November 3, 2010

Congratulations to Camille Bordelon, 2010 Recipient of the Adam Sturlese Memorial Sports Medicine Award


Camille Bordelon, 2nd year Athletic Training Student with LSU Football was nominated as this year's recipient of the Acadian Ambulance Adam Sturlese Memorial Sports Medicine Award before the LSU vs. McNeese football game on Saturday October 16th. Camille was presented the award by Jack Marucci, MS, ATC, Director of Athletic Training, as well as joined by Mr. Sturlese and his daughter.

The recipient of the Adam Sturlese Memorial Sports Medicine Award is chosen by the Staff of Athletic Trainers at Football. This outstanding Football Athletic Training Student possesses a strong work ethic and continues to excel in the field of Athletic Training regardless of obstacles. The Staff Certified Athletic Trainers at Football believe that Camille is a great addition to the long line of successful Athletic Training Students that have been honored by Acadian Ambulance Adam Sturlese Memorial Sports Medicine Award. "She has shown steady improvement since she entered our Athletic Training Education Program in 2009. Camille currently serves as a leader and mentor among the Athletic Training Students and clearly takes pride in her accomplishments. We feel like Camille is a student that we can rely on and trust. She is professional in the way she approaches the student athletes and has handled the workload that we have placed on her shoulders", says Shelly Mullenix, Senior Associate Athletic Trainer for Football. "We look forward to watching her growth in this Allied Healthcare Profession".

Pictured above: Camille Bordelon, Jack Marucci, MS, ATC
Pictured below: Camille Bordelon with Brad Edwards, MD, first recipient of the Adam Sturlese Memorial Sports Medicine Award

Martin J. Broussard Center for Athletic Training Undergoes Facility Renovations

Since 1998, the Martin J. Broussard Center for Athletic Training, located on the northeast corner of Tiger Stadium has been the central hub for all LSU Athletic Training services, and until the addition of the Football Operations Athletic Training Facility in 2005, it was the house for all LSU sports. However, in the summer of 2010, this state-of-the-art facility underwent several renovations to improve the efficiency and capabilities of the Athletic Training Staff that utilizes it.

Some of the extensive renovations that have taken place are:
  • Installation of brand new Mondo Flooring in the 1,600 square foot Rehabilitation Area
  • Installation of brand new carpet throughout the remainder of the facility
  • Replacement and upgrade of the Cybex Norm Testing and Rehabilitation System
  • Upgrade of current X-Ray Technology with a Digital X-Ray Processor, Fuji FCR Prima
The Mondo Flooring (above) is a rubberized surface installed by a European company, Mondo, which is also the official sports venue flooring company for the 2012 Olympics. The Mondo Flooring has many advantages in the Athletic Training Rehabilitation setting including its durability, ease of cleaning, and decreased disease transmission.

The carpet was replaced to eliminate old stains, and enhance the appearance and cleanliness of the facility.

The Cybex machine (below), a brand name for an Isokinetic Dynamometer, was replaced with newer, up-to-date technology to improve the effectiveness of isokinetic testing on LSU athletes.
The Digital X-Ray Processor, a Fuji FCR Prima, was installed in our X-Ray Room to work in conjunction with our current X-Ray machine. This new processor is utilized by our physicians and X-Ray Technicians to allow our medical team faster results. The X-Rays can transfer to various computers throughout the facility for easier, faster, and a more efficient diagnosis of orthopedic injuries. For more information on the use of Digital X-Ray Processors, see our Education Corner below.
The LSU Athletic Training Staff implemented these several facility renovations to improve the overall quality of the Martin J. Broussard Center for Athletic Training as well as improve the quality of care of LSU athletes. These renovations have helped to highlight the extraordinary Athletic Training Program at LSU, as well as keep pace with current technological advances in the Athletic Training Room setting.

2010 L-Club Alumni Reunion a Success


The 2010 L-Club Athletic Trainers, Equipment Managers, and Video Staff Alumni Reunion held on October 15-16th was a huge success. Ana Gross, MS, ATC (LSU Staff Athletic Trainer for Softball), and Ray Castle, PhD, ATC, LAT (Director of Athletic Training Education Program) hosted the Alumni Reunion for the former Athletic Trainers. Festivities included: an Athletic Training facility tour, a Friday Night Social, and introduction before the LSU vs. McNeese football game on Saturday night. The Friday Night Social was put on by the L-Club in the Alex Box Stadium Champions Club, and consisted of games and contests for the alumni. Former Athletic Training Student, Chico Dupas won the Athletic Training taping contest, and the social was concluded by a towel folding contest between the former Equipment Managers. Tours included Alex Box Stadium and the clubhouse. This was the first opportunity for most of the former Athletic Trainers to visit this facility. On Saturday morning, the alumni gathered for another L-Club social prior to the game, and were then allowed on the sidelines for the LSU Pre-Game routine, which they thoroughly enjoyed.

