Remembering All the Aspects of Evidence-Based Practice

I have to give a shout out to my volleyball coaches. They have helped cut down on the amount of volleyball injuries we normally have in one season by simply adding a variety of workouts to their team's practices.  Since taking the job two years ago, they have added in mobility training, yoga, meditation, and probably a few other things that I do not know about.  They required each player to buy their own foam roller over the summer, and they all roll out on a regular basis after practices.  

Other coaches think they are crazy.  I mean, why would you need to do anything besides practice your sport and lift weights, right?  Luckily, I have been able to see all the benefits these changes have produced.  We used to have a variety of upper and lower body injuries we dealt with all year long.  This year I can think of one injury, and it resolved quickly with a little help from our athletic training staff.

This change has helped me see that sometimes we need to step out of our comfort zones and try new things.  This summer I attended a session at the NATA Annual Meeting addressing evidence-based practice (EBP).  When I think of EBP, I mostly consider what the research supports.  At the meeting, I was reminded EBP is not just what is supported by original research; it also factors in the clinician’s own knowledge and experience, along with the patient’s goals and values.

Before I may have joined in with the other coaches, thinking our volleyball coach was doing some crazy stuff.  There probably is not a lot of research out there correlating the specific combination of activities my volleyball coaches use with a decrease in team injuries.  However, I have seen the outcomes and I have observed the improved quality of life my players have now. That alone is evidence in my evidence based practice.  Could it be coincidence? Sure, but I’m going to support my coaches new additions to practice, until I am proved otherwise.

Even though I am a young professional, I still find myself get stuck in my ways, but, thanks to my volleyball coaches and a NATA Annual Meeting session this summer, I have been open to trying new things.  We, as health care professionals, should be anxious to learn and try new methods.  Instead of doing what we have always done, let’s be willing to apply our EBP methods and add a little creativity in order to achieve better outcomes for our athletes!

-Shaya Hancock