player safety
When Is The Most Effective Time To Exercise?
Scientists still do not know why the timing of exercise produces different effects. To gain a better understanding, an international team of scientists recently carried out the most comprehensive study to date of exercise performed... more »
Urine Protein Biomarkers Could Be Used To Diagnose Concussions
A concussion can be frustratingly hard to diagnose and track. The injury doesn't show up on routine brain scans, and there is no definitive diagnostic test. It's usually diagnosed based on symptoms, and, in athletes,... more »
UK Researchers & Orthopedic Surgeons Further ACL Injury Studies
Researchers at the University of Kentucky are working on three National Institutes of Health (NIH) grants, totaling over $8 million, to better understand one of the most common sports injuries among athletes — anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury. The... more »
Asian Mindfulness Practice, Wu-Wei, Shown to Boost Athletic Performance
When athletes experience the state of flow or are in the 'zone' they sometimes describe the feeling as one of effortlessness. Although their exertions may feel effortless, what their bodies achieve in terms of performance... more »
Study: No Ties Between Youth Football & Brain Issues
New research suggests that head trauma and concussions aren't linked to problems with memory, attention, processing speed, or behavior in 9- to 12-year-olds who play youth football for a few seasons. "It is reassuring that we... more »
UD Professor Shares Expertise with ManU Medical Seminar
It's been reported that women soccer players face a greater risk of serious injury when heading the ball than men. The risk for concussion can be so great, it was the focus of a discussion... more »
Study Looks into Long-Term Impact of Ankle Sprains in Youth Sports
According to the results of a recent study published in Foot & Ankle International, the official journal of the American Orthopaedic Foot & Ankle Society, people who suffered an ankle sprain while playing youth sports... more »
NFL, UW Team Up to Research Sports-Related Concussions
The NFL partnered with researchers at the University of Wisconsin to learn more about why sport-related concussions happen, and what they can do to prevent them, according to a report from WEAU.com. UW offensive/defensive lineman... more »
Identifying Children at Risk for Post-Concussion Symptoms
Researchers at the University at Buffalo Concussion Management Clinic in the Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences have developed a decision rule using a brief, standardized physical exam for sport-related concussive brain injuries in children and adolescents that... more »
Study: Playing Football Longer Leads to More Brain Lesions
Repetitive head hits are common in football, and they're also linked to debilitating brain injuries. But rendering a definitive diagnosis typically means waiting for autopsy results after the player has died. Now, a new study... more »
Univ. of Pittsburgh ATC Donating Kidney to Colleague’s Child
A University of Pittsburgh athletic trainer is donating her kidney to save the life of a colleague's four-year-old son. Molly Trott has worked with the Panthers since 2018, primarily with the track and field program. Mary... more »
Light Aerobic Exercise May Help Concussion Recovery Times
According to a recent study, teen athletes recover from concussions sooner by incorporating light aerobic exercise rather than resting in a dark room. Instead of so-called "cocoon therapy," new research-supported therapy has young concussion patients... more »
The Foundation for the Future Begins in the Weight Room
Winning starts in the weight room. We’ve all heard that from the mouth of a sports coach at one time or another. And, sure, there’s truth to that on the field. But once the clock... more »
Q&A with Notre Dame Director of Sports Nutrition Matt Frakes
After a career of teaching healthy eating habits and cooking skills to young athletes where he's worked, Matt Frakes is bringing his experience in sports nutrition to Notre Dame. Recently hired as the Fighting Irish's... more »
NINDS Gives $10M for Youth Concussion Research
The National Institute of Neurological Disorders (and Stroke (NINDS) has awarded a $10-million grant to the Four Corners Youth Consortium, a group of academic medical centers studying concussions in school-aged children. Led by the UCLA... more »
Q&A with Andrea Wieland, Penn’s Sports Performance Associate Director
Dr. Andrea Wieland, an experienced professional with more than two decades of training athletes to peak physical and mental performance, is in her third year as Associate Athletic Director for Sports Performance. In her position,... more »
Citrus County Reviewing Stance of Full-Time High School ATCs Following Player’s Death
A Florida school district may rethink its stance on employing full-time, on-site athletic trainers for practices and games following the unexpected death of a 16-year-old football player during practice last week. According to a report... more »
Study: Challenges with Nutritional & Dietary Behavior of Para-Athletes
A new study reveals that para-athletes might be in need of nutrition education and a support system for eating behavior. Published online in Nutrients, the study sampled 32 para-athletes and 45 university student-athletes without disabilities... more »
Study Suggests Month-Long Recovery from Concussions
According to the largest study of concussions ever conducted on American student-athletes, the recovery time has been extended to 28 — up from the previously suggested normal recovery time of 14 days. The study, published... more »
Minnesota High School ATC Saves Vet’s Life During Football Game
Over the weekend, a high school athletic trainer's quick thinking and fast actions saved the life of someone who fought for our freedoms. During Hutchinson (MN) High School's 'Red, White, & Blue Service Appreciation Night,'... more »
Study: Female Athletes’ Concussion Rates Twice as High as Males
The epidemiology of sports-related concussions (SRCs) and closed head injuries (CHIs) in high school females remain largely undefined at the national level, especially for unorganized sports and recreational activities such as equestrian and snow-related sports.... more »
PRP Treatment Shows Efficacy in Osteoarthritis Patients
A pilot study conducted by researchers at Baylor College of Medicine combined wearable technology and patient-reported outcomes to assess the efficacy of platelet-rich plasma (PRP) treatment in osteoarthritis (OA). The results, published in the journal Regenerative... more »
Assessing Potential Cardiac Issues in Athletes with Prior COVID
An expert medical task force appointed by the National Federation of State High School Associations (NFHS) and the American Medical Society for Sports Medicine (AMSSM) reconvened this summer to update guidance from last summer for... more »
5 Tips to Warm Up Effectively Before Workouts
To stay safe and get the most out of your workout you must always include a pre-workout warm up before you begin and then finish with a cool down to get your body back into... more »
ATCs Acting Fast: “He Saved My Life”
When Morgan Krout was starting her new job as an assistant athletic trainer, one of her advisors at Catawba College pulled her aside for a query: “What are you going to do when you have... more »
WVU Researchers Working to Keep High School Athletes Safe
As they settle into a new high school year, student-athletes don’t just have to protect themselves from COVID-19. They also have to protect themselves from the heat, cardiac arrests, traumatic brain injuries, and several other... more »
The Physical Exam of the Concussed Athlete
Sports are second only to motor vehicle crashes as the leading cause of traumatic brain injury among people aged 15 to 24. Concussions in high school athletics represent 8.9% of all injuries occurring from sports.... more »
Study: Reduced Head Impacts Among Youth Football Players
According to a study conducted by Sanford Research, there's been a 79 percent reduction in head impacts after studying a youth football team for eight consecutive seasons. The study, entitled "Head Impact Exposure of a... more »
Are Concussions Worse for Women Athletes?
As the popularity of women's professional athletics continues to grow, so too does the spotlight on the athlete's health and wellness — particularly in terms of concussions and sub-concussive hits. A growing body of data... more »
USA Football’s Medical Advisory Panel Advance Smarter, Safer Play
USA Football announced this week its Medical Advisory Panel, comprised of experts to assist the sport’s national governing body in delivering leading athlete health and safety standards to America’s grassroots football family. A member of... more »
