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Shuttle: You guys created this awesome YouTube video that has been viewed by over 59,000 (and counting)! How did it all come about?
Jared:
Our professors at James Madison University do a great job of instilling a passion for the profession in the Athletic Training students and they challenged us in our junior year, as a class assignment, to develop a project to promote Athletic Training. So, I came up with the idea of creating a music video. Once I had the song created I immediately recruited Pratik because with his passion for Athletic Training and exceptional organizational skills I knew he was the perfect man for the job. We shot about 7 hours of footage (2 alone of just me dancing).
Banjade:
"Smooth Professional" took 3 weeks of video taping, over 7 hours of footage, and 26 hours of editing. Much worth it for the promotion of Athletic Training!
Shuttle: What's the response to the video been like?
Banjade:
Response has been amazing. First we were hopeful of just 500 hits. We were amazed at how quickly it spread on the internet. Within 24 hours it had over 3,000 hits - within 72 hours, over 34,000 hits! We have received responses from around the country, and especially the NATA.
Miller:
We have had overwhelming positive support from athletic trainers all throughout the country. It is so exciting to get emails from other students or professors who loved the video and want to use it to promote AT in their area. The NATA has even recognized our efforts and asked to play the video at our national convention in Philly! We have also just learned that we won the NATA public relations contest for "Most Creative" project! Our video gained so much popularity that we were featured on blogs, websites, newspaper articles and even national television shows. It has been an amazing experience.
Shuttle: Why "Smooth Professional?"
Banjade:
Smooth Professional kind of fell right into place. Obviously, it works well with the original version, "Smooth Criminal" created by Michael Jackson, but it also exemplifies the demeanor of athletic trainers. When an injury or emergency occurs, the majority of people are panicking, but athletic trainers remaining calm, composed, and SMOOTH when dealing with stressful situations. This is why we should be considered the "Smooth Professionals" of the healthcare world.
Shuttle: What's the biggest misperception out there about the Athletic Training profession?
Banjade:
One of the biggest misperceptions is the title of the profession itself. Most people call Athletic Trainers "trainers," which is clearly not what Certified Athletic Trainers are. Another misperception is that Certified Athletic Trainers are capable of holding careers only along the sidelines or in sports medicine clinics. Would you be surprised to learn that ATCs can work in military, industrial, and police settings?
Miller:
Many people don't know that ATs must graduate from a 4 year collegiate program and pass a national certification exam. Among other things, ATs possess the skills to prevent, care for, evaluate, and rehabilitate all sports related injuries, in individuals of all age ranges. This misunderstanding is a sore subject among many ATs, including myself, and rightfully so because this lack of understanding in the public makes it hard for ATs to gain recognition in the healthcare field.
Shuttle MVP: You're graduating from James Madison University. What's unique or special about the JMU program?
Miller:
JMU has exceptional facilities which allow the staff to best serve their student-athletes. I think the educational program is one of the most successful in the country in terms of pass rate on the BOC exam, but they do more than just teach students how to pass the exam. JMU students develop a great sense of professionalism and commitment along with a great base of knowledge. JMU places its students in situations of great responsibility which test their skills, but they also provide a great support network of staff to fall back on. I spent a lot of time just picking the brains of our experienced staff.
Shuttle MVP: You've got your whole professional life ahead of you.... what would be your dream opportunity?
Banjade:
To be a Program Director in the field of Athletic Training at a distinguished University. I have developed extensive leadership and management skills at JMU and believe I could use these experiences greatly in my future aspirations.
Miller:
Getting into athletic training as a freshman in college I had one dream job in mind and that was to work with the Washington Redskins. That is still my dream job, but realistically I will be happy working in a Division 1 collegiate setting, as a respected member of this profession who is making an impact at my institution and helping student-athletes continue to participate in what they love.
Shuttle MVP: Anybody out there in the Athletic Training field that you think is doing some really cool stuff?
Miller:
In doing my research when applying for my Michigan State University position I was fascinated with Dr. John Powell´s work involving the epidemiology of sports injuries and I was very impressed to hear that the whole Big 10 conference uses the same injury surveillance system which in turn can create a more clear picture for Big 10 athletic trainers regarding the epidemiology within their own conference. I must also give a shout out to all those ATs who spend time on Capital Hill lobbying for the rights of athletic trainers. As I mentioned earlier, it is very important to gain public awareness and support for our profession in order to advance in the healthcare field.
Shuttle MVP: Here's a Miss America question for you: At the end of your career, where do you want to say that you made your "Dent in the Universe"?
Banjade:
I want to help as many people as I can - be it in Athletic Training or just in service. The greatest characteristic in a person, I believe, is in service and care - care that is given not for recognition, but straight from the heart.
Miller:
Honestly, I will be happy just simply carrying out the work of athletic training wherever I end up. I will make a positive¨"dent in the universe" for every single one of the hundreds of athletes I care for and help return back to participation. Athletes will always remember and appreciate the AT who genuinely cares about them. I am interested in continuing medical research while at MSU, and beyond, so I hope to publish some peer- reviewed articles which can be used by ATs in the practice of evidence based medicine. Outside of Athletic Training, I have participated in a few community service projects at home and overseas and I would like to continue helping those who are less fortunate. I also, someday, want to have a happy family and make a positive "dent" in the lives of my wife and children - what more can you really ask for?
Shuttle: One more.... How do you use your Shuttle MVP at James Madison University, and can you please share with us some specific protocols you use that others can try?
Banjade:
At JMU we used the Shuttle MVP for many rehabilitation programs for lower extremity injuries. It was a great tool to create a closed kinetic chain environment for ACL to minor ankle rehabilitations.
Miller:
I primarily use the Shuttle MVP in developing lower body rehabilitation exercises. The MVP is great for athletes who are still limited to partial weight-bearing, but still need to strengthen their lower body. In athletes with patellofemoral tracking syndrome, the Shuttle MVP is very beneficial in the first 30 degrees of knee flexion for specifically strengthening the Vastus Medialus Oblique muscle. I have used the Shuttle MVP to assist with jump training in athletes whom we have identified as having high risk for knee ligementous injuries. While seated on the device the athlete can launch themselves off the Shuttle platform and when landing they must focus on a proper landing mechanics, such as eliminating any valgus moments at the knee or restricting the knee´s movement forward over the toes. Essentially, this same exercise can be used to develop more explosive power if the number of resistance bands is increased. The Shuttle MVP is great for hamstring/glute strengthening if the athlete stands and places their foot on one of the Shuttle´s pegs and extends their hip and knee back against resistance. Those are just a few of the many techniques I have used with my student-athletes on the Shuttle MVP.
Shuttle: Thanks guys - you've got a bright future ahead of you. See you in Philly! (Make sure you stop by and "Toss Your Cookies" on our Shuttle Balance - we're gonna shoot video....)
"You've been seen by a Health Care Professional"
