Athletic Medicine and Rehabilitation
February 2002
From the Editor Mike Braid, M.S. E. D. , A.T., C.
Winter sports are winding down and before you know it, it will be spring. I will believe it when I see it and when I can stand at a baseball or softball game in a short sleeve shirt. If it is anything like a typical spring sports season we will be fighting hypothermia as we stand out at athletic events.
In this issue of HAMA we chose to focus on some less common issues in sports. The first topic being Diabetes. Many athletes suffer from Diabetes and are able to compete at a high level. We touch briefly on the types of Diabetes and the role exercise can play in management of the disease.
Second, we look at a common chest injury. "Hey coach, I just got the wind knocked out of me." This phrase is heard all too often. What does it mean? When should you be concerned? Read on and find out.
Finally, we wanted to briefly discuss Automated External Defibrillators. Thanks to the generosity of West Shore Cardiology, most of our West Michigan School Districts now have an AED. Read up on their role in saving lives.
As always, we hope you find this information useful in your care of the active people of West Michigan.
Read on and enjoy!
A Blow to the Solar Plexus
Diabetes in Sports
Automated External Defibrillators
Jon P. Romkema, A.T,.C.
Defibrillators have been in use for years, and most people know them from hospital dramas with a doctor or nurse telling bystanders to "stand clear." It is estimated that two thirds of all cardiac arrests can be helped by early defibrillation.
When an AED is used within the first two minutes following ventricular fibrillation, the survival rate is 90 percent, according to the National Center for Early Defibrillation (www.early-defib.org). A person's chances of survival and recovery drop drastically the longer it takes to receive proper medical attention. Fewer than 5 percent live if medical help takes more than 10 minutes to arrive.
Automated External Defibrillators (AEDs) are portable devices used in an attempt to save victims of sudden cardiac arrest. They are about the size of a regular dictionary and are battery powered.
Electrodes are attached to the AED and then placed on the victim's chest. The machine analyzes the heart rhythm, and gives recorded voice prompts to the rescuer whether or not to deliver a shock. The user cannot give a shock unless prompted by the machine - it recognizes only a "shockable rhythm."
There is still skepticism by some members of the medical community. Since an AED cannot "fire" unless it detects an inappropriate heart rhythm, the risk is low for an inappropriate shock. The concern is that rescuers may forget the other basic steps in life saving, such as calling EMS / 911, and using CPR in conjunction with the AED. Lay persons should always take a training course in proper use of the AED prior to using the device. All users should undergo annual review of both CPR and using the AED.
The popularity of placing AEDs in high risk areas is growing rapidly. The most common places where victims of cardiac arrest are stricken outside of hospitals include airports, shopping centers, sports stadiums and golf courses. An AED costs between $3000.00 and $4000.00. The Forerunner 2 by Heartstream FR2, and the LifePak 500 by Medtronic are two of the most widely used AEDs. With an estimated quarter million persons dying each year from sudden cardiac arrest, many major credible health organizations, like the American Red Cross, believe AEDs are a positive innovation to allow lay people a better chance to save a life.
Special thanks to Laura Kolberg, MS of the Muskegon/Oceana/Newaygo chapter of the American Red Cross for contributing to this article.
