Ron Courson | The University of Georgia (original) (raw)

Papers by Ron Courson

Current Sports Medicine Reports, Apr 1, 2007

British journal of sports medicine, May 29, 2024

Athletic Therapy Today, 2005

Certi fied athletic trainers routinely deal with both over-the-counter (OTC) and prescription med... more Certi fied athletic trainers routinely deal with both over-the-counter (OTC) and prescription medications in the performance of their jobs. It is important to ensure that medical and legal guidelines are followed for the dispensing of drugs. To ensure compliance and continuity of care, it is recommended that policies and procedures be established for athletic training facilities for both OTC and prescription drugs. In recent years, there have been several highly public cases reported in the media in which prescription medications were improperly dispensed in the athletic training room setting. This can create legalliability concerns for sports-medicine staff and expose student athletes to increased risks. The University of Georgia Athletic Association (UGAA) has established both OTC-medication protocols and prescription-drug-program policies and procedures. The purpose of this article is to share our experience in managing medications in the athletic training room.

Athletic Therapy Today, Mar 1, 2005

Athletic Therapy Today, 1999

Jbjs reviews, Mar 1, 2016

» Sport-related concussion treatment includes three major phases: initial evaluation at the time ... more » Sport-related concussion treatment includes three major phases: initial evaluation at the time of the injury, treatment while the patient is symptomatic, and evaluation of the readiness for a gradual return to participation. » Each concussion evaluation should include similar elements: assessment of symptoms, assessment of cognitive ability, assessment of coordination (of the eyes, upper extremities, and lower extremities), and assessment for additional injuries. » The spine-boarding recommendations from the American College of Emergency Physicians, National Association of EMS Physicians, and National Athletic Trainers' Association have changed. These recommendations include both decreased use of spinal immobilization and removal of the helmet and shoulder pads prior to securing the athlete to the board when sufficient numbers of trained providers are present.

PubMed, Jun 29, 2007

Objective: To assist high school and college athletic programs prepare for and respond to a sudde... more Objective: To assist high school and college athletic programs prepare for and respond to a sudden cardiac arrest (SCA). This consensus statement summarizes our current understanding of SCA in young athletes, defines the necessary elements for emergency preparedness, and establishes uniform treatment protocols for the management of SCA. Background: Sudden cardiac arrest is the leading cause of death in young athletes. The increasing presence of and timely access to automated external defibrillators (AEDs) at sporting events provides a means of early defibrillation and the potential for effective secondary prevention of sudden cardiac death. An Inter-Association Task Force was sponsored by the National Athletic Trainers' Association to develop consensus recommendations on emergency preparedness and management of SCA in athletes. Recommendations: Comprehensive emergency planning is needed for high school and college athletic programs to ensure an efficient and structured response to SCA. Essential elements of an emergency action plan include establishment of an effective communication system, training of anticipated responders in cardiopulmonary resuscitation and AED use, access to an AED for early defibrillation, acquisition of necessary emergency equipment, coordination and integration of on-site responder and AED programs with the local emergency medical services system, and practice and review of the response plan. Prompt recognition of SCA, early activation of the emergency medical services system, the presence of a trained rescuer to initiate cardiopulmonary resuscitation, and access to early defibrillation are critical in the management of SCA. In any collapsed and unresponsive athlete, SCA should be suspected and an AED applied as soon as possible for rhythm analysis and defibrillation if indicated.

Journal of Athletic Training, Jul 1, 2013

PubMed, Apr 1, 2000

Objective: To examine, evaluate, and summarize the techniques used to assess pain in all the Orig... more Objective: To examine, evaluate, and summarize the techniques used to assess pain in all the Original Research articles published in the Journal of Athletic Training from 1992 through 1998. A second objective was to determine whether any of the Original Research investigations that did not assess pain were on topics that included a pain component. A third purpose was to make recommendations for assessing pain in a clinical athletic training setting. Data sources: Every Original Research article published from 1992 through 1998 was reviewed independently by 2 of the authors to determine whether a pain assessment was included in the investigation and, if so, to evaluate the pain assessment technique used. Data synthesis: A total of 23 (12.5%) of the 184 Original Research articles included some type of pain assessment. Most of these articles addressed the topics of delayed-onset muscle pain (43.5%), knee pain (17.4%), or pain resulting from cryotherapeutic procedures (17.4%). Most of the articles that included some type of pain measurement focused on the assessment of pain intensity using a category scale (17/23, 73.9%). In a substantial percentage of studies, a pain assessment tool that either lacked published supportive validity evidence (8/23, 34.8%) or was poorly constructed (because pain affect and pain intensity were confounded within a single scale) (7/23, 30.4%) was used. In a small number of articles on a topic directly relevant to pain (4/184, 2.2%), pain was not assessed, even though it could have provided useful information. Conclusions/recommendations: Pain is a construct of interest to those conducting athletic training research. Pain measures were included in approximately 1 of every 8 Original Research articles published in the Journal of Athletic Training. However, investigators have too frequently measured pain in a limited fashion, often focusing only on pain intensity. Measuring other components of pain could provide additional opportunities for learning more about the relationships between pain and athletic training procedures. We recommend that athletic trainers involved in research, as well as those engaged in clinical practice, consider systematically employing valid, multidimensional measures of pain to better understand the relationships between pain and athletic training outcomes.