New Technology in the Athletic Training Setting: Digital X-Ray Processors


Recently, at the start of this school year, the LSU Athletic Training Program installed a brand new Fuji FCR Prima, a Digital X-Ray Processor to replace the outdated X-Ray films. According to Andy Barker, MS, ATC, Senior Associate Athletic Trainer for Football, the digital X-Ray processor was installed for several reasons:
  • Do not have to purchase x-ray film
  • Do not have to purchase chemicals needed to process the film
  • No need for excess storage of films
  • Can burn x-rays to a CD, allowing student-athlete to have a copy
  • Can e-mail x-ray to an iPad for Team Physicians to have easier and more efficient access to the x-ray
  • Compact and light features
Only one disadvantage was noted in the digital x-ray processor, and that was the inability to pull up past x-rays taken on the old, traditional x-ray machine. This means that past x-ray films will still be stored in the Athletic Training Room.
The Fuji FCR (Computed Radiography) Prima is a digital x-ray processor designed specifically for use by small, low-volume private practices that only perform about 5-15 studies per day.

So what are some other advantages of Digital X-Ray Processors versus the traditional radiographic techniques?

According to Ward, et al., traditional radiographic techniques, although easy to perform and widely available, lack precision in skeletal assessment. The main source of imprecision was the difficulty to measure the width of cortical bone and estimate the exact points of major regions of the bone (Ward, et al., 2003). However, Digital X-Ray Radiogammetry (DXR) uses the principles of traditional radiography in addition to added techniques which increase the precision needed to identify skeletal abnormalities. DXR uses image processing to reduce errors from estimation of bone landmarks by automating exact location of regions needed for analysis. "Automated computer vision techniques will always be more reproducible than those dependent on human decisions and actions, explaining why DXR has improved precision in comparison with previous methods of radiogammetry" (Ward, et al., 2003). The biggest advantage of DXR in Athletic Training settings is the ability to take the radiograph in one location, and almost immediately access the same radiograph from remote settings connected to the network. This portability and easy access to X-Rays is particularly important in the collegiate setting, where on-site access to physicians is not always possible.

"The practice of digital radiographic imaging if poised to undergo dramatic change in the very near future owing to a rapid proliferation of electronically readable x-ray detectors" (Chotas, et al., 1999). In conclusion, there are two main reasons why digital radiogammetry is becoming more popular in health care settings: promise of very rapid access to digital images wherever radiography with stationary X-Ray equipment is performed and the anticipation of image quality that exceeds that of traditional radiographic systems because of improvements in X-Ray detector technology (Chotas, et al., 1999).

References
Ward, KA, Cotton, J, & Adams, JE. (2003). A technical and clinical evaluation of digital x-ray radiogammetry, Osteoporos Int, 14. Retrieved from: http://www.springerlink.com/content/x83hxk4lfu2wfepu
Chotas, HG, Dobbins, JT, & Ravin, CE. (1999). Principles of digital radiography with large-area electronically readable detectors: a review of the basics: Radiology, 210. Retrieved from: http://radiology.rsna.com/content/210/3/595.full

LSU Athletic Training Student of the Month

Congratulations to Matt Rabalais! Matt was recently selected by the LSU Athletic Training Staff and Certified Graduate Assistants to be November's Student of the Month. Matt is currently in his 3rd year of the Athletic Training Program assigned to Volleyball under Erin Greenwich, ATC, Certified Graduate Assistant. Matt has previously worked with LSU Football, University High School, as well as a summer internship with the Houston Texans, and has been an outstanding leader and hard worker for the LSU Athletic Training Program. When asked about Matt, Erin Greenwich, ATC, Certified Graduate Assistant Athletic Trainer for Volleyball says, "Matt has been an impressive senior leader for younger athletic training students this year and a very dependable person for the Staff and Graduate Assistants to turn to as well. It is obvious through the work ethic he shows each day that he is very passionate about the Athletic Training profession. He has taken great ownership in the role he has been involved with in keeping our athletes healthy. Matt has become an important and valuable resource for the Volleyball student-athletes and coaching staff to turn to for guidance as well".
Matt is not only this month's Student of the Month, but he is also the 2010 Doc Broussard Athletic Training Student of the Year, chosen by the LSU Athletic Training Staff as the student who best displays exemplary performance in the classroom as well as in the Athletic Training Room and is an excellent role model for all LSU Athletic Training Students. Congratulations to Matt Rabalais as he continues to excel in his Athletic Training career!