April 1, 2011

Donate to the American Red Cross to Help Support the Relief Efforts in Japan

On March 11, 2011, a devastating 8.9 scale earthquake hit the country of Japan, causing yet another deadly natural disaster, a 10 meter high tsunami that destroyed the lives and homes of many residents of Japan and the Pacific Coast.

Noritoshi Shirakawa, ATC, former LSU Athletic Training Student (2007-2010) and current Certified Graduate Assistant Athletic Trainer at the University of Illinois is a native of Japan. Nori was an excellent student in the LSU Athletic Training Education Program, and was the award winner of the prestigious Academic Achievement Award two years in a row, as well as the NATA Research and Education Foundation Master's Scholarship in 2010. He was assigned to Football in 2007 and was part of the 2007 National Championship team. Nori was also part of very successful Track and Field and Softball programs. In the summers of 2008 and 2009, Nori also fulfilled interests in completing an NFL Internship with the Houston Texans and an MLB Intership with the Texas Rangers. Working with his native country, Nori also provided medical services to the Nippon Tornados, an independent semi-professional basketball team.
Minekazu (Kaz) Isobe, ATC, is also a former LSU Athletic Training Student (2005-2008) and native of Japan. Kaz was an outstanding Athletic Training Student at LSU, receiving the Academic Achievement Award in 2006-2007. He also participated in an NFL Internship with the Houston Texans in 2009. Kaz currently resides in Hiroshima, Japan, which is about 650 miles away from the devastation. He has been working as an Assistant Athletic Trainer with the Sanfrecce Hiroshima Japanese Professional Soccer Team in the J. League Division I. To help out LSU Alumni and those affected by the disaster in Japan and the Pacific Coast, please make a donation to the American Red Cross. Donations can be made in the name of the disaster, and can be made either online or by mail. We ask that you please take the time to support the LSU Alumni in this difficult time. To make a donation, visit the American Red Cross website.

Senior Athletic Training Student Returns from Semester Long Internship

Students in the LSU Athletic Training Program are highly encouraged to seek experience in other settings throughout their three years, especially in the form of professional, collegiate, and/or other internships. From December 2010 to March 2011, RayLynne Lee, 3rd year Athletic Training Student participated in a collegiate internship with the University of Alabama at Huntsville. She served as an Athletic Training Student Intern under Jeff Kinard, MPH, ATC, CSCS, Head Athletic Trainer, as well as Joshua Stuhr, MS, ATC, Assistant Athletic Trainer. During her stay, RayLynne gained valuable clinical experience with the Men’s Ice Hockey and Men’s and Women’s Basketball teams. Her duties for Ice Hockey included pre-practice and pre-competition treatments, as well as post-competition care and rehabilitations. She also had the opportunity to assist with the emergency care of a life-threatening External Jugular Vein laceration while assisting in competition coverage. Her duties with the Men’s and Women’s basketball teams included pre and post-competition treatment, as well as travel experience as she went on the road to Oakland City, IN with the teams. RayLynne ‘s opportunity with the University of Alabama – Huntsville was a very valuable experience that benefited her greatly as an Athletic Training Student as she continues her Athletic Training career. “My time spent with the Ice Hockey team at UA was a very positive experience. The internship challenged me and helped me grow in a short amount of time. Working underneath a different Athletic Training Staff was an extremely valuable experience and the UAH Athletic Training and Coaching Staff welcomed me with open arms. They were available and ready to teach me at any time. I also learned what it takes to be an Athletic Trainer in a very fast and demanding environment. This internship has played a key role in the continuing development of my career” – RayLynne Lee, 3rd Year Athletic Training Student – Football, Gymnastics, Swimming and Diving

Senior Athletic Training Students Set for the Future

Congratulations to our Senior Athletic Training Students, all of whom have been given the opportunity to continue their Athletic Training education at the University or Rehabilitation Center of their choice both in and outside the southern region. We know that each student will represent LSU in an honorable way. Currently, our Seniors are preparing for and taking their Certification exam. We want to wish them all the best as they grow to become distinguised Athletic Trainers.

______________________________________________

Matthew Chappellie

Christus Schumpert: Highland Clinic

Shreveport, LA

Parkway and Captain Shreve High Schools _________________________________________________

Craig Chelette

University of Utah

Salt Lake City, UT

Graduate Assistantship _________________________________________________

Danielle Davis

Middle Tennessee State University

Murfreesboro, TN

Graduate Assistant: Women's Soccer _________________________________________________

David Gambel

Tulane University

New Orleans, LA

Graduate Assistantship __________________________________________________

Stephanie Garcia

Middle Tennessee State University

Murfreesboro, TN

Graduate Assistantship: Football and Softball _________________________________________________

Dani Klein

Virginia Tech University

Blacksburg, VA

Graduate Assistantship: Swimming and Diving _________________________________________________

RayLynne Lee

University of Denver

Denver, CO

Internship: Women's Soccer and Women's Lacrosse _________________________________________________

Matthew Rabalais

Clemson University

Clemson, SC

Graduate Assistantship _________________________________________________

Maggie Trinchard

University of Kentucky

Lexington, KY

Graduate Assistantship: Swimming and Diving _________________________________________________

Jessica VanSweden

South Dakota State University

Brookings, SD

Graduate Assistantship: Softball _________________________________________________

