Dr. Jason Mihalik guests on ‘5 questions with CJSM’: concussions and apps

August 14, 2013 by 3 Comments

We’re already seeing an uptick in our concussion clinics now that the football (both ‘American Football’ and soccer) seasons have begun.  It promises to be a busy few months.

jason mihalik

Dr. Mihalik and colleagues with their
pre-participation ‘sports drinks’

How fortunate my colleagues and I were, then, to have a special guest visit us a couple weeks ago:  Jason P. Mihalik, Assistant Professor in the Department of Exercise and Sport Science at the University of North Carolina and Co-Director of the Mathew Gfeller Sport-Related Traumatic Brain Injury Research Center.  

I first became aware of Dr. Mihalik from the work he has done regarding what is generally considered the most user-friendly layperson’s app for recognizing a concussion on the field of play.  The app, known as “Concussion Recognition and Response App,” can be downloaded to both iPhone and Android systems, has a version specifically designed for coaches and parents; it is designed to assist the layperson in recognizing when a concussion may have occurred.  Dr. Mihalik himself talks about the app in this YouTube video.

mihalik and pommering

From Left to Right:
Drs. Mihalik, Pommering, and Patrick,
on ‘Pediacast’

Dr. Mihalik ripped through his 24 hours with us with little time to breathe as he dispensed his wisdom concerning sports-related concussions, one of the hottest topics in the world of clinical sports medicine.  The highlights included the taping of a podcast; a lecture to the research staff and faculty; and the requisite beers and lounge experience in an informal setting.

I had to breakaway to cover a FINA open-water swimming event.  In lieu of attending the lecture Dr. Mihalik gave at our hospital, I tracked him down for a quick Q & A session.

—————Five Questions for Dr. Mihalik————–

1) CJSM: What do you think accounts for the dramatic rise in incidence of sports related concussions over the last decade? is it just a matter of recognition bias, or is something more going on?

Dr. Mihalik:  Research has shown a steady increase in the incidence of concussion across many sports. There is always an issue with incidence rates since precisely identifying the denominator (exposure) is always tricky at best. Notwithstanding, I believe this rise can be attributed to the increased hypersensitivity of this injury. More people know about concussions, which I feel biases recognition in more recent publications that highlight increases in concussion rates. I don’t think we should sensationalize these findings to suggest that concussion is now a problem when, in the past, it may not have been. Concussion has always been there, but we are now educating parents, coaches, and athletes to recognize the signs & symptoms. Read more of this post

Filed under Concussion in Sport, General Interest, Injury Prevention, Patient Education, Technology in Sports Medicine Tagged with

Major League Baseball: the All-Star game and more

July 16, 2013 by 1 Comment

799px-Citi_Field_2011

CitiField, Home of the New York Mets
and host to the 2013 MLB All-Star Game

Major League Baseball’s (MLB) All-Star game takes place tonight at CitiField, the home field of the New York Mets.  The All-Star game has a rich history and in the culture of MLB has always represented, at the very least, the mid-season pause where the collective baseball community could reflect on the game:  where it has been, and where it is going.

zack greinke at 2009 MLB all star game

Zack Greinke, pitching in the 2009 MLB All-Star game
(He will not play in the 2013 edition)

 

 

 

 

From the perspective of sports medicine, this baseball season has been a rich one already.  From Zack Greinke’s clavicle fracture and surgical repair, to Derek Jeter’s recovery from ankle surgery and quad strain, to the, er, inimitable ARod’s hip surgery and the ever growing issue of PEDs in MLB,  it’s been a very interesting spring and early summer.

In the spirit then of this mid-season pause, I wanted to sit back and review just a few baseball-related, clinical sports medicine issues before we all enjoy the game tonight. Read more of this post

Filed under General Interest, Injury Prevention, Technology in Sports Medicine Tagged with , , , ,

There’s an App for that 2.0

June 15, 2013 by 1 Comment

Picking up where I left off on my last blog post, I wanted to discuss some more of the clinical sports medicine apps I use, with a focus on the apps that have made it on to my smart phone.  As I had mentioned previously, all the apps I discuss are freely available; do not represent an endorsement by CJSM; and are discussed by me without any vested conflict of interest.

journalsLWWiPad_JSMImg

The CJSM iPad app: if you have an iPad, you need this app!

Except for this recommendation!!!  Ironically, the one app that is not on my smart phone, but rather my electronic tablet, is the CJSM journal app.  And yes, I have a vested interest in this, because I’m an Associate Editor of the Journal.  In truth, it is a great resource for accessing the journal contents when on the run.  If you have a tablet, I’d heartily recommend picking up the app here.  Also, get a more in depth appreciation for the app at the CJSM blog post authored by my predecessor (now Executive Editor of the Journal), the illustrious Christopher Hughes, on of the team physicians for Chelsea F.C.

Now, returning to the issue of apps for the smart phone that I use in my clinic, on the sidelines, and in the training room, I need to tell you about my new favorite: Ubersense, a video analysis app primarily produced for coaches, I think, but one I have found invaluable for doing in office gait analysis.  Read more of this post

Filed under General Interest, Technology in Sports Medicine Tagged with

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