Current Reviews in Musculoskeletal Medicine, Sep 17, 2014

The practice of spinal immobilization has existed since the 1960s under the premise that trauma v... more The practice of spinal immobilization has existed since the 1960s under the premise that trauma victims with cervical spine injuries may suffer neurologic injury if moved without stabilization consisting of a rigid cervical collar and long spine board. Because of this assumption, it is of particular importance to assess for movement of the cervical spine with and without spinal immobilization. Over time, the on-field management of athletes with a mechanism consistent with spinal cord injury (SCI) has evolved and produced protocols that can be considered standard of care. Attempts to find evidencebased research to verify the necessity of a rigid collar and long spine board as the only option in athletic medicine for suspected SCI is difficult. As changes occur in the Emergency Medical Services standards, there will be opportunities to see how their processes relate to athletes and the rationale for immobilization on the field of play. Going forward, there could very well be a significant change in the approach to and management of the athlete down on the field of play with a suspected spinal cord injury.

Journal of Athletic Training, Jun 20, 2020

Sport-related spine injury can be devastating and have longlasting effects on athletes and their ... more Sport-related spine injury can be devastating and have longlasting effects on athletes and their families. Providing evidencebased care for patients with spine injury is essential for optimizing postinjury outcomes. When caring for an injured athlete in American tackle football, clinicians must make decisions that involve unique challenges related to protective equipment (eg, helmet and shoulder pads). The Spine Injury in Sport Group (SISG) met in Atlanta, Georgia, March 2-3, 2019, and involved 25 health care professionals with expertise in emergency medicine, sports medicine, neurologic surgery, orthopaedic surgery, neurology, physiatry, athletic training, and research to review the current literature and discuss evidencebased medicine, best practices, and care options available for the prehospital treatment of athletes with suspected cervical spine injuries. 1,2 That meeting and the subsequent Mills et al publication delineate the quality and quantity of published evidence regarding many aspects of prehospital care for the athlete with a suspected cervical spine injury. This paper offers a practical treatment guide based on the experience of those who attended the Atlanta meeting as well as the evidence presented in the Mills et al article. Ongoing research will help to further advance clinical treatment recommendations.

PubMed, Jun 1, 2001

OBJECTIVE: To emphasize the importance of decreasing the response time by a trained target respon... more OBJECTIVE: To emphasize the importance of decreasing the response time by a trained target responder to increase the survival rate among athletes experiencing sudden cardiac arrest at an athletic event. BACKGROUND: Death due to sudden cardiac arrest that is witnessed is preventable in many cases. However, most people who experience this condition die because of a prolonged response time from onset of the fatal arrhythmia to defibrillation by trained treatment providers. If athletic trainers or other members of the athletic care medical team are trained as target responders and equipped with automated electronic defibrillators, they can immediately treat an athlete who experiences a sudden, life-threatening tachyarrhythmia. This prompt response to the life-threatening emergency should result in a higher survival rate. DESCRIPTION: We review the causes of sudden cardiac arrest during athletic events, note some unusual clinical presentations, discuss improved methods of response and new equipment for treatment, and define the athletic trainer's role as a target responder trained to treat people experiencing sudden cardiac arrest at an athletic event. CLINICAL ADVANTAGES: An athletic care team willing to become part of an emergency response team can help improve the survival rate of athletes experiencing sudden cardiac arrest at an athletic event.

