Happy Holidays!

It’s the most wonderful time of year! School is almost over, the temperatures are getting colder, and many good times are right around the corner. What better way to celebrate than with the annual Athletic Training Holiday party? This year the party was hosted by the Marucci’s and as always did not disappoint. The afternoon was filled with delicious food, good company, and of course an entertaining game of White Elephant. The menu consisted of turkey, ham, pasta salad, chili, dressing, cake balls, cookies, peppermint bark, and much more. Gifts ranged from anything and everything. Gift cards, a Backstreet Boys cd, Taco Bell hot sauce, candy, and sidewalk chalk, just to name a few, made White Elephant the special, entertaining event it always is.

From the LSU Athletic Training family, we wish you a Happy Holiday and very Happy, Healthy New Year!

Dr. Anthony Petraglia, MD on Management for Sports Concussions

On November 11th, the LSU Athletic Training Program, with the help of Dr. Burnham, MD, LSU Head Team Physician, welcomed Dr. Anthony Petraglia, MD to discuss the current research and science related to the proper management for sports concussions. Dr. Petraglia graduated from the University of Chicago in 2002 with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Neuroscience and earned his medical degree from the University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry in 2007. Dr. Petraglia is the first neurosurgery resident to complete a Neurological Sports Medicine Fellowship and was the McNair Neurosurgical Sports Medicine Fellow in Houston, Texas. He is currently completing his Neurological Surgery training at the University of Rochester. Dr. Petraglia has worked under Dr. Julian Bailes, who has done extensive work on preventative treatment of concussions and the role of DHA/Omega 3. He has worked as a team physician for several collegiate and high school teams and has also helped establish a concussion clinic in the greater Rochester area.

Dr. Petraglia’s guest lecture not only defined concussions and the standard treatment, but it also featured prevention and up and coming research. His presentation included videos of athletes, from peewee football to high profile collegiate athletes and their concussion experiences. When asked about Dr. Petraglia and his presentation, clinical instructor, Melissa Thompson, PhD, Med, ATC, PES, said, “He provided a great summary of the most recent and relevant concussion research and its application to practitioners. There are still a lot of unanswered questions about concussions, but there is also a growing body of research evidence out there that EVERY medical professional who works with concussed individuals should know about AND USE IN CLINICAL PRACTICE.” The information Dr. Petraglia presented was very new and inventive and unique to any other concussion material the program has been presented with before. Second year athletic training student, Caitlin McKinley said, “He had such a new, fresh insight about concussions. Instead of the usual let's assess the concussion, he taught us what was physiologically going on inside the body and brain. His video's showed different levels of how a concussion can affect a person mentally. I think he did a fabulous job and really helped us learn more in depth information about concussions.” The LSU Athletic Training Staff and students feel fortunate to have had access to someone like Dr. Petraglia who is an expert and involved in cutting edge research that will help us all understand the intricacies of the brain and its response to concussions and traumatic brain injury. We thank him for his time and interest in our program at LSU.

Thanksgiving with the Tigers

LSU’s Thanksgiving with the Tigers is the school’s annual holiday event sponsored by LSU's Student Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC) and the Cox Communications Academic Center for Student-Athlete Affairs. LSU Athletic Training Students were given the opportunity to adopt an eleven-year old girl through St. Vincent de Paul for the holiday season. As a group, the Athletic Training program donated over $450 dollars. Athletic Training students went on a major shopping spree through Target in search for the perfect holiday gifts. Some of the gifts included a winter coat, a scooter, body spray and lotion, a volleyball, bedding, and bedroom accessories. On November 14, a special dinner and gift presentation was held in the Pete Maravich Assembly Center. Jared Muth, Alpha Tau Sigma President, said, “This is what the holidays are about. Giving back and being thankful for what we have. It was a lot of fun helping out and making the holiday season special for this girl.” Thanks to all who donated money and time to help make this child’s holiday season one to remember!

LSU Athletic Training Student of the Month

The LSU Athletic Training Student of the Month is Courtney Melanson. Courtney is a third year athletic training student with the LSU Lady Tiger Basketball team. She has previously worked with LSU Football and U-HIGH. “Courtney has been a big addition to our Women's Basketball Athletic Training Staff. She has really taken on a tremendous amount of responsibility especially with a difficult knee rehabilitation, said Micki Collins, MS, ATC. She is a great mentor to pre-professional students and to other athletic training students. She is very loyal and honest. She always has a positive attitude.” Courtney is a great asset to the Athletic Training program with her strong work ethic and dedication to her athletes. Congratulations Courtney!

Happy Halloween!

