Athletic Training Education: There's an App for That

This column provides an overview of mobile applications (apps) available for athletic training educators and students as of October 2014. The authors reviewed and selected apps based on online-reviews, recommendations by fellow athletic trainers and students, personal use, and overall app ratings. Forty-one athletic training educators and 112 students were asked to share their favorite and/or most useful apps. The goal of this article is to provide a description of relevant apps along with a brief synopsis of suggested use by both athletic training educators and students. Additional information that may affect a user's app selection, such as cost, size of the download, and consumer ratings, if available, is also included. All of the apps below can be found by searching the Web by name and publisher or by searching the Apple App Store/Android Marketplace. Since new apps are created daily, this article was not designed to serve as a cumulative list of all available apps. Rather, this is a way to help narrow the app search for athletic training educators and students.

WHAT IS AN APP?

Applications (apps) are computer programs written specifically for Internet-connected mobile phones and tablets. These programs perform specific functions for the user, usually through a touchscreen interface. Apps are increasing in popularity over the last decade, as cellphone ownership, especially smartphones, is more prevalent. Currently, there are around 10 billion connected devices on the market.¹ Therefore, it should not be surprising that around 50 billion apps were downloaded between the Apple App Store and the Android Marketplace in 2012 alone.² Between 2010 and 2011, 34.4% of total smartphone users reported using an app of some kind.³ Connected devices are especially popular among the Millennial and Generation Z students now enrolled in various preprofessional health care programs.⁴ These students were raised with technology inundating their lives; therefore, they tend to desire the use of technology more frequently than older adults.^5,6 Apps provide students the freedom of mobile learning through handheld devices to learn at any time and any pace. Mobile learning applications, such as apps, can be used to supplement traditional lecture techniques.⁶ Therefore, it may be helpful for athletic training educators to familiarize themselves with apps available for their personal use along with those that could potentially enhance students' learning and knowledge retention.

EVALUATION AND MANAGEMENT APPS

MEDTube

Description of Function

MEDTube (MEDtube Medical Videos, New York, NY) is a medical library designed for health care professionals that includes a wide variety of multimedia such as over 11 000 videos, animations, interviews, presentations, case reports, podcasts, and academic lectures. Prior to uploading material, the MEDTube editorial staff, comprised of physicians, reviews all content for accuracy and educational quality. This review process helps to ensure that only quality, accurate material is included in the medical library. An account is required to add content, rate videos, comment on videos, and share expertise. Table 1 provides specifications on the MEDTube app along with other apps which can be used to assist the clinician with evaluation and management.

Table 1. Evaluation and Management Apps

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Table 1. Extended

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Application in an Educational Setting

Instructors from a wide range of courses can supplement lectures with content from this application. Resources are organized by content ranging from general medicine (ie, ophthalmology, cardiology, dermatology) to orthopaedic conditions and include lectures, case studies, and overviews of surgical procedures. This app may also be ideal for clinical preceptors seeking to provide students with “just in time”⁷ resources as teachable moments arise in the clinical setting. Students may also choose to access the app to review concepts learned in the classroom, allowing them to select the pace of their learning and add onto information presented by the instructor. Furthermore, both the student and the instructor can feel comfortable knowing the content is reviewed by physicians.

ANATOMY APPS

The Muscle System Pro III

Description of Function

This app (3D4Medical/Stanford University of Medicine, San Diego, CA) provides the user the ability to zoom in on specific muscles of the body or search by name to learn the origin, insertion, action, nerve innervation, and arterial supply while looking at the location of the muscle on the body in relation to other structures. Layers of tissue can be added or removed to observe both superficial and deep structures as desired. The user can create quizzes or rotate each body part 360° with the swipe of their finger. Finally, the pronunciation of the name of the structure is also provided. Table 2 provides more details on this app, along with the other anatomy apps reviewed.

Table 2. Anatomy Apps

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Application in an Educational Setting

This app is useful for students to gain the foundational knowledge of anatomy needed to build more advanced skills such as palpation, evaluation, and therapeutic rehabilitation techniques. The versatility of this app allows the student to move around the body with ease, as they use the “remove layer” function to reveal bony origin and insertions.

PRODUCTIVITY APPS

Finish

Description of Function

This app (Basil Ltd, Boulder, CO) helps keep the user organized by structuring a to-do list that includes short-term, mid-term, and long-term goals. There is also a notification system that notifies the user when a task is coming due. Another useful feature is the built in “bother me” setting for users who require extra motivation to complete projects on time. Table 3 lists the specifications for the Finish app and the other productivity apps reviewed.

Table 3. Productivity Apps

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Application in an Educational Setting

This app could be helpful to both students and instructors who need help organizing or tracking multiple responsibilities. It could be just as helpful to the academician wishing to track progress toward research projects for managing assignments or working on group projects.

TIPS TO REMEMBER

Since the number of apps available is vast, consider the following questions to help you determine which app is best for your educational needs:

• What type of app best fits my needs?

• What is the price?

• Are there in-app purchases that may require additional expenses?

• What platform does the app need to run (ie, iOs, Android)?

• How much space will this take up on my device?

• Is there evidence to support the content of the app?

• When was the app last updated? Has new evidence been established since the last update?

• How does the app align with the National Athletic Trainers' Association position statements?

Answering these questions can help you to determine which app may be useful in your setting. It is also important to remember that apps may not be subject to a rigorous review process. For best practice, make sure you review the app's content with evidence in the literature as well as with your own clinical experiences. We strongly recommend educators review the app before endorsing it for student use. Some apps are free, while others are not; educators and students should consider the benefits as well as the cost of each app. Some apps offer group discounts (ie, 3D4medical and iStudiez), free versions for educators (ie, iOrtho+), or sales throughout the year.

It is important to keep apps current as new updates become available, as publishers are constantly making improvements to either content or usability. Be sure to check for current updates periodically in the app store associated with your device and platform. Some devices may also update automatically. Keep in mind, it may be necessary to purchase additional content for some apps (in-app purchases) to maximize content.

It is also important to synchronize calendar and scheduling apps across all devices to ensure the most up-to-date information is available. Finally, some apps offer free lite or trial versions with limited features to allow the user to see if the app fits their needs. Other apps may require the user to purchase in-app, or additional purchases, to use all featured content the app may provide.

Due to the popularity of smartphone use and the necessity to meet the needs of the new generation of students, it is helpful to be knowledgeable in this area of technology. There are a variety of apps available to enhance the delivery and retention of athletic training knowledge. This is not an exhaustive list; instead, it is a summary of apps that a select group of athletic training students and educators found helpful in either the classroom or clinical setting.