Journal of Athletic Training, Oct 1, 2016

Journal of clinical and translational research, 2020

Background: Sport is a socio-ecological framework where student-athletes are part of a larger com... more Background: Sport is a socio-ecological framework where student-athletes are part of a larger community of stakeholders, including coaches, sports medicine professionals (SMPs), and parents. This framework may hold influence over whether student-athletes seek care for a concussion. Aim: We aimed to describe, compare, and determine the influence of stakeholder concussion knowledge, attitudes, and concussion scenario responses. Materials and methods: We recruited a sample of 477 student-athletes and their 27 coaches (response rate=46.6%), 24 SMPs (48.7%), and 31 parents/guardians (4.8%). Stakeholder surveys assessed their concussion knowledge, attitudes toward care seeking, and concussion scenario responses. Surveys administered to student-athletes assessed their concussion care seeking intentions and behaviors. Kruskal-Wallis tests were used to compare responses between stakeholder groups and to determine the differences in student-athlete intentions and behaviors (alpha=0.05). Results: SMPs had significantly better knowledge (p<0.001) and concussion scenario responses (p<0.001) compared to both coaches and parents. SMPs also had significantly better attitudes compared to parents, but not coaches (p=0.038). Coach concussion scenario responses (p=0.044) and SMP knowledge positively influenced student-athletes' concussion care seeking intentions (p=0.049). Parent responses were not associated with their child's concussion care seeking intentions and behaviors. Conclusions: The gap in coach and parent concussion knowledge and concussion scenario response relative to SMPs is a preliminary target for stakeholder concussion education and supports the current sports medicine model where SMPs primarily disseminate concussion education. Stakeholders, specifically coaches and SMPs, do hold influence over collegiate athlete concussion care seeking intentions and behaviors. Relevance for patients: Stakeholders should be addressed within educational efforts aimed at studentathletes and should also complete stakeholder-specific concussion education.

Medicine and Science in Sports and Exercise, May 1, 2018

Recovery may be determined by using a counter movement vertical jump (CMJ). While a CMJ has been ... more Recovery may be determined by using a counter movement vertical jump (CMJ). While a CMJ has been shown effective to evaluate recovery, there may be more efficient, less physically taxing alternatives such as the Perceived Recovery Status (PRS) Scale. The PRS is a non-invasive, and accurate psychophysiological tool designed to measure recovery and its correlation to performance. PURPOSE: To determine the efficacy of CMJ and PRS as methods for monitoring recovery between repeated sprint efforts. METHODS: Eight college-aged individuals (age=23±0.9 years; height=1.65±0.11 meters; weight=67.1±9.3.4 kg; percent body fat=17.5±8.4%) performed repeated sprints. The protocol consisted of three sets of eight 30 meter sprints on a non-motorized treadmill with 45 seconds of rest between each sprint. The sets were separated by 5 minutes of passive rest. Mean power output (MP) was measured during each sprint. RPE (overall) was recorded immediately following each sprint. Immediately before the next set of sprints PRS was recorded and a CMJ was performed on a force plate where maximal height was recorded. RESULTS: A 1-way repeated measures ANOVA showed a significant main effect of sprint set on RPE (p=0.04) and PRS (p<0.01). Subsequent pairwise comparisons revealed significant differences for RPE between sprint sets 1 and 2 (p=0.05), and in PRS between sprint sets 1 and 2 (p=0.001), and sprint sets 1 and 3 (p=0.02). Correlations showed the relationship between PRS and delta MP to be moderate, and significant at (R 2 =0.32) while the relationship between CMJ and MP was weak (R 2 =0.04). CONCLUSION: Current results suggest PRS may demonstrate a stronger relationship with change in repeated sprint performance within a session than CMJ. However, neither index of recovery was robust, and may indicate that these measures may be more appropriate for use between day-today training sessions (as previously established) and not necessarily to gauge recovery as in the current paradigm.

Medicine and Science in Sports and Exercise, May 1, 2015

rad/s 2 , college=3824.0 rad/s 2 , HS=4092.4 rad/s 2) between cohorts. We observed an association... more rad/s 2 , college=3824.0 rad/s 2 , HS=4092.4 rad/s 2) between cohorts. We observed an association between impact locations and the three cohorts (χ 2 (6)=676.58, p<0.001). The HS linemen experienced a significantly higher frequency of impacts to the front of the head (NFL=37.7%, college=34.3%, HS=53.4%) and a significantly lower frequency of impacts to the top of the head (NFL=19.4%, college=26.0%, HS=9.2%). CONCLUSION: Our head impact acceleration findings were expected given the literature has not identified any differences between HS and college cohorts to date. Future studies should explore speed and skill positions across competitive level. Many behavioral interventions are designed to educate HS football players on safe tackling techniques and the importance of 'seeing what they hit.' Our data show HS linemen experience more front-of-head and fewer top-of-head impacts. Future studies should measure the efficacy of these programs in light of the encouraging HS data we observed.

