to critical assumptions not achievable in smaller-sample team settings. There is justification that these team settings are better suited for replicated single-subject analyses, but there is a dearth of literature to guide sports science professionals seeking methods appropriate for their teams. In this report, we summarize 4 methods' ability to detect performance adaptations at the replicated single-subject level and provide our assessment for the ideal methods. These methods included the model statistic, smallest worthwhile change, coefficient of variation (CV), and standard error of measurement (SEM), which were discussed alongside step-by-step guides for how to conduct each test. To contextualize the methods' use in practice, real countermovement vertical jump (CMJ) test data were used from 4 (2 females and 2 males) athletes who complete 5 biweekly CMJ test sessions. Each athlete was competing in basketball at the NCAA Division 1 level. We concluded that the combined application of the model statistic and CV methods should be preferred when seeking to objectively detect meaningful training adaptations in individual athletes. This combined approach ensures that the differences between the tests are (a) not random and (b) reflect a worthwhile change. Ultimately, the use of simple and effective methods that are not restricted by group-based statistical assumptions can aid practitioners when conducting performance tests to determine athlete adaptations.

An Eye on COVID: Hurricane Preparedness at a COVID-19 Alternative Care Site.

BACKGROUND: In March 2020, the Louisiana Department of Health activated the Medical Monitoring Station (MMS) in downtown New Orleans. This alternative care site is designed to decompress hospitals and nursing homes overwhelmed by the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. Given the city's historic vulnerability to hurricanes, planning for possible tropical weather events has been a priority for MMS leadership. METHODS: The planning process incorporated input from all sectors/agencies working at the facility, to ensure consistency and cohesion. The MMS Shelter-in-Place Plan (MSIPP) was created, and a comprehensive tabletop exercise was conducted. RESULTS: Six planning topics emerged as a result of the planning process and were used to create a comprehensive plan for sheltering-in-place. These topics address hurricane preparedness for patient care, interfacility coordination, wrap-around services, medical logistics, essential staffing, and incident command during a shelter-in-place scenario. CONCLUSIONS: The MSIPP created by the MMS helped to maximize patient safety and continuity of operations during a real-world event. Select pieces of the plan were activated to meet the needs and threat level of Tropical Storm Cristobal. This experience reinforced the need for originality, scalability, and flexibility in building emergency operations plans in the midst of an unprecedented pandemic.

Unconventional Care at a Convention Center: An Overview of Patient Focused Care at a COVID-19 Alternative Care Site in New Orleans.

In March 2020, the State of Louisiana opened an alternative care site at the New Orleans Convention Center, known as the Medical Monitoring Station (MMS). The facility was designed, constructed, and staffed to serve a population with basic medical needs as they recovered from COVID-19. As the MMS prepared to open, local hospitals indicated a greater need for assistance with patients requiring a higher acuity of care and populations unable to be discharged due to infection risks. In response to this, the capabilities of the facility were altered to accommodate primarily elderly patients, with significant comorbidities, requiring extensive care. This manuscript presents the demographics of the first 250 patients seen at the MMS, and describes the most critical policies/protocols, interventions, and resources that proved successful in adjusting to effectively serve its population.