Why is America Obese?

By: Nick Izzo

Ello folks. Today I’m going to discuss with you a few reasons as to why America is becoming obese. There are genetic contributions, environmental, and behavioral as well. But I will only be going over genetic and environmental as behavioral is pretty self explanatory (you eat what you want to eat).

There are three theories as to why genetics effect obesity. These theories predict genetics account to about 25% of the risk to becoming obese. First of the three theories is the Thrifty Gene Theory. This theory talks about how some people are simply just destined to have more efficient fat storage. This more efficient fat storage would allow these individuals with thrifty genes to be able to survive when food is scarce. The second of the three is the Set-Point Theory. The bases of this theory is that every individual has a genetically programmed control system which tells them just how much fat they should be storing. One issue though with the set-point is that the theory cannot distinguish between dieting and starvation. When someone starts dieting the body can react as if starvation or famine has set in and it will change the metabolic rate in your body to conserve calories, therefore dieting is negatively impacted. The only way to get around this is a constant increase in physical activity. The third theory is the Leptin Theory. Fat cells, more scientifically known as adipose cells, secrete leptin which is a hormone that targets the hypothalamus, a part of your brain, to regulate your intake of food and metabolism. It has been found in mice studies that mice which have low leptin levels eat more often, have more insulin and also have low thyroid and metabolism levels. All these theories are just possible explanations to why genetics may be part of the cause of obesity but hold strong, supporting evidence so they are what are more highly regarded in the study of why obesity is increasing.

Another cause to the increase in obesity is the environments we grow up in. If one of your parents is obese there is a 50% chance the children will be. That percentage increases by 30% if both parents are obese. A family’s economical stance is a big part of the environmental factor. Kids growing up in in families with low poverty to income ratios have the highest rates of obesity. This is mainly due to the price of food in places of poverty. Healthy food costs more in these areas than the fast food places in these places. Also, there are about three times as many supermarkets in wealthy neighborhoods than there are in poor neighborhoods. It truly is the food industry that screws people over. They serve a great amount of low quality products that are high in fat and sugar content to areas with less purchasing power. Food security also factors into the environmental cause of obesity. When someone knows they will always have food to eat they are less likely to binge on food. Whereas people that don’t have food security take advantage of the times they can eat and binge food high in fat and sugar. A very misconstrued part of the environmental factor is parents’ thoughts on abduction. People feel, for some reason, that it is unsafe for their children to be outside unaccompanied. This thought is totally blown out of proportion though. 800,000 children are reported missing every single year. 204,000 of these are non-family member abductions usually meaning people accidentally take the wrong kid. 115 of these are the ones we see on the news. That means about .014% of reported missing children are truly abducted by a predator. Lastly in the environmental column is more than nine out of every 10 schools no longer require or even provide PE. This is detrimental to children’s health because it is very important at those young ages to develop good habits for the future.

There are many factors that contribute to obesity in America. Between your genetics and the environment you grow up in your risk of obesity can alter. It’s very important to watch how much you eat as well as keeping a consistent workout schedule.

References:

“MSU- KIN 173 – Foundations of Kinesiology – Spring 2017”. Education.msu.edu. N.p., 2017. Web. 15 Feb. 2017.

Prompt 1: Questions and Assumptions in the Kinesiology Field

By: Regan Tarrow

Here is a list of questions with answers and assumptions about physical therapy that I put together:

Questions
1. Do physical therapists usually work in groups or can it just be one on one with the patient most of the time?
   You can work alone or you can join a group practice and share clients and responsibilities. 
2. What are some challenges PT's face?
   The educational investment, long work hours, emotional stress from patients, and continuing education requirements. 
3. What is the average pay?
   84,020 according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics 
4. What is the employment outlook for this career?
   There is a high demand in the work force because of the baby boomers. It is suppose to increase by 34% between 2014-24 which is faster than average. 
5. What classes can you take in college that will be most beneficial in this career?
   Classes such as anatomy and physiology are very important towards the graduate degree because they get applied to harder classes in the future. 
6. Schedule for a PT?
   Most physical therapists work full time although there is about 1 in 5 that work part time in 2014. Normal business hours are typical, but some may work evenings or weekends. 
7. What are some major responsibilities?
   Prepare for upcoming therapy sessions, clean areas, watch patient's development, take appointments, answer phone calls, and paper work. 
8. Where do physical therapists practice other than hospitals and outpatient offices?
   Rehabilitation facilities, homes, schools, workplace environments, and fitness centers/sports training facilities. 
9. License requirements for PT?
   After graduating, students must pass a state administered national exam. Most requirements vary from state to state.
10. What are some important qualities to have while being a PT?
   Being patient, compassionate, flexible, and supportive. 
Assumptions
1. Physical therapists specialize in an area.
2. Most physical therapists have a doctoral or professional degree.
3. They spend most of their time on their feet working with patients. It is an active job.
4. In their job they provide exercises for the patient and record progress.
5. It is a hands on career.

After looking up the answers to my questions it helped me better understand what I've been wondering about. The sources I've looked up gave me good information towards my field. Although I do not have a reliable textbook that I could use for any future questions, I'll be sure to get one in the future.
Sources:
Bellamy, Jason. "Who Are Physical Therapists?" APTA. N.p., n.d. Web. 14 Mar. 2017. <http://www.apta.org/AboutPTs/>.


Fisher, Chad. "5 Physical Therapy Career Challenges." Business Insider. Business Insider, 03 Dec. 2011. Web. 14 Mar. 2017. <http://www.businessinsider.com/5-physical-therapy-career-challenges-2011-12>.
"Job Duties in Physical Therapy." Physical Therapy Aide. N.p., n.d. Web. 14 Mar. 2017. <http://www.physicaltherapyaide.org/the-job-of-a-physical-therapy-aide/>.
"Summary." U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, n.d. Web. 14 Mar. 2017. <https://www.bls.gov/ooh/healthcare/physical-therapists.htm#tab-1>.

Prompt 5: Spartan 300 Club

By JT Lenga 


Hello again! For this week, I decided I would share Information about an on campus organization, that I am a part of. The Spartan 300 is a club that I joined during the fall semester of this year. This is club's main focus is health and fitness. I thought that the Spartan 300 would be a great example, to share, of a club that relates to the field of kinesiology. 

The Spartan 300 is MSU's first weight lifting club. The club provides students with the opportunity learn about health/fitness, participate in social events, and enjoy having guest speakers. It's mainly a club for those interested in weightlifting, body building, and power lifting. However they do provide great information on various diets and some general fitness concepts. 

The club is represents themselves as a club full of body builders and gym rats. I remember my first meeting with them, I walked in feeling intimidated. I found it hard for me to talk with any of them at first. After going to their weekly meetings and forcing myself into going to a couple of social gatherings, I have made a couple of new friends in the club. Being a member of the club has also given me a vast network of people to reach out to either for a workout buddy, or for some education on form, eating, or just to hang out. This club may seem like it's only for muscle heads or people with an inflated self image. However, this is not the case. Spartan 300 members care about each other and strive for a friendly environment for people to better their health. It's a place for people who share a common interest, in weightlifting to, share their experiences with others, and to experience new more exciting things. 

Most of the club meetings are made up of slide show presentations on various subjects covering most aspects of proper dieting, weight lifting, exercise programs, and common mistakes in fitness. The head education chairs, Lauren McBroom, and Zac Sadler, give their own mini presentation/demonstration on their own experiences with diets and exercises, making suggestions to help maximize others success in trying what they have tried. 

Being a member of this club, I enjoyed sharing it with you this week. As I have said in previous posts, fitness is something I am very passionate about, so this week was a real treat for me. I hope that after reading this, I have encouraged some of you to participate in some meetings and potentially become a member of The Spartan 300. 

