Sports Sciences Commons^™

Athletic Trainers’ Motivations For And Satisfaction With Transition To The Physician Practice Setting, Abigail G. Overstreet, Nicolette A. Harris, Cailee E. Welch Bacon

Clinical Practice in Athletic Training

An increasing number of athletic trainers are transitioning from traditional settings, such as secondary schools, colleges, universities, and professional sports, to physician practice. Although research suggests athletic trainers may be changing settings in search of better working conditions, little is known about their motivations for and satisfaction with the setting transition. The objective of this research was to explore athletic trainers’ motivations for and satisfaction with transition to the physician practice setting. A qualitative design was used to collect and interpret data. Eleven certified athletic trainers (6 women, 5 men; age 1⁄4 38.5 6 10.0 years) who transitioned from a …

Trust, Culture, And Conversation: How Athletic Training Leaders Navigate High-Stakes Interactions, Nicole A. Wilkins, Ashley B. Thrasher, Ericka P. Zimmerman

Clinical Practice in Athletic Training

Introduction: Engaging in difficult conversations is central to leadership growth and requires sustained effort to refine and strengthen these skills. Leaders not only need to navigate the complexities of their role within an organization, but also the intersectionality of interpersonal dynamics, emotional intelligence, structural hierarchies, and the nuanced environments that influence how communication occurs. Furthermore, leaders must adapt to role expectations that shift across clinical, academic, and administrative contexts, adjusting their approach to engaging in conversations based on these complexities. As part of a larger research project examining difficult conversations, this portion of the study explored how leaders in athletic …

Integrating Wearable Technologies Into Athletic Training: Bridging Innovation And Clinical Practice, Michael Douglas

Clinical Practice in Athletic Training

Athletic training is entering a transformative period driven by the convergence of wearable technologies, artificial intelligence (AI), and advanced biomechanical modeling. Historically, wearable technology in sport was primarily used for performance tracking, including workload monitoring, heart rate assessment, and movement quantification. However, advances in sensor accuracy and data analytics have expanded the clinical relevance of wearable systems, allowing athletic trainers to monitor fatigue markers, movement asymmetry, and neuromuscular control patterns that inform injury risk and rehabilitation progression. Wearable sensor technologies provide objective data that can support clinical decision-making when integrated with traditional evaluation methods.¹Despite these advancements, wearable technologies present persistent …

Recurrent Lateral Patellar Dislocation After Mpfl Repair With Subsequent Tibial Tubercle Anteromedialization And Concomiant Mpfl Reconstruction, Jacob Hardy, Anthony Thomas Drazick, Joshua Pratt, Jeremy M. Burnham

Clinical Practice in Athletic Training

Introduction: Patellar instability is a common knee pathology, particularly among adolescents and young adults, with reported incidence rates ranging from 7 to 77 per 100,000 person-years. Following an initial patellar dislocation, recurrence rates have been reported as high as 86%, particularly in patients with underlying anatomic risk factors. Identification of the multifactorial contributors to patellar instability is critical to guide appropriate management and prevent recurrent episodes. Common pathoanatomic factors associated with recurrent instability include trochlear dysplasia, patella alta, lateralized tibial tubercle, coronal or torsional malalignment, and abnormal patellar shift. This case report describes a patient who presented with a chronic …

Improving Entry-Level Athletic Training Student Confidence In Emergency Care: A Pilot Study, Michele Pye, Cade Watts, John Hunt, Kimberly Pritchard

Clinical Practice in Athletic Training

Introduction: Immediate and emergency care is essential to athletic training education and clinical practice. Athletic training students (ATS) may have limited exposure to emergencies during their clinical experiences, which can undermine their confidence. AT educators can improve ATS confidence and clinical reasoning using a simulation-based, learner-centered SNAPPS approach. SNAPPS consists of Summarizing the history and findings, Narrowing and Analyzing the differential diagnoses, Probing peers about uncertainties or confusion, Planning management, and Selecting case-related knowledge gaps for self-directed learning. This empowers students to control the learning environment while adding realism to encounters. The purpose of this pilot study was to determine …

Performance On The Timed Single-Leg Step-Down Test Is Correlated With Hip And Knee Biomechanics As Measured By 3d Markerless Motion Capture, Ghislain Aminake, Anthony Drazick, Christ Focht, Chloe Roy, Emily Clark, Savannah Knighton, Edward Austin, Jeremy Burnham

