Getting Up After the Fall
Written by Amber Manini
“Itʻs not whether you get knocked down, its whether you get up.” - Vince Lombardi
Every sports fan remembers most of their favorite teams game winning shots, touch down or undefeated winning streak. For those of us who are avid sports fans we know our favorite players batting average, height, weight and even sometimes the sports injuries they have accumulated over time. What we most times forget to mention or remember are the many hands behind the scenes other than coaches who have taken the time to rehabilitate and support our favorite athletes. These athletic trainers just one day maybe some of our fellow classmates here at UH Hilo. These students are our Kinesiology majors on campus.
Among some of the rigorous human anatomy classes and other required classes our Kinesiology majors encounter, they are also given the opportunity to take a course that offers them the experience of a directed study and CPR/First Aid Certification. KES 334 Advanced Care and Prevention of Athletic Injuries is the course to take!
Although KES 334 has been offered at UH Hilo since the Kinesiology degree was offered to students, in fall 2010 Lecturer Stefanie Basso changed the course description providing a more hands on experience for students and services to the UH Hilo community. Students enrolled in this course will take part in a main project that assimilates that of a directed study.
Depending on their area of interest the student is required to perform pre and post fitness testing assessments on subjects. Some of these tests include, Body composition testing, testing for speed, flexibility or muscular endurance. The student then provides their subjects with a fitness or rehab program to improve certain aspects of fitness. KES 334 is an advanced course offering students the opportunity to master the skills needed in the job as an Athletic Trainer.
This course in unlike that of KES 309 Preparation for Personal Trainer Certification due to the hands on experience as opposed to the 309 class that simply preps students to take the Personal Trainer Certification exam. “KES 334 emphasizes Injury management and care, while KES 309 emphasizes performance enhancement,” says Professor Stefanie Basso instructors of both courses offered.
University of Hawaii at Hilo Senior, Andrew Canencia a student in KES 334 this semester has worked on a training program to help improve quickness, a person’s vertical, and lower resting heart rate. As a part of his program, he will use training such as running, stairs, stretching, and jump roping hoping to improve the strength of the subjects lower leg muscles.
Senior Andrew Canencia starts demonstrating one of his fitness tests for KES 334. Photo taken by reporter Amber Manini.
“I chose to study this specific aspect because I wanted to add a little 'bounce to my step' and improve my quickness all while getting a good cardio workout. I intend to intertwine two training methods; in tribute to the coaches that have trained me. I wanted to use different theories from different coaches to create my own,” says Canencia. Andrew hopes to apply his Kinesiology degree as a professional in coaching, as a firefighter or police officer. “My experiences in Care and Prevention thus far have allowed me to learn proper techniques when doing fitness assessments. This course helped give me a professional standpoint in the field of KES,” said Canencia.
“In practicing such hands on skills that we've been learning in my courses, it enhances the student's skills on administering tests and communication, therefore enhancing their professionalism for when they do enter the workforce and work with real clients and patients. In a given semester, we as a class have cumulatively helped our community to lose hundreds of pounds and gain lean muscle through educating subjects on sound nutrition and workout principles,” said Basso.
As Lombardi once stated, its not about getting knocked down its about getting back up after the fall. Through classes like KES 334 students have the opportunity to prevent injuries and become key professionals who may someday be helping some of our favorite professional athletes. As Basso says, “Learn hands on skills in the field of sports medicine and help our world live a more fit and injury-free life!” Take learning into your own field. Don’t simply pay attention to the game winning shot but pay attention to the arch of the ball and the form of his shooting hand guiding the ball to the hoop. Be the man on and off the field.
For more information you can contact Stefanie Basso at sbasso3@hawaii.edu
