Hi all, Trying to navigate some conversations with sports medicine over how to calculate energy needs in athletic adolescents. We go off of EER + Activity Level, as well as weight trends (following curve appropriately), and weight gain velocity (is client meet age appropriate growth markers). However, I've been getting asked why we do not use fat free mass composition to determine adolescent athlete needs- to which my response has been they are still growing/ developing, goal is to focus on meeting overall baseline needs for ADLS/ sports. I reinforce that if a pt is meeting his/her baseline needs of energy for ADLs/ sports, this will allow their body to build strength vs. deplete muscle. Any alternative methods for calculating energy needs in adolescent athletes? Methods for calculating estimated energy expenditure for specific activities? How have you navigated this rationale/ questions from medical providers/ families? Thanks y'all!

Help the community level up—what’s one solid takeaway you’ve received this season? Whether it was from a clinic, conference, or just a great convo with a peer, share what stuck with you.

On 6/24/2025 at 1:21 PM, randlest said: Dr. Freese, I hope this message finds you well. At Indiana University South Bend, we are in the early stages of developing a Sports Nutrition Lab to support better the health, performance, and education of our student-athletes. In my current administrative role, which I’ve held for the past five years, I’ve been working closely with Athletics and other campus partners to build out programming that integrates evidence-based practices with accessible tools. As we shape this initiative, I’m reaching out to learn more about current and emerging technologies that can effectively track dietary behaviors and support nutritional programming for collegiate athletes. Specifically, we’re interested in platforms or systems that can: Monitor and analyze eating patterns and nutrient intake. Provide individualized or team-level data insights. Integrate with wearable devices or physical performance metrics. Offer educational or behavioral nudges to support long-term adherence If you have any recommendations for technologies or systems, or if you would be open to a brief conversation, I would be grateful for your insights as we lay the foundation for a sustainable and impactful program. Thank you in advance for your time and expertise. Warm regards, Tony Randles, PhD, MPH Hi Tony, pleasure to meet you! The reality is, it’s a very segmented space, with different tools solving different parts of the athlete performance puzzle. There isn’t one all-in-one solution, but there are a few standout platforms designed specifically for collegiate athletics. For nutrition, ZoneIn and Notemeal (both now part of Teamworks) are leading options. They help athletes log meals, receive individualized guidance, and enable sports dietitians to scale support across an entire team. Both also integrate with Teamworks’ broader platform, making it easier to connect nutrition with training load, recovery, and readiness. There are a variety of data aggregator platforms in the market, each with unique capabilities, including Smartabase, Kitman Labs, and Teamworks, among others. If the goal is to tie everything together, from wearable data to performance metrics and behavioral nudges, one of those probably has the most integrated ecosystem that delivers an athlete-specific and integrated option out there right now. But depending on the need (e.g., food tracking, sleep, load management), different tools may be better suited for different programs. It’s an exciting space, but still evolving.

Hey Marcella! Dr. Kyle Schneider and Dr. David Tomchuk just delivered a powerful session at NATA 2025 titled “Cracking the Code: A Clinician’s Guide to Using Artificial Intelligence in Athletic Training.” They outlined how athletic trainers can use AI tools—not as a replacement for clinical judgment or patient interaction—but to improve efficiency and ultimately enhance care. Here are a few practical ways they suggested athletic trainers can use AI right now: 1. Simplify SOAP Notes and Documentation Use AI platforms to speed up writing, proofreading, or summarizing injury documentation. According to the session, AI-assisted note-taking can reduce time spent on documentation and increase clarity for others reading your notes. Just remember: always review for accuracy—you're still the clinician. 2. Support Injury Evaluation and Rehab Planning AI can assist with building differential diagnoses for common injuries based on exam notes and symptoms. You can even create customized rehab programs, based on your facility's equipment and your athlete’s needs. The AI won't replace your eyes and hands—but it’s a strong assistant when you’re pressed for time. 3. Create Educational Materials Fast Need a heat illness infographic? A parent-friendly concussion handout? A Spanish-language return-to-play flyer? The presenters showed examples of how they prompted AI to generate these in minutes. They emphasized that while AI can draft visuals and summaries, you should always review and localize the content to meet your standards. 4. Streamline Admin Tasks This might have been the most practical part of the session. They showed how AI can help: Draft or update policies (e.g., EAPs, equipment checkout forms) Make those policies into fillable PDFs Assist in writing salary justifications, scheduling staff, or even drafting difficult emails 5. Analyze Injury and Workload Data If you’re collecting athlete data but not sure how to make sense of it, AI can help identify trends, summarize findings, and build visualizations—without needing a background in statistics. Upload your spreadsheet, delete PHI (this is very important!!), give AI some context, and let it help uncover actionable insights. Final Takeaways: You don’t need to be a tech expert to benefit from AI—start small. Be specific with your prompts and always double-check the output. Think of AI as your digital assistant—it can’t replace you, but it can help you focus more on your athletes and less on your paperwork. I'm looking forward to this thread continuing to evolve! Thank you for starting it!