For all those interested The Spartan 300 meets at IM West every Monday at 9:15 p.m. in Room 203. I hope to see some of you there after spring break. Until then, enjoy your week off! 



References

“MSU SPARTAN 300.” MSU Spartan 300, MSU SPARTAN 300, 2015, http://msuspartan300.weebly.com/. Accessed 3 Mar. 2017.

“Spartan 300 Weight Lifting Association.” Powerlifting meet. YouTube, 14 Nov. 2016, https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC22zBRcnKlYb5w-QJXgwlsg. Accessed 3 Mar. 2017.

Musculoskeletal Injuries

By: Regan Tarrow

   The musculoskeletal system gives shape to the body. It supports the body by providing locomotion, gives muscles a place to attach, and forms protection to major body organs. It supports the brain (skull), heart and lungs (rib cage), pelvic organs (pelvis), and the spinal cord (vertebrae). I will be talking about the basics of musculoskeletal injuries.

   The common injuries include:

Sprain: Injury to ligament. Signs and symptoms include pain, swelling, deformity, and discoloration of the skin. Use RICE (rest, ice, compression, elevation). You want to treat sprains as if there is a possible fracture that has occurred.

Strain: Injury to the muscle and/or tendon. Causes extreme pain, tenderness, stiffness of muscle, bump or depression, and loss of function. You want to place the victim in a comfortable position while applying the RICE rule. Activate EMS system if further deformity.

Dislocation: Displacement or separation of a bone from its usual position in a joint. There will be pain, loss of motion, deformity, and numbness/paralysis. Activate the EMS, immobilize in position found, use RICE, treat for shock as needed. When a person is in shock it is best to calm them and warm them with a blanket.

Cramps: Cramps are usually known as involuntary muscle contractions. Gently stretch the cramping muscle and apply pressure with the heel of a hand. Apply ice pack. A good remedy to a cramping muscle is drinking electrolytes. Gatorade or a lightly salted water works best.

Fractures: Types of fracture include comminuted, impacted, greenstick, oblique, spiral, and transverse. Mainly, a fracture is a break in the bone. There will possibly be pain, swelling, deformity, and increased skin temperature. Support the injured part, cover any open wounds with sterile dressings, clean any dirt or debris, and assess blood flow.

Reference:
"Musculoskeletal Injuries & Splinting." D2L - Michigan State University. N.p., 1 Feb. 2016. Web. 04 Mar. 2017.

Kinesio Tape

By Emily Goltz

A newfound taping practice in Kinesiology and Athletic Training is Kinesis Tape. Whether you have seen it or not, kinesis tape is rehabilitation method used to enhance the body's natural way of healing. It was designed by Dr. Kenzo Kase in 1979. It is a adhesive tape that is Latex-free, hypoallergenic and can be worn for days at a time because it is water-proof. It will not limit your range of motion because the tape is looking for different receptors in the somatosensory system.

The main purpose of the tape is to alleviate discomfort and allow for a natural decrease in inflammation by lifting the skin. It reduces pressure to allow for effect blood flowing and lymphatic fluid to move in and out of the affected area. The tape is applied to the targeted area in many ways. It can be placed in an "X" or "Y" shape or can be molded to form the correct angles needed. It is up to the health care provider if they think the tape is efficient or not. If used, the tape can be placed anywhere on the body. The tape comes in multiple different colors but no color tape is better than another. The tape, in itself, is another, longer lasting version of a normal tape job you would see on an ankle or knee.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jwkXHG1IRZU

References:

Lasota, Jon. 10 Jun 2010. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jwkXHG1IRZU -
https://kinesiotaping.com

Identifying and Treating Wounds

By: Nick Izzo

Do you have a weak stomach? Do you not deal well with blood and individuals in pain who need your help? Well then I hope you are never in a situation that someone requires your help because then they are in some trouble. Today in this blog you will find out how to identify an individual that needs assistance and what to do to help them. And it is not scream and run away.