On October 28th, Athletic Training Students put on their best costumes and helped out with the annual BOOzar event. This free trick-or-treat event is sponsored by the LSU Athletic Department and designed to provide children with a safe Halloween. The BOOzar is held in the Carl Maddox Fieldhouse and consists of games, trick-or-treating, and autographs. The Athletic Training station’s game was wrapping the children up like mummies with stretch tape. Thanks to all of the Athletic Training Students who participated to help make this event a success!

Congratulations to Nick Badeaux, 2011 Recipient of the Adam Sturlese Memorial Sports Medicine Award

Nick Badeaux, 3rd year Athletic Training Student, was nominated as this year’s recipient of the Acadian Ambulance Adam Sturlese Memorial Sports Medicine Award. The award was presented to Nick during the LSU vs. Auburn on Saturday October 22nd.

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. Prior to working LSU Football, Nick’s sport rotations have included Swimming and Diving and Track and Field and Cross Country. “Nick Badeaux is the well deserving recipient of the 2011 Adam Sturlese Acadian Ambulance Award. Nick has continued to prove to the staff and graduate assistants at football that he is worthy of the responsibility that he has been given at the start this season”, says Shelly Mullenix, Senior Associate Athletic Trainer for Football. “Having already been identified as an “Athletic Training Student of the Month” this academic year, choosing Nick for the Sturlese Award was easy. He leads by example and I believe our younger student athletic trainers model his diligence and attention to detail. What this has created amongst the group of students is a culture of effort, teamwork and responsibility for one’s actions. He understands that his work is a reflection of who he is as a person and we know that we can count on him to get the job done. He has recently been given administrative responsibilities that would be hard for most to manage, but again, Nick has excelled in this area as well. It is clear to us that Nick Badeaux will represent our Athletic Training Program well in the future and we are so happy to be able to honor him in this way.”

Cutting Edge Advantage

Dr. Melissa Thompson Ph.D., ATC along with two other professors in the Kinesiology department, Dr. Hargroder and Dr. Landin, oversee a small branch of the Kinesiology department not common to undergraduate programs. In the LSU Veterinary School, there are two classes offered to undergraduate students to further their anatomy knowledge. Once a student has completed KIN 2500, human anatomy, they are offered the opportunity to take the 3519, cadaver prosection, or 4519, cadaver dissection. Each athletic training student is enrolled in the cadaver prosection class. Madeleine Scaramuzzo says, “the cadaver dissection course has helped expand my knowledge of human anatomy, and will greatly improve my ability to visualize structures and identify injuries in the future.” Dr. Hargroder said, “The experience gives undergraduate students an upper hand when they continue their education in graduate programs because they are able to identify parts of the body more quickly and easily than other students who weren't offered the advantage of participating in a cadaver lab.” Seeing the body first hand is a completely different experience than learning it in a textbook. Third year student, Raymond Champagne, who took the prosection course his second year in the program says, “The cadaver lab has been a very beneficial class and has contributed to my overall knowledge of the human body. Having an opportunity to be a part of this class has given me the upper hand over many other athletic training students in the state.“

For further information please visit: http://www.lsureveille.com/news/cadaver-lab-sets-university-apart-1.2647276#.TrlWfq7UrI

LSU Athletic Training Student of the Month

Congratulations to Devon Bowie, LSU’s Athletic Training Student of the Month for November! Devon is a first year Athletic Training Student currently working with Track and Field and Cross Country. Devon’s hard work and enthusiasm has not only impacted Track and Field and Cross Country tremendously, but the entire Athletic Training Room as well. When asked about Devon, Keith Thompson, MS, ATC, said, “I am very excited to have Devon as one of our athletic training students. I had the opportunity to teach and work with Devon when he was in the pre-professional phase and realized that he was the type of individual that would represent our program proudly. Since entering our program Devon has demonstrated a great attitude, an eagerness to learn, and a strong work ethic.”

