A Team of Champions: LSU Athletic Trainers, Strength & Conditioning Coaches, and Sports Dietitian

The collaborative relationship of the LSU Athletic Trainers, Strength & Conditioning Coaches, and Sports Dietitian is unquestionably one of the most crucial aspects of ensuring the health and success of all student-athletes. These professionals work hand in hand on a daily basis, utilizing their expertise in order to: Prevent and Treat injuries/illness; Build strength and Enhance stamina both physically and mentally; and Educate and Promote optimal sports nutrition and dietary habits.

Read more about the team effort of the LSU Athletic Trainers, Strength & Conditioning Coaches, and Sports Dietitian in the LSU Daily Reveille: CLICK HERE 

Synthetic Marijuana

BIRMINGHAM, Alabama - Like countless other col­lege basketball players, Lamar Jack couldn't wait for the 2012 season to begin.The redshirt freshman forward was working out with his Anderson (S.C.) University teammates last September, going through preseason conditioning drills, when something went terribly wrong.
After complaining of cramps and blurred vision, Jack collapsed. He was rushed to the emergency room, where his body tem­perature was extremely el­evated.
Four days later, he died at the age of 19.
After an autopsy, Ander­son County coroner Greg Shore told the Anderson In­dependent Mail that Jack's death was the result of "acute drug toxicity (that) led to multiple organ failure."
Toxicology tests revealed that Jack had ingested the chemical JWH-018, which is used to make synthetic marijuana.

For more on this story by Kevin Scarbinsky of the Birmingham News, click here.

Coming Soon...New i-Tunes App

Pennington and tech partner launch website, app targeting body image issues

A new Web-based platform and smartphone app designed to promote healthy body image, as well as address eating disorders and obesity prevention, was unveiled today at Pennington Biomedical Research Center. The new platform, called Emer.ge, and the app, called The Body Image Voice, were launched today by Body Evolution Technologies in collaboration with Pennington. "The vision of Emer.ge is to empower individuals to shift focus from unrealistic appearance ideals and move toward health, balance, and optimal performance," says Dr. Tiffany Stewart, director of the Behavior Technology Laboratory at Pennington and co-founder/chief scientific officer of Body Evolution Technologies. "It seems basic, but science supports the idea that until we regard our bodies better, we won't treat them better," she says. The Body Image Voice app focuses on a single component of body image: the role media and advertising play in shaping our ideals of health and beauty. App users rate the impact of images and ads they see to assess which messages they think are helpful or harmful. The app will soon be available as a free download in the iTunes store. Check out the website here for more information and demos on how the website and app work.

Baton Rouge Business Report Story
May 2, 2012

Death of Teen: Synthetic Marijuana Takes Another Life

A recent story on msnbc.com shared the story of a 13-year old boy who tragically died after needing a lung transplant brought on by use of synthetic marijuana. it is just another example of the dangers we face when using these types of drugs. We know this is a man-made drug that is labeled not for human consumption for a reason. It's side effects are very random from person to person and use to use. Reports of psychosis, loss of appetite, very rapid heart rate and elevated blood pressure as well as heat intolerance are just a few of the symptoms that have been noted after even single use. Click the link below to read the story of this teenager whose life was cut short by the use of synthetic marijuana.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/45062477

Synthetic Marijuana: Serious Consequences

Use of synthetic marijuana has been discussed within the LSU Athletic Department for some time now. Early warnings regarding the legality and dangers of smoking synthetic marijuana have been clearly outlined within LSU's ADAP Substance Abuse Policy. It is clear that this man-made product is very dangerous, having very negative consequences on one's ability to perform in the classroom and perform at high levels athletically. While we have heard cases of random deaths from the use of synthetic marijuana, it hit fairly close to home with the death of a Division I Men's Basketball player from Anderson University in South Carolina. Click the link below to read the details of this tradegy.

http://www.foxcarolina.com/story/15706199/coroner-synthetic-pot-killed-anderson-university-basketball-player

Who Knows The Scoop? Reflections On My Open Door Policy...