Hey Everyone! This morning I attended an awesome session at the 2025 NATA Convention ! Cannabis Educational Strategies in the Athletic Population Presented by Dr. Jeff Konin, PT, PhD, ATC, FACSM, FNATA, FNAP; Dr. Corey Tremble, DAT, LAT, ATC; and Dr. Ginger Gilmore, DBH, LAT, ATC This presentation provided athletic trainers and sports medicine professionals with practical strategies for educating and counseling athletes on cannabis use. The presenters emphasized the need for informed, stigma-free communication rooted in scientific evidence and grounded in performance and health outcomes. I most enjoyed the part of the presentation that reviewed the Performance Impacts of Marijuana Use . Here are my key takeaways: Increased injury risk : Athletes who use marijuana are six times more likely to miss significant time due to injury. Heavy users miss, on average, more than 10 days during a football season. Impaired muscle development : Analysis of football athlete data revealed that marijuana use—defined as testing positive more than 0.5 times per year—was the strongest predictor of underdeveloped lean muscle mass. Athletes who used marijuana were 4.5 times more likely to be in the lowest muscle development category. Reduced training adaptations : Non-users gained an average of 6.7 pounds of muscle and had a 3.3% development rate across the season. In contrast, marijuana users gained only 2.2 pounds and developed at 1.1%. This suggests that marijuana use may reduce physical development potential by as much as 67%. Additional performance impacts : Marijuana is associated with slowed reaction time, reduced endurance and coordination, impaired memory, increased anxiety, and difficulty managing stress. These effects may also increase the risk of academic or eligibility consequences and negatively affect scholarship or professional opportunities. I also loved the guidance that the presenters gave for Navigating Conversations with Athletes . Here are my takeaways: Lead with performance outcomes Frame marijuana use as a performance barrier, not a character issue. Example: “You’re working hard—this is something that might be holding you back from maximizing your results.” Use data to start conversations, not deliver lectures Present key facts to encourage reflection. Example: “We’ve seen that athletes who use marijuana gain two-thirds less muscle in a season. Have you noticed any difference in how your body’s responding to training?” Avoid judgment and support athlete goals Recognize that marijuana use may be tied to sleep, stress, or social coping. Guide athletes toward effective alternatives like mindfulness, structured routines, mental health support, or recovery strategies. I'd love to continue the conversation! Drop your best resources and tips for educating athletes on marijuana use below!

Hello @SueHannon ! Thanks for your question on energy drinks and caffeine in adolescents. Some key thing to keep in mind: 1. The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommends that children under 12 years avoid caffeine completely and adolescents 12-18 years old should limit caffeine consumption to 100mg per day (this is about 1-8oz cup of coffee).  The AAP has come out and said that children and adolescents should consider avoiding energy drinks all together due to possible sleep disturbances, anxiety and jitters, dependence and/or withdrawal symptoms. 2. In my experience, you can find more success helping athletes find a healthier substitute vs just telling them to "stop drinking that energy drink". First, You'll need to find out WHY they are using that drink. Is it because... They slept poorly and are fatigued? Perhaps you can show them the impacts sleep has on performance, educate on sleep hygiene and encourage them to set a goal of 9 hours of sleep per night. They feel it will positively impact their performance? We know there can be truth to this. If so, you could help them switch to a food based caffeine source with an appropriate dose (ie 1 cup coffee or green tea).  Another idea is to educate your athletes on what truly fuels performance (CARBOHYDRATES! Caffeine is not fuel). Appropriately fueling high intensity activity with 30-60g carbohydrates (ie carbohydrate rich bar, drink, gummy) about 1 hour before training can have a much greater impact on performance than fueling fasted on caffeine. Hoping this helps get conversations started with your athletes! Please respond if you'd like to keep the conversation going!

Gatorade is the greatest!

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Love getting to meet and network with everyone here in Orlando!!!!!