PES Certification

This summer, under the instruction of Dr. Melissa Thompson, numerous ATCs and ATSs took a course for the NASM Performance Enhancement Specialist certification. Melissa Sorrells, head athletic trainer at University Laboratory School, says “This course/certification has proven to be very valuable to me as an athletic trainer. Working at the high school level, my job duties entail more than just traditional athletic training. This course has allowed me to utilize my skills at a high level in many different areas while continuing to provide excellent quality of care to our student athletes.” An elite training program for fitness and enhanced athletic performance, the NASM Performance Enhancement Specialist is designed for athletic trainers, chiropractors, physical therapists, coaches and other sports professionals who want to work with players at all levels, from the secondary education and university tier, to professional and Olympic level athletes. The PES offers professionals the ability to learn cutting-edge performance assessment techniques, sport-specific program design, scientifically-valid, evidence-based applications which achieve remarkable results with top professionals and weekend warriors alike, human movement science, postural considerations, the elements of an integrated performance profile and assessment, integrated program design, and nutrition. Many of our graduate assistant ATCs also participated in the course including: Erin Greenwich, Scott Campbell, Dalis Boyette and Jessica Barton. Barton, Graduate Assistant assigned to Men’s Tennis says, “The process of acquiring my PES certification helped me mature as a Certified Athletic Trainer through exposure to aspects of athletic performance outside of the conventional healthcare field. It allowed us to look at athletic performance from a new perspective and study advanced concepts that have become invaluable as we strive to help athletes reach their full potential." Courtney Melanson, Camille Bordelon, Madeleine Scaramuzzo, Emily Mesa and John McLaughlin were among some of the students who participated in the course and are now certified. John McLaughlin, second year ATS assigned to Football, says, “The PES class was very helpful in regards to rehabilitation. I have used numerous exercises from the class in rehabs for athletes.”

New Athletic Training Facilities

It's that time of year again, when LSU's sports' seasons all begin to take off. This year, LSU Athletic Training has built new Volleyball and Softball athletic training rooms. These new additions have made the start of the season not only more efficient but more benefical to the student-athletes and their overall health.

The Volleyball Athletic Training Room, located in the southwest corridor of the PMAC, is home to the LSU Volleyball team. It is used for daily treatments and rehabilitations. When asked about this new addition, current Volleyball GA Scott Campbell, ATC said, "The Athletic Departments continued contributions and devotion to the Volleyball Athletic Training Room will help with the recruiting, convenience, and health of current and future LSU Volleyball athletes." This facility is equipped with treatment tables, rehabilitation equipment, and cardiovascular equipment.

LSU's Softball Athletic Training Room is the newest addition to Tiger Park Stadium. Staff Athletic Trainer, Ana Couture, MS, ATC, said," I am so pleased with the Athletic Department's support in building the new Softball Athletic Training Room. It means a lot to the program and it will help both in the recruiting process and elevating the standard care for our female student athletes." This facility over 1000 square feet and is fully equipped with treatment tables, therapeutic modalities, whirlpools, rehabilitation stations, and cardiovascular equipment.

LSU Athletic Training Student of the Month

Congratulations to Meaghan Hussey, this month’s Student of the Month! Meaghan is a first year Athletic Training Student. She is currently working with Track & Field and Cross Country under staff Certified Athletic Trainer Keith Thompson, MS, ATC. Meaghan has impressed the Athletic Training Staff and Graduate Assistants with her eagerness and dedication both in the classroom and clinically. When asked about Meaghan, Keith Thompson, MS, ATC, stated, “Meaghan is a great addition to our program. Although she is a first year student, Meaghan has demonstrated the poise and dedication of our most experienced students. Meaghan has been eager to learn and committed to assisting our track & field and cross country student-athletes. She also brings a positive attitude to the classroom and clinical setting, which I believe, will help make her a successful athletic training student.”

Scholarship Recipients

LSU Athletic Training is proud to announce the scholarship recipients for the 2011-2012 school year:

Academic Achievement
Madeleine Scaramuzzo
This award is given to the Athletic Training Student with the highest GPA at the end of the prior Spring semester.







Doc Broussard Athletic Training Student of the Year
Raymond Champagne
This athletic training student shows exemplary performance in the classroom and in the athletic training room. Their qualities will help propel them into leadership roles in the athletic training profession. They should serve as role models for not only the athletic training students in the program but the pre-professional students aspiring to become athletic trainers.


Come Back Kid Award
Jared Williams
This athletic training student played an integral role in the treatment and rehabilitation and recovery of a student-athlete's injury. This person has become an part of the creation and implementation of the rehabilitation protocol. The injury sustained should have been season ending or season altering for the student-athlete.


Special Assistance Fund
Caitlin McKinley
This student has shown unusual financial hardship as a result of their involvement in the athletic training profession. They may have an unusual financial situation that requires them to hold a job to supplement their finances, find their own collegiate experience as well as other reasons why they may need financial assistance.


Tiger Cub Award
Tamaria Hollis
This scholarship is given to the Pre-Professional Athletic Training Student with the highest binding scores during the application process into the Athletic Training Education Program. They have poise and maturity and have left the staff with the confidence that they will continue to represent our program with dignity and class.

For more information on these students and scholarships, visit: http://lsuats.blogspot.com/

Welcome Back!

On July 28th, thirty-two athletic training students, ten graduate assistants, and nine staff members reported to Football Operations for the annual orientation meetings. Orientation precedes the start of football two-a-days and serves as an introduction for the newly selected first year students and a refresher for the returning students. As always, orientation began with Jack Marucci leading the way with the introductions and fun facts. Topics covered during orientation included CPR and First Aid, modalities in-service, demo spine boarding, emergency management planning, heat illness, and concussions.