Why athletic trainers know more than coaches...
Published on May 30, 2010
http://www.psychologytoday.com/
Author: Brian Thompkins; Yale University Soccer Coach

If you want to get the scoop, spend some time with your athletic trainer. For coaches and support personnel, the wealth of knowledge that an athletic trainer may be able to offer could be invaluable to the success of the program. In this article written by Head Soccer Coach John Thompkins, he uncovers the truth that many athletic trainers know to be true...we do more than just tape ankles! -Shelly Mullenix, MS, ATC

I have always maintained an open door policy in my office and, except for the occasional confab that requires privacy, it literally stands open to the world all day every day. The grandiose intention of this policy is to be welcoming to my student athletes and to be available if they need advice, support, counsel or just want to sit down and chat. In essence it is my way of symbolically saying: "Bring me your troubles and concerns; I care about you and I'm here to help." So why, given this type of laudable magnanimity, do so few players, of their own volition, ever come through the door?

Daphne is a certified athletic trainer. She has worked here for more than thirty years and is one of a team of trainers and interns that function in a loud and crowded room surrounded by athletes of all shapes and sizes. In direct contrast to me, when it comes to knowing the troubles and concerns of my athletes, she knows all. Daphne knows who is struggling in school and why; she knows who was out late on any given night of the week; she knows who hooked-up with somebody else's girlfriend at a party; she knows who's mad, who's sad and who's unhappy. In reality, although I generally have an inkling of what is going on, I know about half the juicy or sometimes gory details that she knows about my athletes.

Why is it that coaches like me are not in the loop with more information? After all, when we recruit kids out of high school we develop a palpable bond and they always arrive on campus so gung-ho and excited to have the opportunity to get a great education and play high-level soccer under my stewardship. There is typically a reasonable degree of closeness that brings with it optimism for a strong personal relationship.Once they arrive at school however, most athletes' perception of that connection with the coach becomes altered as the relationship morphs from personal to pragmatic. The coach that spent so much time traveling across the country to watch them play, getting to know them and their family, calling and writing them to come to the school, is now on the other side of some sort of moat of undergrad coolness; a divide that often lacks hostility but is nonetheless an unspoken prerequisite of many an athlete. It is no longer quite so acceptable to be close with the coach because, in spite of the fact that they may be a good person with whom they have close ties, they still bear the title of Head Coach and, in the world of college athletes and adolescent culture, that necessitates maintaining, or at least creating the perception of, some distance.

For many students, particularly upperclassmen (who then in turn influence the newcomers), the coach comes to be viewed by their title or position rather than by the content or effect their personality and although the pre-college relationship is rarely completely lost with a student, it begins to revolve around an altered axis. Over the years I have seen that my reality is similar to that of almost every other college coach and I have come to accept that I will always be looked at in a "coach-first, person-second" manner by my athletes and consequently, in spite of my best efforts, the threshold of my open door will likely remain infrequently crossed, except in the case of dire need or emergency.

Thank goodness then for Daphne and the training room! She has told me that once within the secure confines of that room and while getting ankles taped or muscles heated, athletes will, with minimal prompting, talk openly and candidly about anything and everything from school to sports to their personal lives. She and the other trainers become almost invisible to them and the students have little compunction about the bawdy or self-incriminating content or form of their discussions with her or with each other. It is by turns a place of confession, explanation, and revelation and it clearly serves as an opportunity for the sort of therapeutic purging and release that does not come quite so easily in the office of the coach. It is an environment that proves that young student athletes value the chance to talk and share with adults but not necessarily with those they view as having iconic authority roles.Trainers are exempt because of their "invisibility" and because they are not typically viewed as figures of authority (although Daphne can certainly lay down the law when it's required!); similarly, assistant coaches may also have more freedom of access because they tend to be younger and usually seen, rightly or wrongly, as less authoritative than head coaches.

While the potential exists for this to be an undermining or counter-productive situation wherein information is hidden and damaging secrets kept, I view it as anything but. Experience has taught me to keep my door open but to not be offended or surprised if the flow of students walking through it is minimal and infrequent; consequently if and when I need to meet with somebody I simply schedule a time for them to come in and they are invariably happy to oblige.
However, it has also taught me that what a trainer knows about your players and their lives is invaluable and that the quality of my relationship with the trainer will determine how much or how little useful information I come to find out. Daphne and I have worked together for many years and she has a highly trustworthy filter regarding what I need to know and what I don't. I respect her privileged position and try to never abuse it because she has the hard-earned smarts to know what is important and what is trivial and ultimately has the best interests of all concerned at heart.

