Kasee Hildenbrand

Athletic Status and Academic Performance and Persistence at a NCAA Division I University

Abstract There is growing concern over student-athlete academic performance at Division I schools, but insight has been plagued by data limitations. After reviewing the various theoretical frameworks, this study examines the relationship between athletics and academics with data that overcome many of the concerns previously voiced in the literature. The results indicate that athletic participation at Division I schools is positively associated with academic performance. Athletes appear both more likely to graduate and to have higher GPAs than their non-athlete counterparts. In contrast to much of the literature, the results have positive implications for those concerned about the academics of college athletes. The study adds to a small but growing literature that highlights the benefits — not drawbacks — of intercollegiate sport.

Physical Education Teachers’ Awareness and Understanding of Concussions, and Concussion Policies and Protocols

ABSTRACT Purpose: Our primary aim was to determine physical educators’ current level of understanding of concussion symptoms and response guidelines. Method: Participants included 404 in-service physical educators (137 male, 266 female, 1 other) recruited through 3 SHAPE America – Society of Health and Physical Educators communication outlets. Participants were asked to complete an online survey. The survey included 8 questions related to previous concussion training, 6 items to measure awareness of concussion policies, 20 items related to concussion symptoms, and 14 items for concussion knowledge. Analyses included descriptive statistics and 2 × 2 (Coaching × Concussion) factorial analyses of variance to examine differences in study variables by coaching status and participants’ personal concussion experiences. Results: Participants reported they did not have any formal role or responsibility related to concussion management, and more than half reported their districts did not require concussion training. Nevertheless, many physical educators were receiving training (n = 291, 72%). Participants who also coached were more aware of concussion policies and systems than were their counterparts, but there were no differences related to concussion facts. Conclusion: School districts are generally not requiring concussion management training for physical education teachers or giving them specific responsibilities in the management process, yet many physical educators are getting trained. This training often occurs online and may be required for secondary responsibilities such as coaching. Participants reported being aware of concussion policies and procedures but were less likely to agree that this awareness has resulted in changes in how they teach physical education. Participants also knew more about concussion facts than about the legitimacy of symptoms.

Laboratory and field evaluation of a small form factor head impact sensor in un-helmeted play:

Head impact sensors are increasingly used to quantify the frequency and magnitude of head impacts in sports. A dearth of information exists regarding head impact in un-helmeted sport, despite the substantial number of concussions experienced in these sports. This study evaluated the performance of one small form factor head impact sensor in both laboratory and field environments. In laboratory tests, sensor performance was assessed using a Hybrid III headform and neck. The headform assembly was mounted on a low-friction sled and impacted with three sports balls over a range of velocities (10–31 m/s) at two locations and from three directions. Measures of linear and angular acceleration obtained from the small form factor wireless sensor were compared to measures of linear and angular acceleration obtained by wired sensors mounted at the headform center of mass. Accuracy of the sensor varied inversely with impact magnitude, with relative differences across test conditions ranging from 0.1% to 266.0% for peak linear acceleration and 4.7% to 94.6% for peak angular acceleration when compared to a wired reference system. In the field evaluation, eight male high school soccer players were instrumented with the head impact sensor in seven games. Video of the games was synchronized with sensor data and reviewed to determine the number of false positive and false negative head acceleration event classifications. Of the 98 events classified as valid by the sensor, 20.5% (20 impacts) did not result from contact with the ball, another player, the ground or player motion and were therefore considered false positives. Video review of events classified as invalid or spurious by the sensor found 77.8% (14 of 18 impacts) to be due to contact with the ball, another player or player motion and were considered false negatives.

Emergency Physicians' Knowledge of Sports-Related Concussion, Referral Patterns, and Use of Return to Play Guidelines

Although emergency department physicians care for a large number of patients with sports-related concussion (SRC), little is known about their knowledge of SRC and return to play (RTP) guidelines. The authors conducted a 32-question cross-sectional Internet survey to evaluate knowledge of SRC and practice patterns with RTP strategies used by emergency department physicians in Washington State and Montana. A total of 152 emergency department physicians participated in the survey. Sixty-four percent (97 of 152) were aware of RTP guidelines and 38% (58 of 151) provided them at discharge. Only concussion training since residency was predictive of awareness of RTP guidelines (P =.00) and their use at discharge (P =.024). Most concussion knowledge assessment questions were answered correctly a high percentage of the time except for two notable exceptions that focused on expected SRC symptom duration. Focused educational efforts, with an emphasis on expected symptom duration, could improve knowledge of SRCs and use of RTP guidelines by emergency department physicians. [Athletic Training & Sports Health Care. 201X;XX(X):XX-XX.] Language: en

Poster 345: The Impact of an Aquatic Exercise Protocol on Physiologic Measures Within an Asthmatic Population: A Case Series

Disclosures: M. Warnick, Ipsen, US, Employment. Objective: To assess reconstitution techniques, dosing, and injectors’ perceptions of potential adverse events (AE) when using botulinum toxin type A to treat pediatric cerebral palsy in the European Union (EU). Design: Telephone interviews were conducted with botulinum toxin type A experienced injectors about their experience and knowledge of this intervention. The survey included questions about reconstitution dilution volumes, botulinum toxin type A doses and AEs. Setting: Twenty-minute telephone interviews with EU physicians. Participants: Botulinum toxin type A experienced injectors in 5 EU countries (France [n 18], Germany [n 20], Greece [n 6], Sweden [n 4], and the UK [n 26]). Interventions: Not applicable. Main Outcome Measures: Reconstitution dilution volumes used, the average total dose and maximum dose used, and AEs. Results: The reconstitution dilution volume was typically reported as 2.5 mL/500 U. The average total Dysport doses reported by the physicians during the interviews were 375 U, 544 U, 700 U, 400 U, and 600 U for France, Germany, Greece, Sweden, and the UK, respectively. The mean maximum dose reported by the physicians during the interviews were 637 U, 906 U, 600 U, 467 U, and 1148 U for France, Germany, Greece, Sweden, and the UK, respectively. When treating pediatric cerebral palsy with botulinum toxin type A, 17% to 40% of the surveyed physicians in the different countries specified potential AEs. The most common AE noted for patients with pediatric cerebral palsy was leg muscle weakness (29%-100% of physicians). Conclusions: Most surveyed physicians reported using a reconstitution dilution volume of 2.5 mL/500 U (ie, 200 U/mL), but they reported using a range of average total botulinum toxin type A doses in the different countries (range, 375-700 U). Leg muscle weakness was the most common potential AE specified by physicians for pediatric cerebral palsy.