A new addition to this year’s orientation was an athletic trainer bonding evening. The evening was hosted by the Alpha Tau Sigma officers and held at Broussard Athletic Training Center. Athletic training students enjoyed Jimmy John’s catering and participated in the ultimate trivia game. Trivia consisted of six categories: Sports, Louisiana History, Quotes, Music, Who am I, and Random. In order to determine a winner, the Hamster Ninjas, Hivamat Homies, and Mutt Cutts competed in tiebreaker challenges. The Hivamat Homies and Mutt Cutts competed in the “Chubby Bunny” event to decide who would move on to face the Hamster Ninjas for the championship. After two rounds of “Chubby Bunny”, the Hivamat Homies succeeded and moved on for the final round. To determine the champion, one participant from each team, with their hands taped behind their backs, had to eat a bowl of pudding within two minutes. In just one minute and eleven seconds, the Hamster Ninjas were victorious and crowned trivia champions

A New Addition to LSU

The LSU Athletic Department is proud to welcome a new member to its team, Jamie Mascari, RD. Jamie is a native of New Orleans who completed her undergraduate studies in Dietetics here at LSU. She has taken on the position as the Graduate Assistant Registered Dietitian for LSU Athletics. Jamie will be working towards a Master's degree in Exercise Physiology. The LSU Athletic Training Department is looking forward to working closely with Jamie to improve our athletes' health. Jamie graciously sat down with us for a quick interview.

Upon graduating from LSU, you received an internship at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS), what did you gain from that experience?
As tough as it was to leave LSU, completing my dietetic internship in Arkansas was probably one of the best decisions I have made. This particular internship was a jointly sponsored program by the College of Health Related Professions at UAMS and the Central Arkansas Veterans Healthcare System. During my year there, I had the opportunity to experience a wide variety of dietetic-related practices including: hospital in-patient care, out-patient clinics, pediatric nutrition, community and public health programs, nutrition research, corporate wellness, school food service, fitness centers, and the food industry. I thoroughly enjoyed the diversity of topics offered to me and the chance to learn from numerous, respectable registered dietitians (RD) in the Little Rock area. Each rotation lasted 1-3 weeks, which challenged me to be able to quickly learn and adapt to each RD and their different ways of practice. Another great opportunity of mine was working with our country’s Veterans at the Little Rock Veteran Affairs hospital. Caring for their nutritional needs and getting to know them and their stories truly was an amazing experience.
In addition to my practical experience, I also completed 12 hours of graduate level coursework. Classes consisted of various topics such as Medical Nutrition Therapy, Nutrition Counseling, and Nutrition Research.

Why did you choose to return to LSU after you internship?
Even though my experience in Little Rock was a great one, I wanted to narrow my dietetic focus and practice to Sport Nutrition for athletes. After much research about the role of Sport RDs and reputable advice from New Orleans Saints registered dietitian (and LSU alum) Tavis Piatolly, I decided that a Master’s degree in Exercise Physiology would be the perfect combination with my nutrition background. LSU graduate school was my one and only choice; there was no other place I wanted to be. One year away from my Tigers was hard enough! I was accepted to the Exercise Physiology Master’s program in LSU’s Kinesiology department and began my graduate studies fall of 2010. Over the past year, I have been able to successfully apply my nutrition knowledge to many new concepts of sports and exercise. It has been a gratifying learning experience with inspiring professors and enthusiastic classmates. I am certainly looking forward to my final semester in the program.

What do you hope to bring to the LSU Athletic Department?
Many college and university athletic departments are taking advantage of registered dietitians’ valuable guidance and practical nutrition recommendations for their athletes and using them to build prominent sport nutrition programs. According to the Collegiate and Professional Sports Dietitians Association, dozens of major college and professional teams have rebuilt the infrastructure of their support service systems by placing sports dietitians among their staff. The registered dietitian works closely with the athletes and promotes nutrition as an essential component in performance as well as overall health. In addition to attending to the athletes’ nutritional needs, the registered dietitian works in conjunction with the team coaches, medical staff, athletic trainers, strength and conditioning staff, and administrators in order to ensure all athletes a comprehensive team of professionals who can assist in maximizing their athletic abilities.
Here at LSU, Senior Associate Athletic Trainer, Shelly Mullenix, has developed a successful wellness program that has helped meet the needs of the student athletes academically, physically, and psychologically. Furthermore, the nutrition component of the wellness program has benefitted many of the LSU sport teams and individual athletes, but it still has the potential of growing into a top university sport nutrition program. Accordingly, as a registered dietitian, I feel as though I am a valuable addition to the nutrition section of the wellness program and an integral member of LSU’s sport medicine team of professionals.
Sport nutrition has grown tremendously over the past decade and undoubtedly has shown to have a positive effect on athletes’ performance potential. Most collegiate athletes understand their food choices and dietary habits ultimately influence their body composition, overall health, and in particular, their athletic performance. However, many of these student athletes arrive to college with limited nutrition knowledge and several misconceptions concerning diet and performance. In addition, the lifestyle of a college athlete creates many challenges in meeting the nutritional demands their body requires. With a RD on staff, LSU student athletes have the opportunity to receive nutrition counseling and education that are tailored to the needs and lifestyle of the individual.

