So Tell Me Again Why They Fight In Hockey?

Derek Boogaard: A Brain 'Going Bad'

Inside Boogaard's Brain

A very interesting article from the New York Times about former NHL player Derek Boogarrd who overdosed on pain killers and alcohol at age 28. It discusses Boogarrd's rise to stardom as an 'enforcer' in the NHL and how it may have led to his death. Much like many hockey players, Boogard suffered several concussions, even more since he got into a lot of fights. After his unexpected death, a researcher studying brains of high impact athletes wanted to take a look at Derek's brain. His family agreed and his brain was sent to a Boston area lab to be studied. What the researcher was looking for is what's called chronic traumatic encephalopathy, commonly known as C.T.E., a close relative of Alzheimer’s disease. It is believed to be caused by repeated blows to the head. It can be diagnosed only posthumously, but scientists say it shows itself in symptoms like memory loss, impulsiveness, mood swings, and even addiction. All of which were symptoms he showed. Doctors also believed that if Derek had lived longer, the condition could have developed into middle aged dementia. Could this condition have been prevented? Many doctors believe that th warning signs were all there. Derek's perception of a tough guy may have forced him to mask his problems. For athletic trainers that work closely with athletes, they need to be able to recognize not only the symptoms of a concussion, but also changes in mood, behavior and addiction. Derek's drug problem was aided by the multiple doctors that had prescribed him pain killers. Something that an athletic trainer should be aware of and step in if the situation gets out of control.

You Want Fries With That?

Congress pushes back on healthier school lunches

Earlier this year, the Agriculture Department proposed healthier lunch standards to improve the diet of American children. Unfortunately, Congress has proposed a final version of a spending bill that would block their requests. These include limiting the use of potatoes on the lunch line, putting new restrictions on sodium and boosting the use of whole grains. The bill also would allow tomato paste on pizzas to be counted as a vegetable, as it is now. The USDA  had wanted to only count a half-cup of tomato paste or more as a vegetable, and a serving of pizza has less than that. Additionally, the food companies that supply the frozen pizzas, the salt industry, and potato growers had requested the changes and lobbied Congress to do so. Although more expensive, a restricted menu for school lunches would give heather options for young Americans who are becoming more and more obese. This article is important for kids in school and their parents who can help push for healthier lunches at school. Too many children are overweight and obese and the government needs to do the right things to help curtail this trend.

Winter Sports Anyone?

Gotta love some fresh pow!

http://yourlife.usatoday.com/fitness-food/exercise/story/2011-11-06/Its-time-to-prep-your-body-for-winter-sports/51099032/1

So I'm sure most of you are dreading the upcoming winter season. All that cold weather and snow can be really  hard on the mind and body. However, one thing I love about winter is going skiing. Just being up on the mountain is exciting itself, but once you start flying down trails, weaving in between trees and hitting sweet jumps, it doesn't get any better. A big aspect of being able to go downhill without killing yourself is being in the best shape possible to prevent injuries. This article points out some exercises to prevent injuries in skiing, snowboarding, and ice skating. Also, the article points out that balance is essential in these sports and gives some exercises to work on that. Another emphasis is keeping the hips flexible to prevent knee injuries. For young athletes who have more time then college or professional, extreme winter sports are often an option during time off from school. Reading this article will help recognize ways for them to stay injury free during their time off from school sports. 

So We Consume Too Much Salt, Eh?

"Quick, throw some salt over your left shoulder!"


http://yourlife.usatoday.com/fitness-food/diet-nutrition/story/2011-10-20/CDC-Americans-consume-too-much-sodium/50844370/1

In an article published in the USA Today, The Center for Disease Control discusses salt in the American Diet. Whats bad with consuming too much salt is that it can increase the risk of high blood pressure which can cause heart disease and stroke. According to the CDC, people aged two and up should limit themselves to less than 2,300 mg of sodium per day. Additionally, the sodium comes form places other than your own salt shaker. Around 75 percent of sodium is added to commercial foods during processing and preparation. Therefore, for Americans to consume less sodium, they need to be aware of the types of food they're eating. People need to eat more natural, fresh foods that contain little sodium. It is also important for young athletes to eat less sodium to prevent getting high blood pressure at a young age.

Are Barefoot Shoes Good for You?

http://well.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/09/30/are-barefoot-shoes-really-better/?scp=1&sq=barefoot%20running&st=cse


So I'm sure most of you have heard of these new running shoes that look like some sort of glove for your feet. And I bet a lot of you have wondered whats the deal with these things. Well, this article from the New York Times explains why more and more people are starting to run in these shoes. The idea is that these lightweight shoes are made to mimic barefoot running. In the article, a study conducted by The American Counsel on Exercise and researchers from the University of Wisconsin is examined with the intent to find out the health benefits of the popular shoe.

The study had a group of young women try out the shoes three times a week and then come in to have their running form analyzed. The results showed that those who used proper form when running with the new shoes experienced lower impact forces in their feet and legs. Those who ran with the wrong technique experienced twice as much stress than with regular shoes. The key to running with these type of shoes is to land on your forefoot instead of your heel. Most people who run land on their heel first which causes much more of an impact shock up the whole lower body and back. While forefoot running, or running on the balls of your feet, allows the lower leg, and arch of the foot to absorb most of the impact forces. Overall, the study shows that barefoot running shoes can help prevent many common injuries associated with heel strike running if used properly. Runners that are looking to try these should start out slow by walking at first to get used to them before moving on to running.