Instruction
1.Glossary: Endocrine System Assignment Due 10/18
Provide 5 terms and their definitions from this week's material that you were previously unaware of or confused about. Explain a little bit about why you chose these terms or ask a question of the instructor.
2.Glossary: Musculoskeletal System
Provide 5 terms and their definitions from this week's material that you were previously unaware of or confused about. Explain a little bit about why you chose these terms or ask a question of the instructor.
3.Exercise Log Revealed
Track and log your exercise for three days this week. Then comment on how you felt, what are your barriers to exercising, do you exercise regularly, etc.?
4.Connection to Environment: Young Athletes
Many young athletes are pushed to perform at levels previously unheard of. They may practice and play sports almost daily. My son played baseball from age 4 to 16 and several of his peers experienced growth plate injuries of their throwing arms. This excerpt from a Sports Illustrated article (Dodson, 2015) highlights some of the issues.
A decade ago, kids would play a fall sport (football or soccer); hockey or basketball in the winter then baseball in the spring and maybe summer. Now in many cases, kids are playing only baseball year-round. Even in cold weather climates, I see children who are playing on a fall team then going to indoor baseball academies in the winter. Playing year-round is compounded by the fact that the good players often play on multiple teams, go to showcases, etc.
From a biomechanical standpoint, throwing puts excessive stresses across the elbow. Professional baseball players are requiring Tommy John surgery at an alarming rate, so it isn’t surprising that young athletes who are not fully developed and playing year-round, are getting injured (and requiring surgery) more commonly. One recent study showed that there is increased risk of injury in 9-12 year olds who throw more than 600 pitches in a season or more than 75 in one game. It follows that as kids play on multiple teams throughout the year, the chance of hitting that 600 pitch number gets much more likely.
When I watched my son finish his first full year of high school ball, I was concerned for the future musculoskeletal health of many of the athletes. They practiced for 2-3 hours each day after school and played double headers every Saturday. His only day off was Sunday. I can personally feel their pain as I had my knee replaced at the age of 45 due to past injuries incurred while competing in gymnastics and skiing most weekends in my younger years.
What do you think about this "push" to make our youth excel in sports at such an early age? Be sure to respond with a minimum of 150 words and respond to at least two peers in order to receive full credit for this forum.
5.Glossary: Nervous System
Provide 5 terms and their definitions from this week's material that you were previously unaware of or confused about. Explain a little bit about why you chose these terms or ask the instructor a question.
6.Connection to the Environment: CTE-Discussion Topic
Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy is most often found in professional athletes and combat veterans. It is a non-reversible form of brain damage caused by repeated concussions or other trauma to the brain.
After watching the movie “Concussion” and looking at the CTE Resources website, comment on how you think the changes society is making in sports and entertainment to protect our athletes affects us as a society.
7.COVID-19- Discussion Topic
Community disruptions such as COVID-19 and natural disasters can have deep and long-lasting impacts. Your immediate life and day to day world have likely dramatically changed in light of the pandemic and our country’s response. What changes took place in your life? What changes are still impacting you? How has the Delta variant impacted you?
Given what we have learned about the human body, how will these preventative measures (masks, hand washing, social distancing, vaccination) help prevent the spread of the virus or help protect those around you?
8.Glossary: Immune System Assignment
Provide 5 terms and their definitions from this week's material that you were previously unaware of or confused about. Explain a little bit about why you chose these terms or ask the instructor a question.