What do you hope to gain from working with the LSU Athletic Department?
I have come to realize that once I graduate from my Master’s program, my learning will continue on forever. Athletics is a fast-paced, ever-changing job that requires keeping up with the most current nutritional research and recommendations on a daily basis. I am looking forward to working closely with the sports medicine team and strength staff. These professionals possess a breadth of invaluable experience working with athletes, and I hope to learn as much as possible from them.
Furthermore, the leadership of the team coaches and administrators, expertise of the medical staff, knowledge and experience of the certified athletic trainers, and skill of the strength and conditioning staff already play a key role in the continual success of the LSU athletic program. I hope that as the new registered dietitian for LSU athletics, I can establish not only the value of sport nutrition at LSU but also a top sport nutrition program in collegiate athletics.

How has your past experiences with LSU Athletics helped you in your new position?
As a former LSU cheerleader, I had the chance to meet and cheer for some of LSU's greatest sport teams (including the 2007 football National Champions and 2006 Men’s Final Four basketball team), as well as get to know several members of the coaching and athletic staff. It was through my four years of cheering at LSU that helped me realize that proper nutrition is essential for optimal performance- on and off the field. Cheerleading itself is a highly demanding athletic activity, consisting of team practices, workouts, cheering at LSU sporting events, promotional appearances, and national competitions. The positive effect of appropriate dietary habits on my personal skills, strength, and health made me a true advocate to sport nutrition for all athletes. In addition, I was able to see and experience first-hand the lifestyle of student athletes, who are always on-the-go and rarely have time to sit and enjoy wholesome, homemade meals. I recognized the need for consistent nutrition education that includes practical advice that fits the athletes’ sports, schedules, and individual needs.
Lastly, but certainly not any less important than the topics above, is that my past experiences with LSU Athletics have had a huge impact on the pride and love I have for the Fighting Tigers. It is truly a blessing to be working with our athletes and contributing to the success of one of the best and most traditional universities in the country. GEAUX TIGERS!

Presentations at NATA Conference

This summer the National Athletic Trainer’s Association held its annual conference in New Orleans. Dr. Ray Castle, Dr. Melissa Thompson and Shelly Mullenix represented Louisiana State University. Dr. Ray Castle, Dr. Melissa Thompson, and Dr. Rick Ahmad, MD (LSU hand surgeon) worked in conjunction with the NBA Athletic Trainers’ Association on the 2011 Ron Culp Athletic Training Student Cadaver Workshop. Over 300 hundred students learned about athletic hand and wrist injuries and the related anatomy using 20 cadaver hand/forearm sections. Dr. Ahmad did a fantastic lecture and live dissection for the student attendees. Dr. Melissa Thompson did an oral presentation related to shoulder research that she has been working on with colleagues from the Department of Kinesiology. Overhead athletes are at greater risk for shoulder injuries, especially subacromial impingement syndrome. However, based on static analysis of the size of the subacromial space it is unclear if overhead athletes have a relatively larger or smaller subacromial space as compared to non-athletes. Melissa used the fluoroscope to capture dynamic images of the subacromial space during scaption exercises in female overhead athletes and non-athletic female college students. Based on the results, the athletes who were significantly stronger than the non-athletes in external rotation also had a larger subacromial space. This provides support for the influence of external rotation strength (rotator cuff) in maintenance of the subacromial space, and may be an important factor in the prevention subacromial impingement syndrome. Dr. Melissa Thompson and Dr. Dennis Landin (Professor in the Department of Kinesiology) also did a poster presentation related to the torque produced by the gastrocnemius during different knee and ankle joint combinations. Based on their findings they concluded that the best manual muscle testing position, with most gastrocnemius torque, is in a long sit position. The gastrocnemius produces the least torque when the patient is sitting at the end of the table with the knee flexed to 90 degrees and the foot in a gravity dependent plantar flexion position, which makes this the least desirable manual muscle testing position for clinicians.