It is undeniably challenging for a Head Coach, especially when young and idealistic, to come to terms with being viewed first and foremost as an iconic role or job title rather than be seen as the open and supportive person that you might wish they would see. Some go to great lengths to "pal up" to their athletes which can have the effect of eroding propriety and respect on both

sides. The privilege of leadership brings unwanted distance, even for the most beloved manager, director, chief, teacher, superintendent or even coach; it goes, as they say, with the territory and you can't force people to love you.

Somebody once told me that it takes a college athlete ten years to appreciate their college coach and to finally "get it." After twenty-plus years I still somewhat ruefully await the enlightenment of some of my former charges while being pleased to note that many others have required far less than a decade to understand and appreciate that their experiences were not just about having fun with their teammates, wins and losses and playing time but also about connectedness and mentored life lessons from coaches and other adults, often forged through struggle, sacrifice and adversity. So, as I look forward to a new school year in the fall, my open door policy and my good intentions will remain. However, Daphne will not; she is heading into a well-deserved retirement. Hopefully she will leave her cloak of invisibility and her legacy of great wisdom in the training room for whomever takes her place.

Vegetarianism: A Cause For Concern

While many adolescents and young adults opt for a vegetarian diet because of its healthful effects on the body and digestive processes, a recent study in the Journal of the American Dietetic Association discusses the possibility that a vegetarian diet may be at the root of a more serious issue, an eating disorder.

Click on the link belowto read the report entitled: The Dark Side of Vegetarianism
http://www.medicinenet.com/script/main/art.asp?articlekey=99031

Antidepression Medications: Are There Side Effects?

Antidepressants may cause mild and, usually, temporary side effects (sometimes referred to as adverse effects) in some people. Typically these are annoying, but not serious. However, any unusual reactions or side effects or those that interfere with functioning should be reported to the doctor immediately.

The most common side effects of tricyclic antidepressants, and ways to deal with them, are:

• Dry mouth- It is helpful to drink sips of water; chew sugarless gum; clean teeth daily.


• Constipation- Bran cereals, prunes, fruit, and vegetables should be in the diet.


• Bladder problems- Emptying the bladder may be troublesome, and the urine stream may not be as strong as usual; the doctor should be notified if there is marked difficulty or pain.


• Sexual problems- Sexual functioning may change; if worrisome, it should be discussed with the doctor. There is a solution.


• Blurred Vision- This will pass soon and will not usually necessitate new glasses.


• Dizziness- Rising from the bed or chair slowly is helpful.


• Drowsiness- As a daytime problem this usually passes soon. A person feeling drowsy or sedated should not drive or operate heavy equipment. The more sedating antidepressants are generally taken at bedtime to help sleep and minimize daytime drowsiness.

The newer antidepressants have different types of side effects:

• Headache- This will usually go away.


• Nausea- This is also temporary, but even when it occurs, it is transient after each dose.


• Nervousness and insomnia (trouble falling asleep or waking often during the night)- These may occur during the first few weeks; dosage reductions or time will usually resolve them.


• Agitation (feeling jittery)- If this happens for the first time after the drug is taken and is more than transient, the doctor should be notified.


• Sexual problems- The doctor should be consulted if the problem is persistent or worrisome.

http://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/publications/depression/treatment.shtml

Depression: Do Medications Work?

There are several types of antidepressant medications used to treat depressive disorders. These include newer medications chiefly the selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) the tricyclics, and the monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs). The SSRIs and other newer medications that affect neurotransmitters such as dopamine or norepinephrine generally have fewer side effects than tricyclics. Sometimes the doctor will try a variety of antidepressants before finding the most effective medication or combination of medications. Sometimes the dosage must be increased to be effective. Although some improvements may be seen in the first few weeks, antidepressant medications must be taken regularly for 3 to 4 weeks (in some cases, as many as 8 weeks) before the full therapeutic effect occurs.