Erica Williams

Mississippi State University

Starkville, MS

Graduate Assistantship: Football, Men's and Women's Tennis

LSU Athletic Training Student of the Month

Congratulations to Emily Mesa, our newest Athletic Training Student of the month! Emily is a 2nd year athletic training student having worked with Football, and now with the Women’s Tennis team. In the past two years, Emily has been a tremendous Athletic Training Student, showing great work ethic and learning initiative in both the classroom and in the Athletic Training Room. Emily was one of nine 2nd year students who presented Case Study Abstracts at this year’s SEATA Student Symposium. Emily has also been improving her clinical skills with the Women’s Tennis team this year. Kellie Abendschoen, ATC, Certified Graduate Assistant Athletic Trainer for Women’s Tennis says “Emily has done an exceptional job this year as the Athletic Training Student for Women’s Tennis. She has shown a lot of initiative to improve herself as an Athletic Trainer. She goes above and beyond what is asked of her, especially with the multiple long-term low back rehabs that we have dealt with this year. She has gained the trust and respect of the team and coaches, and has been a great resource for her peers and the Pre-Professional Students in the Athletic Training Program. It has been a pleasure to watch her gain confidence as a second-year student. I know she will continue to excel as she finished the program and looks toward Graduate School in the years to come”. Congratulations to Emily as she continues to improve and excel in her Athletic Training career!

"Phantom Pain in a Collegiate Football Player" by Madeleine Scaramuzzo

The LSU Athletic Training Department would like to share another case study which was submitted by one of our Athletic Training Students to the SEATA Student Symposium for presentation. Madeleine Scaramuzzo is a 2nd year Athletic Training Student in the LSU Athletic Training Department, having worked at University High and currently assigned to assist with the Football Program. She authored a case study on "Phantom Pain in a Collegiate Football Player". Below is the abstract including: Personal Data, Past and Current Personal Medical History, Signs and Symptoms, Differintial Diagnosis, Imaging and Lab Results, Final Diagnosis, Treatment and Outcome, and Deviation From the Expected.

AUTHORS AND AFFILIATION

Madeleine Scaramuzzo, Athletic Training Student, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, Louisiana Andy Barker, MS, ATC, LAT, Senior Associate Athletic Trainer, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, Louisiana

Personal Data

The patient is a nineteen year old Caucasian male collegiate football placekicker.

Past Personal Medical History

The patient was born without a left upper extremity. The shoulder joint, including a portion of the humerus and the musculature of the shoulder, was present at birth. The musculature of the upper arm and below, including the biceps brachii muscles, triceps brachii muscles, coracobrachialis muscle, and others were absent at birth. During the patient’s childhood the humerus experienced some growth, and therefore the patient was required to undergo multiple surgeries in which the end of the humerus was shaved down. The patient has no family history of congenital limb abnormalities or missing limbs.

Current Medical History

The patient reports neuropathic pain occurring in the absent limb from time to time. Hitting the tip of the arm can sometimes elicit these symptoms; however, the symptoms can also occur without provocation. The patient is otherwise healthy and the missing limb has no effect on his overall health.

Physical Signs and Symptoms

The patient experiences several abnormal sensations occurring in the absent limb on a monthly basis. These abnormal sensations include feelings of pain that originate in the shoulder and upper arm and seem to run down the length of the arm to the absent hand. The patient describes the pain as “a nail running down through the entire arm.” In addition to pain, the patient experiences an abnormal sensation of water running down the “entire” arm after getting out of the shower. The patient also occasionally experiences what seems to be an itching sensation in the absent hand. Other sensations described by the patient include a thumping pain located at the tip of the limb, and a constant shocking pain occurring during cold weather which can be relieved by applying pressure to the limb. Because of the lack of blood vessels and overall abnormal vasculature in the left limb the patient experiences random periods of burning and heat which resolve on their own. During these periods of burning and heat the left limb is visibly red and warm to the touch.

Differential Diagnosis

Neuropathy, spinal cord injury, Phantom Limb

Results of Diagnostic Imaging/Laboratory Tests

N/A

Final Diagnosis

Phantom arm pains

Treatment & Outcome

The patient has never sought medical treatment for the condition because the signs and symptoms have never been severe enough to warrant it. The patient does admit, however, to taking over the counter NSAIDs occasionally to relieve symptoms. Other possible treatments include narcotics, anticonvulsant medication, and antidepressants. A form of treatment that could be beneficial to this patient and other patients with phantom limb pain is mirror box therapy. The mirror box is a box with two compartments separated by a mirror. The patient places both limbs in the box on either side of the mirror and watches the mirror on the side of the intact limb. This will create the appearance of the missing limb and can help to cure phantom pains.

Deviation from the Expected

What makes this case unique is that Phantom Limb is a condition that usually occurs in an amputated limb, however this case is seen in a congenitally absent limb. With Phantom Limb the brain still believes that the amputated limb is present because the brain was equipped with the necessary neurologic anatomy of the limb at birth. Therefore, the brain continues to send information to it, resulting in pain and abnormal sensations. With phantom arm pains the abnormal sensations experienced by the patient with a congenital missing limb occur because the neurological wiring in the brain may not be consistent with the actual anatomy of the limb, causing inappropriate sensations.