Shelly Mullenix, along with researchers and team physician's from around the country presented the NATA's Position Statement on Safe Weight Loss and Maintenance Practices Among Physically Active Individuals. Specifically, Mullenix was able to contribute her keen insight to the challenges that face Division I collegiate athletes as they try to meet the sometimes unrealistic goal weights and how to do this while maintaining high levels of self-esteem and self-confidence. The hope for the panel was to educate athletic trainers, coaches, administrators, parents, and athletes on more effective ways to reach these goals while simultaneously reducing the prevalence of eating disorders and other unhealthy eating habits among athletes. Mullenix spoke about not only eating well while in-season, but developing diet plans and lifestyle changes that are safe and healthy year round, all at a pace that is realistic and specifically accommodating. "You have to do things in a healthy way," Mullenix says. "A lot of student-athletes are too quick to enter into bad patterns of eating, but you have to approach these goals in small increments. Quite often athletes - as well as the regular population - will want an entire diet plan laid out for them, but it's not something that gets fixed in a day." To read more please see articles below:

http://www.usatoday.com/sports/olympics/2011-06-13-national-athletic-trainers-association-weight-loss_n.htm

http://www.nola.com/sports/index.ssf/2011/06/ex-lsu_gymnast_clare-kearney_t.htm

2011 LSU Alumni Social in New Orleans

A fun time was had by all at our LSU Alumni Social during the NATA Summer Symposium in New Orleans, LA. We had an incredible turnout of athletic trainers, both present and past, that have contributed to the family environment and the success of the athletic training program over the last 15-20 years! Having so many of us in one place gave an opportunity to see how special and unique of an athletic training program we all have been able to build over the years. With Ana Gross (now Couture) as the party planner, we enjoyed a night of local cuisine, good music and great friends. Having the photo booth was lagniappe and gave everyone a space to express their true feelings about LSU! Everyone had an opportunity to use the open mike to talk about their favorite memories of staff members, fellow athletic training students or events that they experienced during their time at LSU. In looking back on this evening, it was moving for us to see how many of our students and graduate assistants, now professional colleagues and friends, created the legacy that is LSU Athletic Training. We are turning out incredible athletic trainers that continue give back to not only LSU, but to the profession of athletic training. Thanks for your continued support and friendship. We always taught that relationships are what this profession is about...and this function was living proof!

To see all of the pictures from the photo booth, click here.

LSU Athletic Training Student of the Month

Congratulations to Nick Badeaux! Nick was chosen as our September Athletic Training Student of the Month by the LSU Athletic Training Staff and Graduate Assistants. Nick is a 3^rd year athletic training student currently working with the LSU Football team. His previous assignments have been Swimming and Diving and Track and Field. Nick has been a great role model for his fellow students not only at football but throughout the Athletic Training Program. When asked about Nick, Shelly Mullenix, MS, ATC, Staff Certified Athletic Trainer for LSU Football and Director of Wellness said, “Nick has been a great addition to our crew of athletic training students at football this year. We expected Nick to step into a leadership role as a senior student as well as mentor the younger students. He has done just that. He really exemplifies much of what we look for in our students; he is hardworking, a team player and has a sincere interest in learning and improving his skills. He has taken initiative in assisting with rehabilitations and this will pay off over time as he begins to gain independence and confidence. We are proud of Nick and look forward to watching him evolve over the season.”

Congratulations to Our Newest ATCs

Congratulations to the following:Since graduation in May, these new Certified Athletic Trainers are the first class in LSU Athletic Training history with a 100% first time pass rate. Congratulations to them as they all continue their careers in Graduate schools or job settings!

To check out the LSU Media News Release on these students' great achievement, click here.

Reminder: LSU Athletic Training Alumni Party at NATA Convention

The National Athletic Trainers' Association 62nd Annual Meeting and Clinical Symposia will take place in New Orleans, LA on Sunday, June 19th -Wednesday, June 22nd. We are expecting a large turnout for this years convention and wanted to coordinate our biggest alumni party yet. Let's show the country how LSU can party...

Event: LSU Athletic Training Alumni Party
Location:
Red Eye Grill
852 S Peters St.
New Orleans, LA 70130-1708
Date and Time: Monday June 20th, 7:00-11:00 pmPrice: $20 early registration or $25 at the door
(Guests can pay at the door)

To reserve your spot, mail your check to:
Ana Gross
740 Glenmore Ave
Baton Rouge, LA 70806

Come spend the evening with us and enjoy good food, drinks, a few door prizes. It will be a great time to meet back up with old friends and fellow LSU Athletic Training Alumni!

Map of Red Eye Grill from Ernest N Morial Convention Center

Click here for driving directions.

