Your FREE BOC Flashcards 2026 – 100+ Cards

Precontemplation → Contemplation → Preparation → Action → Maintenance (Stages of Change for behavior).

Collaborative, patient-centered counseling that helps an athlete resolve their own ambivalence about change (uses OARS).

Open questions, Affirmations, Reflective listening, Summaries — the core MI skills.

Stops injury/illness before it occurs (protective equipment, conditioning, education).

Early detection to limit severity (pre-participation exam, baseline concussion testing, screenings).

Manages an established condition to restore function (rehab after an ACL reconstruction).

Screening exam to identify conditions that may predispose an athlete to injury or illness before sport.

The ability to obtain, understand, and use health information to make appropriate decisions.

The highest level — critically appraising health information and acting on social determinants of health.

Lessens the probability or impact of a harmful event without eliminating it (vs risk avoidance).

Gradual physiologic adaptation to exercising in the heat over ~10–14 days; reduces heat-illness risk.

Wet-Bulb Globe Temperature — environmental heat index used to modify or cancel activity for heat safety.

Low energy availability (±disordered eating), menstrual dysfunction, and low bone mineral density.

Physical, emotional, social, intellectual, spiritual, and occupational wellness.

Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Relevant, Time-bound — framework for behavior-change goals.

Match fluid intake to sweat losses; monitor body-weight change and urine color to prevent dehydration.

Equipment (e.g., helmets, mouthguards) must be properly fitted and maintained to reduce injury risk.

Weight loss, preoccupation with food/weight, dental erosion, fatigue, and menstrual changes warrant referral.

Risk-reduction counseling addresses tobacco, alcohol, and supplement/PED use using evidence-based education.

A sprain injures a LIGAMENT (bone-to-bone); a strain injures a MUSCLE or its TENDON.

History, Observation, Palpation, Special tests — the systematic injury-evaluation sequence.

Subjective, Objective, Assessment, Plan — standard clinical documentation format.

Most sensitive test for an ACL tear — anterior tibial translation, knee flexed 20–30°, soft endpoint = positive.

Tests the ACL — anterior tibial glide, knee flexed 90°; less sensitive than the Lachman.

Tests the PCL — posterior tibial glide with the knee flexed 90°.

Screens for a meniscal tear — pain/click with tibial rotation as the knee is extended from flexion.

Tests the MCL of the knee; performed at 30° of knee flexion to isolate the ligament.

Tests the LCL of the knee; performed at 30° of knee flexion.

Squeeze the calf — NO passive plantarflexion = positive for an Achilles tendon rupture.

Tests the ATFL — anterior talar glide; the ATFL is the most commonly sprained ankle ligament.

Tests the calcaneofibular ligament (CFL) of the lateral ankle.

Tests the supraspinatus — resisted abduction in the scapular plane with the thumb pointing down.

Provoke subacromial impingement of the shoulder (passive elevation / internal rotation).

Tests anterior glenohumeral instability — apprehension with the arm abducted and externally rotated.

Reproduce median-nerve paresthesia in carpal tunnel syndrome (wrist flexion / tapping the nerve).

Screens for lumbar nerve-root irritation — radicular pain at ~30–70° of hip flexion.

Special (stress) tests confirm the injured structure after history, observation, and palpation.

Microscopic tearing; mild pain/swelling; NO laxity; firm endpoint; minimal loss of function.

Partial tear; moderate pain/swelling/bruising; SOME laxity with a definite endpoint.

Complete rupture; gross instability; soft or ABSENT endpoint; marked loss of function.

Full range of motion against gravity with NO added resistance — the antigravity pivot grade.

0 (no contraction) to 5 (full ROM vs gravity + maximal resistance), on the Oxford scale.

Instrument to measure joint range of motion in degrees; axis over the joint, arms along the segments.

A characteristic proportional limitation of ROM that suggests whole-joint capsule involvement.

The quality felt at the end of passive ROM (firm, hard, soft, empty) — helps localize the limitation.

Area of skin supplied by a single spinal nerve root — maps sensory loss to a level (e.g., L5 = great toe).

Muscles innervated by a single spinal nerve root — tested by resisted movement (e.g., S1 = plantarflexion).

Screening across body systems to detect non-musculoskeletal causes and red flags requiring referral.

Suspected by pain out of proportion and paresthesia; confirmed by compartment pressure measurement.

FMS — screens basic movement patterns for asymmetries and limitations, not a diagnostic test.

Sensitive tests (when negative) rule OUT (SnNout); specific tests (when positive) rule IN (SpPin).

Systematically narrowing possible conditions using history, exam findings, and special tests.

SCAT and balance/cognitive testing (e.g., baseline comparison) help evaluate a suspected concussion.

A written, venue-specific plan defining roles, equipment, communication, and EMS activation for emergencies.

CNS dysfunction + core temp >~104–105°F in an exercising athlete; a true medical emergency.

RECTAL thermometry is the only valid field measure; oral/tympanic/axillary/temporal devices are inaccurate.

For exertional heat stroke, begin cold-water immersion immediately and cool BEFORE transporting.

Immerse in ~35–59°F water with continuous stirring; fastest whole-body cooling for heat stroke.

Heavy sweating, fatigue, headache, normal/mildly elevated temp, intact CNS — cool, hydrate, rest.

Activate EMS/EAP, manually stabilize the head/neck in neutral, jaw-thrust airway, minimize spinal motion.

Generally remove the helmet AND shoulder pads together as a unit, by trained rescuers, keeping the spine aligned.

Athlete collapses without contact → start CPR and apply an AED immediately; SCA is a leading cause of death.

