exam 1 sports medicen

NOCSAE

National Operating Committee on Standards for Athletic Equipment; sets performance standards for helmets and other protective equipment to reduce risk of head injury.

PPE

Preparticipation Physical Evaluation; medical screening performed before athletic participation to identify conditions that may increase risk of injury or sudden death.

HIPAA

Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act; federal law that protects the privacy of medical records and requires written patient consent for release of protected health information.

FERPA

Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act; federal law that protects the privacy of student educational records and gives parents of minors access to those records.

Prophylactic bracing

Brace worn by healthy athletes to prevent injury (e.g., knee brace in football linemen); used before any injury occurs.

Functional bracing

Brace worn after injury to support the joint during activity and allow return to sport while still protecting the healing structures.

Rehabilitative bracing

Brace used during the early stages of recovery after injury or surgery to limit range of motion and protect healing tissues.

RAMP

Raise, Activate, Mobilize, Potentiate; structured warm-up framework used to prepare athletes for training or competition and reduce injury risk.

SAID Principle

Specific Adaptations to Imposed Demands; the body adapts specifically to the type of training stress placed upon it.

10% Rule

Guideline stating that training volume or intensity should not increase by more than approximately 10% per week to reduce overuse injury risk.

FITT

Frequency, Intensity, Time, Type; the four variables used to design and progress exercise programs.

Progressive Overload

Gradual increase in training stress (load, volume, or intensity) over time to continue producing adaptation while minimizing injury risk.

Core Stability

Ability of the deep trunk muscles to maintain neutral spine and control the trunk during movement; more important for injury prevention than superficial “six-pack” strength.

Neutral Spine

Optimal spinal posture that maintains the natural curves of the spine and distributes load evenly; key coaching cue in core and strength training.

Duty

Legal obligation of a sports medicine professional to act in accordance with the standard of care toward the athlete.

Breach

Failure to meet the accepted standard of care; one of the four elements required to prove negligence.

Causation

Direct link between the breach of duty and the injury or damage suffered by the athlete.

Damages

Actual harm or loss suffered by the athlete as a result of the breach of duty.

Standard of Care

The level of care that a reasonably prudent professional with similar training and experience would provide under similar circumstances.

Assumption of Risk

Legal defense stating that an athlete knowingly and voluntarily accepts the inherent risks of a sport.

Commission

Doing something that should not have been done can form the basis of a negligence claim.

Omission

Failing to do something that should have been done can also form the basis of a negligence claim.

Athletic Trainer (AT)

Allied health professional who specializes in prevention, evaluation, treatment, and rehabilitation of athletic injuries; requires master’s degree for entry-level practice since 2022.

Team Physician

Physician (often orthopedic or primary care sports medicine) ultimately responsible for medical decisions, including return-to-play clearance.

Physical Therapist

Healthcare professional focused on rehabilitation and restoration of function after injury; works closely with ATs and physicians.

Strength & Conditioning Coach

Professional responsible for designing and implementing training programs to improve athletic performance while reducing injury risk; often CSCS certified.

CSCS

Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist; credential offered by the NSCA that qualifies professionals to design safe and effective training programs.

NSCA

National Strength and Conditioning Association; professional organization that offers CSCS, CPSS, and TSAC-F certifications.

CPSS

Certified Performance and Sport Scientist; advanced NSCA credential focused on applied sport science.

TSAC-F

Tactical Strength and Conditioning Facilitator; NSCA credential for professionals working with military, law enforcement, and first responders.

Emergency Action Plan (EAP)

Written, site-specific plan that outlines roles, communication, and procedures for responding to medical emergencies during practices or games.

Return-to-Play (RTP)

Progressive, criteria-based process used to determine when an injured athlete can safely resume participation; final clearance usually rests with the team physician.

Sudden Cardiac Death

Leading cause of non-traumatic death in young athletes; primary focus of cardiovascular screening during the PPE.

Cardiovascular Risk Classification

System that categorizes sports by static (strength) and dynamic (endurance) demands to help determine participation recommendations for athletes with heart conditions.