LSU Faculty and Staff Present at NATA Convention

The National Athletic Trainers' Association 62nd Annual Meeting and Clinical Symposia on June 19-22 in New Orleans, LA will feature many presentations by Athletic Trainers from all over the country. The LSU Athletic Training Faculty and Staff, and a former Graduate Assistant, will be presenting on various important topics throughout the meeting as well as at other surrounding events, such as the College Athletic Trainers' Society meeting. Below is a list of the presenters, their topics, and the date and time in which they will be representing LSU and the National Athletic Trainers' Association:

Keith Thompson, MS, ATC, CSCS, and Shelly Mullenix, MS, ATC
Topic: Substance Abuse Prevention Program
Place: College Athletic Trainers' Society
Date and Time: June 19th, TBA



Shelly Mullenix, MS, ATC
Topic: NATA Position Statement: Safe Weight Loss and Maintenance Practices in Sport and Exercise
Place: Ernest N. Morial Convention Center (Press conference and panel discussion featuring authors, researchers, and medical personnel)
Date and Time: June 20th, TBA


Melissa Thompson, PhD, MEd, ATC
Abstract Title: Dynamic Acromiohumeral Interval Changes in Trained and Untrained Females with Differences in External Rotation Strength
Place: Ernest N. Morial Convention Center, Room 217
Date and Time: June 20th, 9:15-9:30



Shari Benson, MS, ATC (Former LSU Graduate Assistant)
Abstract Title: Late Detection of Capitellar Osteochondritis Dissecans in a High School Football Player
Place: Ernest N. Morial Convention Center
Date and Time: TBA



Please come out and support our LSU Athletic Training Staff as they present at the 2011 NATA Annual Meeting and Clinical Symposia!

LSU Athletic Training Student Wins Kinesiology Award

Raymond Champagne, 2nd year Athletic Training Student has recently been awarded the Department of Kinesiology's Premier Scholar Award for the Concentration in Athletic Training. The Premier Scholar Award is given to the senior applicant in each concentration who most demonstrates exemplary scholarship, service, and leadership. In recognition of his Academic Excellence in Athletic Training, Raymond will receive a $500 scholarship at the beginning of the next semester. Congratulations to Raymond Champagne on receiving this prestigious award!

Relief Efforts for the University of Alabama

On April 27th, a deadly 200mph tornado swept through the South, leaving devastation and destruction to many areas. One of the areas most affected was Tuscaloosa, AL, home of the University of Alabama Crimson Tide. In response to this disaster, Jeff Allen, MS, ATC, Director of Sports Medicine at the University of Alabama has asked his SEC Colleagues for help in their relief effort. His letter reads as follows:

"SEC Colleagues,

As you are all aware, our city has suffered indescribable damage from the tornado on Wednesday. I can't thank each of you enough for the countless calls, emails, and text messages. Every member of our staff has received so many messages from our SEC friends.

Many of you have asked how you can help. We have an urgent need on our staff. A house where 4 of our Athletic Training GA's lived was completely destroyed and they lost everything. Thankfully, although they were in the house, they walked away.

We have set up a fund to provide them with anything they need to return their lives to some normalcy. If you are interested, donations can be made by sending a check made out to the University of Alabama. In the memo section, designate it for "Athletic Training Gift Account".

We have been blown away by the response from every school in our conference and can't thank you enough for your support. Please pray for our city and our entire region as we recover from this tragedy.

Thank You,

Jeff Allen
Director of Sports Medicine
University of Alabama"



It is hard to completely understand the magnitude of their situation, but so many of us from Louisiana can relate to the enormity of their tragedy. It's been close to 6 years since Hurricane Katrina destroyed the homes and lives of so many our athletes and athletic trainers. That August, an email that went out to our close friends asking for help...just like Jeff's. We had an incredible response from athletic trainers all over the country that wanted to help. Alabama was one of those Universities that came to our aide. Now it is our turn! Our staff is asking that we all help them in their time of need. You can send donations (checks or gift cards in any amount) to us, and we will send everything we receive directly to Jeff Allen. We will forward your gifts exactly how we receive them. This way they will know the individuals or school that has made the contribution to their relief efforts. I am hoping that sending the donations in bulk will help reduce the risk that it will get lost in their postal system that has likely been compromised.

In order to expedite these relief efforts, the LSU Athletic Training Staff is asking that anyone wishing to donate to the relief fund make checks payable to "University of Alabama" with "Athletic Training Gift Fund" in the memo field. These checks and other donations in the form of gift cards, etc should be sent to the address below, where they will be sent as a group to the University of Alabama:

Louisiana State University Athletic Training
ATTN: Shelly Mullenix
PO Box 25095
Baton Rouge, LA 70894

If you would like to send your donations directly to Jeff Allen, please email me for his address: smulle1@lsu.edu

Please take the time to help our friends and colleagues who lost so much in this devastating tragedy.