Clinical Practice in Athletic Training

Introduction: The timed single-leg step-down (SLSD) test is widely used in clinical and sports settings to assess lower extremity function and injury risk, yet the specific biomechanical determinants of performance on this test remain poorly understood. The purpose of this study is to investigate the relationship between performance on the timed SLSD test and hip and knee biomechanics captured by a markerless 3-D motion-analysis system. Methods: Twenty (20) healthy high school athletes with no recent history of lower extremity injury completed a 60-second timed single leg step down test. The number of quality SLSD repetitions (REPS) constituted their SLSD score. …

Performance Characteristics Of National Club Baseball Association Athletes Completing In-Season Elastic Resistance Training, Scott K. Harnden, Dawson M. Maxlow, Gena D. Guerin, Merrick A. Lincoln

Internet Journal of Allied Health Sciences and Practice

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to assess in-season physical performance metrics of National Club Baseball Association Athletes (NCBA) baseball players before and after a 6-week field-based elastic tubing resistance training intervention. Performance metrics included throwing velocity, isometric shoulder rotation strength, dynamic stability, muscular endurance, and range of motion (ROM). Method: A cohort of adult male NCBA athletes (n=13; 20.1±1.1years; 171.4±24.1cm; 77.0±10.5kg; all right hand dominant) enrolled in the 6-week biweekly intervention of seven upper extremity exercises. All exercises were completed with wrist-affixed elastic tubing prior to sport practices. Pre- and post-intervention testing included throwing velocity measured via pocket …

Exploring Hydration Strategies: A Preliminary Comparison Of Fluid Administration Methods In Collegiate Football Players, Emily E. Lodge, Gillian Romanchok, Isabella M. Farmer, Kimberly Schwabenbauer, Rich Patterson

Internet Journal of Allied Health Sciences and Practice

Introduction: Maintaining optimal hydration is critical for athletic performance and preventing heat-related illness, particularly among football players who face elevated risk due to heavy protective equipment and intense physical demands. As core body temperature and heart rate increases, physiological strain causes are directly correlated with the severity of body water deficit. Dehydration levels exceeding 2% of body weight significantly impair both aerobic performance capacity and cognitive ability. Purpose: Therefore, the purpose of this research is to investigate whether fluid consumption among collegiate football players differs based on administration methods (self-administration versus athletic trainer administration) during practice sessions. Methods: Twenty male …

Optimizing Agility Training In Team Sport Players—The Role Of Perception-Action Coupling: A Systematic Review With Multi-Level Meta-Analysis, Zhiwei Zhao, Yuhang Liu, Kai Xu

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Agility, characterized by rapid whole-body movement in response to external stimuli, is a key performance determinant in team sports owing to its reliance on perception-action coupling. Despite its importance, existing evidence on training effects is disproportionately focused on change-of-direction ability, overlooking the perceptual-cognitive demands of true agility. This systematic review therefore sought to quantify the effects of agility-specific training, examine moderators and establish dose-response model in team-sport players, while accounting for perception-action coupling. Following PRISMA 2020 guidelines, systematic searches were conducted in Web of Science, Scopus and PubMed for peer-reviewed English-language studies. Risk of bias was appraised using a modified …

Measuring Plantar Flexor Voluntary Activation And Maximal Voluntary Contraction In A Portable, Seated Method: A Validity And Reliability Study, Molly E. Coventry, Andrea B. Mosler, Paola T. Chivers, Brady D. Green, Ebonie K. Rio, Myles C. Murphy

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Background: Voluntary activation testing quantifies the ability of the motor nervous system to produce maximal force. Laboratory assessment of ankle plantar flexor voluntary activation is common, but field testing in practical settings is limited by equipment portability. We aimed to compare plantar flexor voluntary activation and maximal voluntary contraction (MVC) using a portable device with a standardised laboratory method and evaluate the test–retest reliability of the portable protocol. Methods: We performed a pseudo-randomised, crossover design. Participants completed two protocols: (1) portable force plate testing and (2) a laboratory-based isokinetic dynamometer. Voluntary activation was assessed using twitch interpolation via tibial nerve …

Remodeling Of The Mouse Liver And Skeletal Muscle Metabolome In Response To Continuous Acute Exercise And Disruption Of Ampk-Glycogen Interactions, Mehdi R. Belhaj, David I. Broadhurst, Thomas Dignan, Jamie Whitfield, Lisa Murray-Segal, Naomi X.Y. Ling, Jonathan S. Oakhill, Bruce E. Kemp, John A. Hawley, Stacey N. Reinke, Nolan J. Hoffman

