player safety
Benefits of cold-weather running
Some year-round runners dread plunging temperatures, but according to recent research, the benefits of running in the cold weather outweigh warm weather running—and could help you burn bad fat, lose more weight, and make you... more »
NHL Rule 48 helped lower rate of concussions, hits to side of head
The incidence and proportion of concussions suffered by NHL players following hits to the lateral side of the head reduced substantially following the implementation of the league's Rule 48, according to a study led by... more »
Study compares sodium & carb levels for effective rehydration
Inadequate fluid intake during sports can cause dehydration, impair performance, and increase the probability of heat sickness. Proper rehydration is critical between training sessions and tournaments, especially during brief recuperation periods. Rehydration involves stomach emptying,... more »
Study: factors that contribute to sports function after ACL repair
A recent study published in Sage Publications detailed the factors that contribute to sports function a year after ACL repair. Below is an excerpt from 2minutemedia.com that details the findings of the study. One of... more »
Study: Sudden cardiac arrest deaths in college athletes decline
According to a recent study, deaths due to sudden cardiac arrest among college student-athletes have been in decline over the last 20 years. Researchers from the American Heart Association analyzed data from more than 2... more »
UNC researcher explores how menstrual cycles affect strength training
Research from a University of North Carolina professor has revealed key differences in the health needs of female athletes—particularly surrounding menstrual cycles and hormonal contraceptives. Abbie Smith-Ryan is the director of UNC's Applied Physiology Laboratory... more »
How to prevent shin splints
Shin splints, also known as medial tibial stress syndrome, are not uncommon, especially among runners, dancers, and individuals who suddenly intensify their training or change their workout. “This also happens in new military recruits. A... more »
University of Michigan Concussion Center helps athletes with head injuries
High school cheerleaders, like Catherine Vick from Paw Paw High School in Michigan, are among the most likely student-athletes to suffer a concussion. Vick suffered a concussion as a 10th-grader, and after telling her coaches,... more »
Denver teen makes medical kits for recreational soccer league
A Denver high school soccer player recently made headlines after creating medical kits for her recreational soccer league. Fourteen-year-old Kaia-Marie Price first got the idea after a teammate suffered a compound tibia-fibula fracture and there... more »
Study finds delayed ACL surgery may be safe for many adults
A Johns Hopkins Children’s Center study of medical records concludes that delaying surgical treatment of the anterior cruciate ligament, or ACL, in some children is associated with a higher risk of new tears in the... more »
NCA&T study links low-energy availability in black athletes
A pilot study led by researchers at North Carolina A&T State University has shown a correlation between hypertension and low-energy availability in black Division I athletes. Among the four sports profiled, basketball and track and... more »
Study says CTE may be overdiagnosed in living football players
Former pro football players with symptoms of depression or anxiety are far more likely to receive an unverifiable diagnosis of chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE) than players without those mental health conditions, a new study reports.... more »
Which is safer: artificial turf or natural grass?
Which playing surface is safer for athletes: natural grass or artificial turf? Scientists continue to study the question, but there are challenges to getting the answer right. There are variables to take into account: the... more »
Dexcom U offers NIL deals to college athletes with diabetes
Dexcose, a glucose monitoring company, is continuing its name, image, and likeness (NIL) program for college athletes with diabetes. The "Dexcom U" program launched in 2022 and features a roster of 20 collegiate student-athletes in... more »
Study suggests no long-term heart risks in elite athletes after COVID-19
Athletes are prone to sports-induced cardiac effects; at the same time, maintaining cardiac integrity is a prerequisite for delivering high-end performance. Since studies have implicated myocarditis in COVID-19 cases among young athletes, examining the long-term... more »
Cardiac arrest cases show importance of on-site athletic trainers
A recent string of on-field cardiac arrests has not only caught the attention of the public but also athletic trainers. A teenage soccer player recently suffered cardiac arrest following a game in Goose Creek, South... more »
Minnesota HS football team to wear Guardian Caps during games
A Minnesota high school football will be the first in the state—and maybe the country—to play a game while wearing Guardian Caps, a protective shell that goes over helmets. The Park Cottage Grove head football... more »
WVU Neuroscience Institute to offer free in-state concussion testing
The WVU Rockefeller Neuroscience Institute (RNI) will offer free statewide concussion testing as part of the Rockefeller Concussion Network. The RNI outreach program will provide West Virginia youth access to baseline and post-injury ImPACT testing for all... more »
IHSA advises member schools during extreme heat warnings
While Illinois was under an extreme heat warning, the Illinois High School Association (IHSA) is reminding schools to how to beat the heat during training camp and fall tryouts. IHSA policy requires the use of... more »
Delta Dental donates mouthguards to IHSA schools
Delta Dental of Illinois is partnering with the Illinois High School Association (IHSA) during the 2023-2024 school year and helping protect high school student-athletes by donating mouthguards to 40 schools throughout the state. “Student-athlete safety... more »
Florida ATC credits support staff in live-saving cardiac arrest event
A Florida athletic trainer, along with a team of other medical professionals, saved the life of a high school football player who suffered a cardiac arrest last weekend. Frank Millan, the head athletic trainer of... more »
Early findings from 10-year Drake Football Study published
The first data results from the 10-year Drake Football Study have now been published. Launched in 2019, the Drake Football Study is tracking the physical and mental health of around 170 men’s and women’s footballers –... more »
Study links football to higher odds of Parkinson’s disease
Adult males who played football were associated with higher odds of self-reported Parkinson's disease, according to a recent study. Researchers from Boston University's Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy Center examined 1,875 adult males who participated in sports,... more »
Athletic Mindset impacts student-athlete mental health
The Athletic Mindset Assessment believes everyone has the potential for greatness—you just have to know how best to tap into it. That’s why they created this affordable yet powerful software that gives you all the... more »
Study: Quadriceps autograft may accelerate ACL reconstruction return to play
New research has shown that a quadriceps autograft may accelerate return-to-play after ACL reconstruction compared to hamstring autografts. Kostas Economopoulos, MD, presented his findings at the American Orthopaedic Society for Sports Medicine Annual Meeting. He... more »
Researchers find new link between sleep and concussions
A new study led by Flinders University points to the importance of sleep quality in the aftermath and recovery process of sports-related concussions, a common form of mild traumatic brain injury. Results from a study... more »
When To Effectively Utilize Dynamic Stretches
In preparation for a workout, whether it may be a weightlifting session or cardio-based, nothing serves the tactical athlete any better than a well-devised session of dynamic stretches. Dynamic stretches, as the name implies, indicate... more »
Study suggests headers in soccer not as harmful as originally thought
A new study suggests soccer 'headers' may not cause irrevocable harm damage — as long as the technique is properly taught. The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP) studied the repetitive impacts of headers by athletes... more »
‘Smart Heart’ Initiative aims to prevent cardiac arrest during events
Every major American sports league is banding together to team up with top-tier sports medicine societies to combat Sudden Cardiac Arrest (SCA) among high school student-athletes. The 'Smart Heart' Sports Coalition is a collaboration between... more »
Kansas bill to reduce sports medicine barriers for visiting athletes
Kansas Governor Laura Kelly has signed a bill that's meant to help fix the state's healthcare workforce shortages and provide more options for out-of-town athletes. Senate Bill 131 was signed on Tuesday after passing in... more »