High-Static / High-Dynamic Sports

Sports that place the highest cardiovascular demand (e.g., rowing, cycling, cross-country skiing); highest risk category for athletes with certain cardiac conditions.

Low-Static / Low-Dynamic Sports

Skill-based sports with low cardiovascular demand (e.g., golf, bowling, curling); lowest risk category.

Shoulder Pads

Protective equipment designed to absorb and distribute impact forces to the shoulders and upper body; common in football and hockey.

Flak Jacket

Protective vest used primarily in football to protect the rib cage and soft tissues of the torso from impact.

Lumbar Belt / Back Brace

Supportive device sometimes used for low-back pain; occupational guidelines (CCOHS/NIOSH) note limited evidence for injury prevention in healthy workers.

CCOHS

Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety; provides guidelines on workplace safety, including use of back belts.

NIOSH

National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health; U.S. agency that researches and recommends workplace safety practices, including back-belt use.

DME

Durable Medical Equipment; medical equipment (braces, crutches, etc.) that is reusable and prescribed for long-term use.

Psychological Safety

Team climate in which members feel safe to speak up, admit mistakes, and ask questions without fear of embarrassment or punishment; critical for effective sports medicine teams.

Clear Roles

Explicit definition of each team member’s responsibilities and decision-making authority; reduces conflict and improves patient care.

Multidisciplinary Team

Group of professionals from different disciplines (AT, physician, PT, S&C, dietitian, etc.) working collaboratively to care for the athlete.

Primary Goal of PPE

Identify medical conditions that may place the athlete at increased risk of injury, illness, or sudden death during sport participation.

Secondary Goal of PPE

Establish baseline health data, fulfill institutional or legal requirements, and educate athletes and families.

Timing of PPE

Ideally performed 4–6 weeks before the start of the season to allow time for follow-up evaluation or treatment of any identified problems.

Frequency of PPE

Comprehensive PPE every 1–3 years (or as required by governing body); interim history and focused exam annually or after significant injury/illness.

90-Second Musculoskeletal Screen

Quick screening exam of posture, gait, joint range of motion, and strength used during the PPE to identify obvious musculoskeletal abnormalities.

Tort

Civil wrong that causes harm or loss to another person and for which the injured party can seek legal remedy (includes negligence).

Negligence

Failure to exercise the standard of care that a reasonably prudent person would exercise in similar circumstances, resulting in harm.

Liability

Legal responsibility for one’s actions or omissions that result in harm to another.

Informed Consent

Process by which an athlete (or parent/guardian) is informed of risks, benefits, and alternatives and voluntarily agrees to treatment or participation.

Confidentiality

Ethical and legal obligation to protect an athlete’s private health information from unauthorized disclosure.

Standard of Care for Athletic Trainers

The level of care expected of a reasonably competent athletic trainer with similar education and experience under similar circumstances.

Return-to-Play Authority

Ultimate medical clearance for return to sport typically rests with the team physician; ATs and other providers contribute clinical information but do not make the final decision in most settings.

Periodization

Systematic planning of training that varies volume and intensity over time (macrocycles, mesocycles, microcycles) to optimize performance and reduce injury risk.

Dynamic Stretching

Controlled movement through a range of motion performed before activity; preferred over static stretching during warm-up.

Static Stretching

Holding a stretch for a period of time; generally more effective after activity or as part of a flexibility program than during the warm-up.

PNF Stretching

Proprioceptive Neuromuscular Facilitation; advanced stretching technique that uses contraction and relaxation of muscles to increase range of motion.

Free Weights vs. Machines

Free weights require greater stabilization and motor control; machines provide more guided movement and are often safer for beginners or early rehabilitation.

Volume

Total amount of work performed (sets × reps × load); a key training variable that must be managed to avoid overuse injury.

Intensity

Relative effort or load of an exercise (often expressed as % of 1RM); another primary training variable.

Rest Period

Time between sets or exercises; influences recovery, performance, and training adaptation.

Specificity

Training principle stating that adaptations are specific to the energy system, muscle groups, and movement patterns trained