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Pharmacology Application in Athletic Training

	Introduction

This text consists of 3 sections: an introduction with a historical background, prescription and over-the-counter drugs typically used in the training room or with a younger population, and commonly abused drugs in sports. The material is presented in a student-friendly fashion with several tables that provide an easy reference to drugs, their actions, and their adverse reactions. Each chapter has either a boxed area titled "Athletic Training Responsibility" or "What to Tell the Athlete" or a scenario from the field that follows most major topics and applies the information presented on that topic in the athletic training setting. Other student- and reader-friendly aspects include the discussion section at the end of each chapter, questions to test readers' understanding of the material, and Internet resources listed throughout the chapters for further investigation. Even though this is geared for the athletic training student, it is an excellent resource for anyone working with the orthopedic or fitness population.

The first section has 2 chapters. The first covers the history of pharmacology, the classification of drugs according to their abuse potential, and the legal issues relevant to the athletic trainer. The second chapter focuses on pharmacokinetics (the absorption, distribution, metabolism, and excretion of drugs) along with pharmacodynamics (the effects of the drug on the body). This section offers an excellent background with need-to-know information before dealing with specific drugs.

The second section has 8 chapters that enable the authors to break the prescription and over-the-counter drugs into usage patterns according to common medical conditions seen in the athletic population. Each chapter begins with some pathophysiology of the medical condition, which leads into the emphasis on the basic actions of the drugs, their indications, adverse reactions, and drug interactions. Chapter 3 addresses the anti-inflammatory drugs, including nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, COX-2 inhibitors, and corticosteroids, while chapter 4 describes muscle relaxant drugs. Diabetes medications for types I and II are presented along with an insulin table that illustrates peak time and exercise timing recommendations, based on when insulin is first taken.

Chapter 6 looks at some common cardiac conditions seen in the athletic population, especially the use of anti-arrhythmic drugs in sudden cardiac death as well as the treatment of hyper- tension. The next condition presented is asthma, including treatment using bronchodilators and those used to treat inflammation of the bronchioles. A nice feature in chapter 7 is the inclusion of cough and cold medications, because this is a common illness that athletes or clients often self-medicate. Pharmacological treatment of gastrointestinal disorders that include peptic ulcer, gastroesophageal reflux disease, diarrhea, constipation, reflux, and gas are discussed in chapter 8, while antibiotics, antiviral, and antifungal applications are discussed in chapter 9. The last chapter of this section deals with over-the-counter and prescription analgesics and anesthetics. The warning signs of improper use by the athlete that the practitioner should recognize are included here, as well as in a comprehensive table in chapter 15, the last chapter in the book.

The third section on commonly abused drugs in sports includes a chapter on muscle-building agents such as steroids, HGH, and creatine; a chapter on the stimulants ephedra and caffeine; one on natural ergogenic supplements; and another on social drugs such as alcohol and tobacco. These chapters also highlight the legal aspects connected to the use of these drugs. The final chapter of the book contains tables that categorize the drugs banned by the National Collegiate Athletic Association and the International Olympic Committee. Drug testing programs for the college and high school settings are outlined with easy-to-follow directions to set up a drug-testing program in either setting.

In conclusion, I found the organization of this book easy to follow and consistent throughout. The diagrams and tables enhanced its student-friendly approach to the complicated, and often confusing, use of pharmaceutical agents today in the orthopedic, fitness, and athletic setting.

Rose L Smith

University of Cincinnati
Cincinnati, Ohio

	Footnotes

 
Dr Smith is Assistant Professor in the Department of Rehabilitation Sciences, Interim Director of the Health Sciences Program, Adjunct Instructor in the Athletic Training Program, and Novacare rehabilitation specialist for the UC Athletic Department.

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This Article Full Text (PDF) Submit a response Alert me when this article is cited Alert me when Rapid Responses are posted Alert me if a correction is posted Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Smith, R. L Search for Related Content PubMed Articles by Smith, R. L Related Collections Pharmacology Sports Physical Therapy Social Bookmarking                      What's this?