Medical Associates Foundation Grant Fuels Drum Corps Research

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colts_100x100The Colts Drum & Bugle Corps was recently honored to receive a grant from the Medical Associates Clinic Foundation of Dubuque in the amount of $21,367.00 to fund a three-year medical research project to study the effects of the drum corps performance on its students.

Steven Rock, MD and Melody Higgins, PhD will lead the project as volunteer co-coordinators of research for injuries and illness for the Drum Corps Medical Project (DCMP). Drs. Higgins and Rock are helping youth participants understand and reduce their risks for injury and illness while participating in the rigorous and physically demanding drum corps summer season.

The team will utilize devices to collect and record data from Drum Corps International participants. These measurements and analyses will help the Colts and the DCMP facilitate safe and appropriate activities and performances for healthier youth within the drum corps activity.

“(The grant from the Medical Associates Clinic Foundation of Dubuque) will allow us to gather data and work with Dr. Rock and Dr. Higgins to further develop ways to enhance and maintain the well-being of young people in this highly demanding physical activity,” Colts Executive Director Jeff MacFarlane wrote in the grant request.

In addition to the benefits expected for students in the Colts, there are additional benefits that will serve Clarke University athletic training students integrally involved in clinical rotations that help youth in the Dubuque region. These encounters and rotations will provide Clarke students with real patients and real problems that require the students to collaborate with members of their clinical faculty as well as the health care communities throughout Clarke and the Dubuque region.

“Medical Associates is excited to be able to support this important research that will both help protect our youth and provide additional learning opportunities for Clarke University’s athletic training students,” said John Tallent, Medical Associates Clinic Foundation Executive Director. “We are pleased that our Foundation can assist in this unique collaboration between Dr. Higgins, Dr. Rock, Clarke University, the Colts, and the Dubuque Community.”

The Colt summer tour includes approximately 40 competitions and performances in 12 states, covering over 11,000 miles, and will culminate at the Drum Corps International World Championships in Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis on August 7-9, 2014.

Posted by on Tuesday, July 22nd, 2014. Filed under Current News, DCI World, FrontPage Feature.