One injury that can possibly occur is an abrasion. This is nothing but a scraped knee or elbow or what have you but it is still important to treat. Treatment is necessary not because of the usual little amount of blood but because of the possibility of infection. More serious than an abrasion is a laceration. These are usually the result of a cut from a sharp object such as a knife as you prepare a pot of mixed vegetables or any sharp thing that just isn’t happy with you that day and decides to give you a nice cut. These cuts will often bleed for a while. There are also things called avulsions. Avulsions are very serious and definitely shouldn’t be dealt with by someone with a weak stomach. This is when your skin is torn off either resulting in it hanging there or coming clean off. These are open to serious infection and should be treated quite immediately.

Now you are probably wondering, how do I treat one of these injuries if I have to? Well, here it comes. You first want to expose the wound so you can clearly see it. This may need the removal of clothes of necessary.  It is now very important to prevent the wound from infection. You can do this by running water, mind you this water should be drinkable, over the wound to clear out and dirt or pebbles. This is when you should apply some pressure to control bleeding. This can be done with any type of bandage but it must be sterile. I also suggest a sterile rubber glove if you just so happen to have one or two on you. After bleeding seems to have died down, bandage should be applied. Also, against normal beliefs, do not use hydrogen peroxide or any type of alcohol on the wound. This can cause infection. When dealing with an avulsion though, take the same steps unless the skin has totally flopped off. Even though it has completely been torn off it can be saved if it’s put into cold water or ice and it can be reattached. This also means the wound still has to be treated properly.

It can be very hard to come up on a real life situation where someone has a laceration that needs treatment. It’s very important to remember these steps though and act as swiftly and cautious as possible. Knowing this information can really help someone in distress and possible save their life. Although hopefully none of us actually have to ever be in this situation.

After all those gory details here’s a laceration that we can all laugh at 

References:

Clausen, Kelsey. D2L - Michigan State University. N.p., n.d. d2l.com Accessed 27 Feb. 2017.

TheZachCrooks. "Step Brothers - Bunk Beds." YouTube. YouTube, 07 Oct. 2010. Youtube.com Accessed 27 Feb. 2017.

What does an Athletic Trainer Do?

By Emily Goltz

Today, I will go into more depth about what exactly an athletic trainer does in regards to their daily activities. There is a lot more behind the scenes that happens than from what you would normally see on the field or the the athletic training room.

First of all, athletic trainers are health care professionals. They are there for prevention services, emergency care, clinical diagnosis and assessment, therapeutic interventions, rehabilitation and health care administration. To become an athletic trainer, you need to complete an entry-level athletic training education that has been accredited by CAATE. You can then chose from 16 post-professional degree programs and need to have two residencies. Next, you take the test, which generally takes four hours and has around 170 questions. If you become an athletic trainer, you need to have stamina, empathy, patience, the ability to communicate, be relatable to, and have an ongoing interest in continuing your education. Depending on what state you are in, you need to be licensed, registered or certified.

The athletic trainer is in charge of all administration and record keeping for the athletes she/ he works with. They are required to have risk management, meaning they are in charge of all things that have to do with fire safety, electrical safety, security issues and the emergency action plan. They have to be uncharge of their budgetary concerns. They have to order the correct number of expendable and non-expenible supplies.

Medical reports are the biggest concern of athletic trainers. They need to have all injury reports, treatments logs, personal information cards, injury evaluations and personal notes. On top of just injury and athlete records, they need to keep full reports on financial and medical data. The reason for keeping records is to be able to communicate, for any legal issues, research efforts, and for reimbursements. There is a statue of limitation an athletic trainer can keep their records for. More often than not, after seven years, the records can't be used for anything and that is when the athletic trainer will get rid of them.

KIN 127- Into to Athletic Training, Caroline Lisee, MED, LAT, ATC