James An

LAKELAND (Nov.15, 2010) - Florida Southern College senior James An, an athletic training major, has been awarded a research grant from the Kinesio Taping Association International to explore the relationship of lower extremity Kinesiotaping and injury risk using the Functional Movement Screen (FMS).

An, of South Korea, will be collaborating with first-year athletic training student Catherine Miller of Naperville, Ill. The FSC women's basketball team will be the primary subjects of An's and Miller's research.

"It is both unusual and impressive for an undergraduate student to receive such a research grant from an international organization. James has done an excellent job of planning his project, and we are extremely proud of him," said Dr. James M. "Mick" Lynch, professor of athletic training at FSC.

An will test subjects before and after Kinesio Taping to see if their scores improve on the FMS, an established ranking and grading system that documents movement patterns. Studies of professional athletes, most notably football players, have indicated that athletes with low FMS scores are more prone to injuries.

"Although professional football players are very fast and very strong, they may not have the flexibility and balance needed to prevent injury," An said. "I hope to find that Kinesio Taping can help our athletes with low FMS scores prevent injuries and perform better."

An worked over the summer with the Tampa Bay Storm and will intern next semester with the renowned Andrews Institute for Orthopaedics and Sports Medicine in Gulf Breeze, Fla. After graduation, he plans to pursue a career in athletic training.

About Florida Southern College
Founded in 1885, Florida Southern College is a private, comprehensive United Methodist-affiliated college. The College maintains its commitment to academic excellence through 50 undergraduate programs and distinctive graduate programs in business administration, education, and nursing. Florida Southern has a 12:1 student/faculty ratio; is a national leader in engaged learning; and boasts 27 NCAA Division II national championships. It is ranked in the Top 10 "Best Regional Colleges in the South" by U.S. News & World Report and is included in The Princeton Review's "373 Best Colleges" guide and The Fiske Guide to Colleges 2011. The College is committed to the development of the whole student through vibrant student life programs that prepare graduates to make a positive, consequential impact on society. Located on scenic Lake Hollingsworth, Florida Southern is home to the world's largest single-site collection of Frank Lloyd Wright architecture. # # #