Patients often are tempted to stop medication too soon. They may feel better and think they no longer need the medication. Or they may think the medication isn’t helping at all. It is important to keep taking medication until it has a chance to work, though side effects may appear before antidepressant activity does. Once the individual is feeling better, it is important to continue the medication for at least 4 to 9 months to prevent a recurrence of the depression. Some medications must be stopped gradually to give the body time to adjust. Never stop taking an antidepressant without consulting the doctor for instructions on how to safely discontinue the medication. For individuals with bipolar disorder or chronic major depression, medication may have to be maintained indefinitely.

Antidepressant drugs are not habit-forming. However, as is the case with any type of medication prescribed for more than a few days, antidepressants have to be carefully monitored to see if the correct dosage is being given. The doctor will check the dosage and its effectiveness regularly.

http://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/publications/depression/treatment.shtml

Depression: Is There a Treatment?

The first step to getting appropriate treatment for depression is a physical examination by a physician. Certain medications as well as some medical conditions such as a viral infection can cause the same symptoms as depression, and the physician should rule out these possibilities through examination, interview, and lab tests. If a physical cause for the depression is ruled out, a psychological evaluation should be done, by the physician or by referral to a psychiatrist or psychologist.

A good diagnostic evaluation will include a complete history of symptoms, i.e., when they started, how long they have lasted, how severe they are, whether the patient had them before and, if so, whether the symptoms were treated and what treatment was given. The doctor should ask about alcohol and drug use, and if the patient has thoughts about death or suicide. Further, a history should include questions about whether other family members have had a depressive illness and, if treated, what treatments they may have received and which were effective.

Last, a diagnostic evaluation should include a mental status examination to determine if speech or thought patterns or memory have been affected, as sometimes happens in the case of a depressive or manic-depressive illness.

Treatment choice will depend on the outcome of the evaluation. There are a variety of antidepressant medications and psychotherapies that can be used to treat depressive disorders. Some people with milder forms may do well with psychotherapy alone. People with moderate to severe depression most often benefit from antidepressants. Most do best with combined treatment: medication to gain relatively quick symptom relief and psychotherapy to learn more effective ways to deal with life’s problems, including depression. Depending on the patient’s diagnosis and severity of symptoms, the therapist may prescribe medication and/or one of the several forms of psychotherapy that have proven effective for depression.

http://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/publications/depression/treatment.shtml

Males & Depression: Are The Signs & Symptoms Different?

Although men are less likely to suffer from depression than women, 6 million men in the United States are affected by the illness. Men are less likely to admit to depression, and doctors are less likely to suspect it. The rate of suicide in men is four times that of women, though more women attempt it. In fact, after age 70, the rate of men’s suicide rises, reaching a peak after age 85.

Depression can also affect the physical health in men differently from women. A new study shows that, although depression is associated with an increased risk of coronary heart disease in both men and women, only men suffer a high death rate.

Men’s depression is often masked by alcohol or drugs, or by the socially acceptable habit of working excessively long hours. Depression typically shows up in men not as feeling hopeless and helpless, but as being irritable, angry, and discouraged; hence, depression may be difficult to recognize as such in men. Even if a man realizes that he is depressed, he may be less willing than a woman to seek help. Encouragement and support from concerned family members can make a difference. In the workplace, employee assistance professionals or worksite mental health programs can be of assistance in helping men understand and accept depression as a real illness that needs treatment.

http://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/publications/depression/causes-of-depression.shtml

Females and Depression: Are They More Vulnerable?

Women experience depression about twice as often as men. Many hormonal factors may contribute to the increased rate of depression in women particularly such factors as menstrual cycle changes, pregnancy, miscarriage, postpartum period, pre-menopause, and menopause. Many women also face additional stresses such as responsibilities both at work and home, single parenthood, and caring for children and for aging parents.

A recent NIMH study showed that in the case of severe premenstrual syndrome (PMS), women with a preexisting vulnerability to PMS experienced relief from mood and physical symptoms when their sex hormones were suppressed. Shortly after the hormones were re-introduced, they again developed symptoms of PMS. Women without a history of PMS reported no effects of the hormonal manipulation.

Many women are also particularly vulnerable after the birth of a baby. The hormonal and physical changes, as well as the added responsibility of a new life, can be factors that lead to postpartum depression in some women. While transient “blues” are common in new mothers, a full-blown depressive episode is not a normal occurrence and requires active intervention.