LSU Athletic Training Alumni Party at NATA Convention

The National Athletic Trainers' Association 62nd Annual Meeting and Clinical Symposia will take place in New Orleans, LA on Sunday, June 19th -Wednesday, June 22nd. We are expecting a large turnout for this years convention and wanted to coordinate our biggest alumni party yet. Let's show the country how LSU can party...

Event: LSU Athletic Training Alumni Party
Location:
Red Eye Grill
852 S Peters St.
New Orleans, LA 70130-1708
Date and Time: Monday June 20th, 7:00-11:00 pm
Price: $20 early registration or $25 at the door
(Guests can pay at the door)

To reserve your spot, mail your check to:
Ana Gross
740 Glenmore Ave
Baton Rouge, LA 70806

Come spend the evening with us and enjoy good food, drinks, a few door prizes. It will be a great time to meet back up with old friends and fellow LSU Athletic Training Alumni!


Map of Red Eye Grill from Ernest N Morial Convention Center

Click here for driving directions.

Faculty and Staff Earn Awards at 2011 SEATA Convention

On Saturday, March 12, 2011 at the Southeast Athletic Trainers' Association Awards Luncheon in Atlanta, GA, the LSU Athletic Training Staff was awarded a few prestigious awards for their honorary achievement in the profession of Athletic Training.

Jack Marucci, MS, ATC, Director of Athletic Training and Head Athletic Trainer for LSU Football along with the rest of the LSU Athletic Training Staff, were awarded the College/University Athletic Trainer Award. This award is presented to an Athletic Trainer who serves in many roles in addition to Athletic Training, in the institution, community, and SEATA. Marucci and members of the Athletic Training Staff also serve as clinical instructors in the College of Education's Department of Kinesiology.

Ray Castle, PhD, ATC, LAT, Director of Athletic Training Education Program and Associate Professor in the Department of Kinesiology received the Chuck Kimmel Award of Merit. This award is given to a member of SEATA who has worked for the district on a national level and brought honor and distinction to the district.


Melissa Thompson, PhD, MEd, ATC, Athletic Training Program Instructor received the Backbone Award. This award, named for the way the "backbone" makes the day-to-day functioning of the Athletic Training Room a smooth process, recognizes an Athletic Trainer who has provided a significant contribution to Athletic Training Program operations and to the Head Athletic Trainer.


Picture Above (L-R): Keith Thompson, MS, ATC, CSCS (accepting College/University Athletic Trainer Award), Melissa Thompson, PhD, MEd, ATC (Backbone Award), and Ray Castle, PhD, ATC, LAT (Chuck Kimmel Award of Merit)

For the original media release article, please visit the College of Education, Department of Kinesiology's website here.

For more information about 2011 SEATA Award winners, visit the website here.

Late Detection of Capitellar Osteochondritis Dissecans in a High School Football Player: A Case Report by Shari Benson, Former LSU Graduate Assistant

Shari Benson, former LSU Graduate Assistant, and currently in a fellowship with the Steadman Clinic, is presenting an Oral Case Study at this year's 62nd Annual NATA National Convention and Clinical Symposium in New Orleans, LA. Below is a brief overview of her case study. Be sure to attend the Convention to see Shari present the full Case Study. Yet another educational story and a reminder of how our LSU Alumni are contributing to the improvement of the health and well-being of athletes.

Late Detection of Capitellar Osteochondritis Dissecans in a High School Football Player: A Case Report

Abstract: Case report on a 17 YO football player at a rural high school who went misdiagnosed of R elbow OCD for 4 years. He had no MOI, but reported catching and locking with activity and was treated for lateral epicondylitis. A CT Scan revealed multiple loose bodies and moderate to severe damage to the articular surface of his capitellum. He underwent a R elbow synovectomy, loose body excision, and chondroplasty of his capitellum. He has now returned to sport without issues. The significance of this report is that OCD is commonly misdiagnosed in high school athletes, but is a common injury in adolescent football players and gymnasts. Due to the length of time this athlete went untreated, his lesion worsened to the point where he had 4 large loose bodies and significant damage to his articular cartilage, which makes him 50% more susceptible to having arthritis later in life. Most physicians are hesitant to operate on young athletes due to growth plate factors and their ability to heal non-operatively, however, untreated OCD is the leading cause of permanent elbow disability. Therefore, it is important to have the knowledge and clinical skill set to detect OCD early in adolescent athletes in order to avoid elbow arthritis and disability long-term.