Strength and Conditioning Journal, Dec 1, 2015

Journal of Sport Rehabilitation, Aug 1, 1993

The implementation of interval throwing programs during rehabilitation has been suggested in the ... more The implementation of interval throwing programs during rehabilitation has been suggested in the literature to allow for a quicker and safer return of the throwing athlete to competition. Many programs have clearly focused on baseball players. This program is specifically designed for the football quarterback. The program encompasses a sound flexibility and strength training regime and provides for a supervised step-by-step progression of throwing. Although the authors have found success with early results, practitioners should apply this program with caution, as it may need to be modified for each athlete. The purpose of this paper is to establish a foundation for future work in the area of the throwing shoulder for the football quarterback.

Clinical Journal of Sport Medicine, Mar 1, 2018

Objective: To determine whether players with heavier faceguards have increased odds of sustaining... more Objective: To determine whether players with heavier faceguards have increased odds of sustaining top of the head impacts and head impacts of higher severity. Design: Cohort study. Setting: On-field. Participants: Thirty-five division I collegiate football players. Interventions: Faceguard mass was measured. Head impact location and severity (linear acceleration [gravity], rotational acceleration [radian per square second], and Head Impact Technology severity profile [unitless]) were captured for 19 379 total head impacts at practices using the Head Impact Telemetry System. Main Outcome Measures: Players' faceguards were categorized as either heavier (.480 g) or lighter (#480 g) using a median split. Odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were computed for sustaining top of the head impacts between faceguard groups using a random intercepts generalized logit model. We compared head impact severity between groups using random intercepts general linear models (a 5 0.05). Player position was included in all models. Results: Overall, the 4 head impact locations were equally distributed across faceguard groups (F (3,26) 5 2.16, P 5 0.117). Football players with heavier faceguards sustained a higher proportion impacts to the top of the head (24.7% vs 17.5%) and had slightly increased odds of sustaining top (OR, 1.72; 95% CI, 1.01-2.94) head impacts rather than front of the head impacts. Conclusions: Football players wearing heavier faceguards might be slightly more prone to sustaining a higher proportion of top of the head impacts, suggesting that greater faceguard mass may make players more likely to lower their head before collision. Individuals involved with equipment selection should consider the potential influence of faceguard design on head impact biomechanics when recommending the use of a heavier faceguard.

Journal of Neurotrauma, Feb 15, 2020

While a base level of knowledge is needed to recognize a concussion, knowledge-focused concussion... more While a base level of knowledge is needed to recognize a concussion, knowledge-focused concussion educational materials ignore multifaceted barriers to concussion reporting. We compared student-athlete concussion reporting intentions and behaviors prior to and one year following exposure to an intervention or control treatment. We randomly assigned 891 collegiate student-athletes from three universities (Division I, II, III) to either the control group (NCAA Concussion Fact Sheet) or intervention group (theory-based, data-driven, multimedia, simulated concussion reporting module). A final sample of 520 student-athletes (control=253, intervention= 267, expired eligibility=189, left university=182) completed intentions and behaviors surveys immediately prior to and one year following the educational intervention and a second survey to assess the intervention effect. We compared intentions using 2x2 mixed model ANOVAs. Behaviors and educational intervention effect were assessed using logistic regression models (alpha=0.05). The intervention group had significantly improved concussion reporting intentions at one-year follow-up relative to the control group (p=0.009), but had similar odds for behaviors. The intervention group had 2.42x greater odds of rating the module as "very effective", rather than "not effective", relative to the control group (95%CI:1.10,5.33). Relative to the control group, the intervention group had significantly greater odds of responding that the concussion education "greatly improved", rather than "did not improve" their knowledge (OR:2.49,95%CI:1.25,4.96), attitudes (OR:2.22,95%CI:1.23,4.03), self-efficacy (OR:1.95,95%CI:1.05,3.60), and intentions (OR:1.86,95%CI:1.03,3.35). The intervention was more effective at targeting elements of the overall sport culture in a way that substantively improved concussion reporting. We recommend use of this intervention in combination with other evidence-based educational materials.