Apply as soon as available; early defibrillation is the strongest determinant of survival in SCA.

Any suspected concussion is removed immediately and not returned to play the same day ('when in doubt, sit out').

Severe allergic reaction with airway swelling/breathing difficulty → epinephrine + activate EMS.

If unresponsive to the rescue inhaler, support breathing and activate EMS for emergency care.

Apply direct pressure to the wound first to control bleeding.

Cover with a sterile dressing, control bleeding, immobilize, and activate EMS; do not push bone back in.

Lay the athlete flat, elevate the legs (if no contraindication), maintain warmth, monitor, and activate EMS.

Seal with an occlusive dressing to prevent air entry; monitor for tension pneumothorax; activate EMS.

'When thunder roars, go indoors' — seek a substantial building or hard-topped vehicle; resume after 30 min.

Do NOT have the athlete move the neck or remove a helmet improperly; restrict spinal motion.

Sudden Face droop, Arm weakness, Speech difficulty → Time to call EMS immediately.

Use standard precautions and PPE for any blood exposure; control bleeding, clean, and dress wounds.

In sickle-cell trait athletes, exertional muscle cramping/weakness — stop activity, cool, oxygen, monitor.

Give fast-acting carbohydrate (glucose, juice) for a conscious diabetic athlete with low blood sugar.

In multiple casualties, manage life-threatening airway, breathing, and circulation problems first.

Vasoconstriction — decreases metabolism, inflammation, pain, and nerve conduction; used in acute injury.

Cold hypersensitivity / Raynaud phenomenon, impaired sensation, and poor circulation.

Vasodilation — increases blood flow and tissue extensibility; used in subacute/chronic conditions.

Protection, Rest/Optimal Loading, Ice, Compression, Elevation — early acute-injury management.

Deep heating (continuous) or non-thermal tissue healing (pulsed); 1 MHz penetrates deeper than 3 MHz.

Uses direct current to drive medication (often anti-inflammatory) through the skin into tissue.

Transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation — pain control, often via the gate-control mechanism.

Neuromuscular electrical stimulation — elicits a muscle contraction for re-education or strengthening.

Used for pain, edema, and wound healing; main risk if misused is a skin burn.

Days 0–~6: swelling, pain, redness, warmth — PROTECT and control inflammation.

Days ~3–21: collagen/granulation forms — begin gentle, controlled loading to align fibers.

Week 3 to a year+: collagen matures along stress lines — load progressively toward function.

Lengthening under tension (e.g., heel-drops) — cornerstone of chronic tendinopathy rehab.

Chronic tendon problems respond to controlled loading, not rest alone.

Proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation — contract-relax techniques to enhance flexibility and coordination.

Frequency, Intensity, Time, Type — the variables of an exercise/rehab prescription.

Specific Adaptation to Imposed Demands — rehab must mimic the athlete's sport-specific demands.

Adaptation requires demand beyond the tissue's current capacity, applied progressively.

Training gains are lost when the stimulus stops ('use it or lose it').

The distal segment is fixed (e.g., squat) — more functional and joint-stabilizing for lower-extremity rehab.

The distal segment moves freely (e.g., leg extension) — isolates a muscle but is less functional.

Restores joint position sense after injury (e.g., balance-board work) to reduce re-injury.

Delayed-onset muscle soreness — peaks 24–72 h after unaccustomed eccentric exercise; self-limiting.

Maitland grades I–II for pain, III–IV for stiffness, and V (thrust) for manipulation.

Convex-on-concave: glide OPPOSITE the bone motion; concave-on-convex: glide the SAME direction.

Restore ROM → strength → proprioception → power/agility → sport-specific function, guided by healing.

Always screen for impaired sensation, poor circulation, malignancy, and DVT before thermal agents.

Pain-free full ROM, near-symmetric strength, restored function, and medical clearance before clearance.

Defined by the STATE practice act where the athletic trainer works — not by BOC certification alone.

BOC certification = national competency; state licensure/registration = legal right to practice.

Protects identifiable health information held by covered health-care entities.

Protects student education records at federally funded schools — often covers athletes' school medical records.

Treat all blood and body fluids as potentially infectious; use hand hygiene and PPE.

The single most effective measure to prevent the spread of infection in health care.

A patient with capacity voluntarily agrees to care after being told risks, benefits, and alternatives.

Most states require athletic trainers to report suspected child abuse or neglect.

Accurate, timely, confidential records — essential for continuity of care and legal protection.

Failure to provide the standard of care that a reasonable clinician would, causing harm.

The legal obligation to act as a reasonably prudent athletic trainer would in similar circumstances.

Define the practice and disciplinary standards required of every certified athletic trainer.

Integrates the best research evidence, clinical expertise, and patient values/preferences.

Patient/Problem, Intervention, Comparison, Outcome — frames a focused clinical question for EBP.

Systematic reviews/meta-analyses of RCTs sit at the top of the evidence hierarchy.

Reliability = consistency of a measure; validity = whether it measures what it intends to.

Sensitivity rules OUT when negative (SnNout); specificity rules IN when positive (SpPin).

Type I = false positive (α); Type II = false negative (β).

Minimal clinically important difference — the smallest change a patient perceives as meaningful.

Standardized tools (e.g., disablement/quality-of-life scales) that track patient-centered progress.

Systematically identifies and controls risks in athletic facilities, activities, and policies.

BOC certification is maintained through ongoing continuing-education requirements and standards.

A documented exception allowing a needed prescribed medication under a drug-testing policy.

Athlete health information is disclosed only with proper authorization, per HIPAA/FERPA.