Treatment by a sympathetic physician and the family’s emotional support for the new mother are prime considerations in aiding her to recover her physical and mental well-being and her ability to care for and enjoy the infant.

http://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/publications/depression/causes-of-depression.shtml

Depression: Why am I Feeling So Bad?

Causes of Depression

Some types of depression run in families, suggesting that a biological vulnerability can be inherited. This seems to be the case with bipolar disorder. Studies of families in which members of each generation develop bipolar disorder found that those with the illness have a somewhat different genetic makeup than those who do not get ill. However, the reverse is not true: Not everybody with the genetic makeup that causes vulnerability to bipolar disorder will have the illness. Apparently additional factors, possibly stresses at home, work, or school, are involved in its onset.

In some families, major depression also seems to occur generation after generation. However, it can also occur in people who have no family history of depression. Whether inherited or not, major depressive disorder is often associated with changes in brain structures or brain function.

People who have low self-esteem, who consistently view themselves and the world with pessimism or who are readily overwhelmed by stress, are prone to depression. Whether this represents a psychological predisposition or an early form of the illness is not clear.

In recent years, researchers have shown that physical changes in the body can be accompanied by mental changes as well. Medical illnesses such as stroke, a heart attack, cancer, Parkinson’s disease, and hormonal disorders can cause depressive illness, making the sick person apathetic and unwilling to care for his or her physical needs, thus prolonging the recovery period. Also, a serious loss, difficult relationship, financial problem, or any stressful (unwelcome or even desired) change in life patterns can trigger a depressive episode. Very often, a combination of genetic, psychological, and environmental factors is involved in the onset of a depressive disorder. Later episodes of illness typically are precipitated by only mild stresses, or none at all.

http://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/publications/depression/causes-of-depression.shtml

Depression: Signs & Symptoms

Not everyone who is depressed or manic experiences every symptom. Some people experience a few symptoms, some many. Severity of symptoms varies with individuals and also varies over time.

Signs & Symptoms may include:

• Persistent sad, anxious, or “empty” mood
• Feelings of hopelessness, pessimism
• Feelings of guilt, worthlessness, helplessness
• Loss of interest or pleasure in hobbies and activities that were once enjoyed, including sex
• Decreased energy, fatigue, being “slowed down”
• Difficulty concentrating, remembering, making decisions
• Insomnia, early-morning awakening, or oversleeping
• Appetite and/or weight loss or overeating and weight gain
• Thoughts of death or suicide; suicide attempts
• Restlessness, irritability
• Persistent physical symptoms that do not respond to treatment, such as headaches, digestive disorders, and chronic pain

http://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/publications/depression/symptoms.shtml

Are There Different Types of Depression?

Depressive disorders come in different forms, just as is the case with other illnesses such as heart disease. The three of the most common types of depressive disorders are described below. However, within these types there are variations in the number of symptoms, their severity, and persistence.

1. Major depression is manifested by a combination of symptoms that interfere with the ability to work, study, sleep, eat, and enjoy once pleasurable activities. Such a disabling episode of depression may occur only once but more commonly occurs several times in a lifetime.
2. A less severe type of depression, dysthymia, involves long-term, chronic symptoms that do not disable, but keep one from functioning well or from feeling good. Many people with dysthymia also experience major depressive episodes at some time in their lives.
3. Another type of depression is bipolar disorder, also called manic-depressive illness. Not nearly as prevalent as other forms of depressive disorders, bipolar disorder is characterized by cycling mood changes: severe highs (mania) and lows (depression). Sometimes the mood switches are dramatic and rapid, but most often they are gradual. When in the depressed cycle, an individual can have any or all of the symptoms of a depressive disorder. When in the manic cycle, the individual may be overactive, overtalkative, and have a great deal of energy. Mania often affects thinking, judgment, and social behavior in ways that cause serious problems and embarrassment. For example, the individual in a manic phase may feel elated, full of grand schemes that might range from unwise business decisions to romantic sprees. Mania, left untreated, may worsen to a psychotic state.

http://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/publications/depression/what-is-a-depressive-disorder.shtml