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Background/Objectives: Acute exercise remodels many interconnected biochemical pathways in metabolically active tissues. This remodeling involves the activation of the energy-sensing AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) to maintain cellular energy homeostasis. Critical energy reserves of glycogen, primarily stored in liver and skeletal muscle and known to interact with AMPK, are utilized to help meet increased energy demands with exercise. However, the breadth of metabolic pathways regulated by acute exercise and AMPK’s interactive roles with glycogen remain incompletely understood. This study therefore aimed to map mouse liver and skeletal muscle metabolite responses to continuous acute exercise and disruption of AMPK-glycogen interactions. Methods: Liquid …

Physical Activity And Exercise Patterns Of Submariners In Land And Sea Environments, Benjamin Kirk, Georgios Mavropalias, Anthony Blazevich, Jodie Cochrane Wilkie, Aus Molan, Kazunori Nosaka

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Introduction: Submarine environments pose unique challenges to maintaining physical activity and exercise routines due to confined spaces, demanding schedules, and limited resources. This study investigated submariners’ physical activity patterns, sleep quality, and perceived exercise barriers in both land- and sea-based settings, with the goal of informing targeted health interventions. Materials and Methods: Ethics approval was granted by the Defence Science and Technology Group and Edith Cowan University review panels. This cross-sectional study surveyed 21 Royal Australian Navy submariners (25-48 years; 18 male) using a modified version of the International Physical Activity Questionnaire. Participants reported weekly engagement in general physical activity …

Physical Fitness And Executive Functions In Early Childhood: A Systematic Review Of Recent Evidence, Nemanja Lakicevic, Marko Manojlovic, Elena Chichinina, Apollinaria Chursina, Kristina Tarasova, Ewan Thomas, Yuming Zhong, Antonino Bianco, Patrik Drid

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Background Optimizing physical fitness (PF) and developing executive functions (EFs) is of great importance in preschool children. The link between PF, obtained through repetitive physical activity, and EFs is gaining increasing attention in recent years and we sought to systematically search the literature on the relationship between PF and EFs in preschool children published in the last five years. Methods Web of Science, Scopus, and PubMed were databases searched for the relevant literature. Original studies written in English and published in peer-reviewed journals including healthy children aged 3–6 years who were simultaneously tested for PF and EFs were considered eligible. …

Sociodemographic Influences On Student-Athlete Eating Disorder Risk And Treatment-Seeking Behavior In The National College Health Assessment, Savannah Hughbanks, Andrew W. Froehle, Brian A. Edwards

Journal of Sports Medicine and Allied Health Sciences: Official Journal of the Ohio Athletic Trainers Association

Objective: The present study was developed to explicate attributes associated with increased likelihood of disordered eating behaviors and treatment avoidance and help practitioners better-identify and assist high-risk individuals.

Participants: Varsity athletes (n=51,882) who completed the National College Health Assessment (NCHA) between 2011 and 2019.

Methods: Data was collected from survey responses to questions related to disordered eating behaviors. Disorders were cross-sectioned into eight predictors: year in school, gender, sexual-orientation, race/ethnicity, school-type, international-student, history of mental health illness, and anxiety of impending academic performance.

Results: Two percent of the student-athletes self-reported an ED diagnosis, and within those two percent 65.9% reported …

Reliability And Score Agreement Of A Modified Lower Quarter Y-Balance Test As Compared To The Lower Quarter Y-Balance Test In Healthy Adults, Braden L. Lawson, Jordan Morris, Alan Brubaker Rodriguez, Wendy Wheeler

Journal of Sports Medicine and Allied Health Sciences: Official Journal of the Ohio Athletic Trainers Association

Introduction: The Y-Balance Test (YBT) is a dynamic balance test assessing range of motion, flexibility, neuromuscular control, and strength. The YBT is used to evaluate individuals for increased injury risk, deficiencies, and progress of rehabilitation. Due to the higher cost associated with materials in a YBT kit, a modified YBT (mYBT) was created using three cloth measuring tapes, and three blocks of wood to help mitigate financial barriers. In previous studies the mYBT has demonstrated adequate agreement of composite scores with the Upper Quarter Y-Balance Test (UQYBT). The purpose of this study was to determine the agreement of composite scores …

The Effect Of Vitamin D Supplementation On Serum 25(Oh)D And Its Association With Stress Fractures In High-Risk, Physically Active Adults: A Critically Appraised Topic, Connor Lewis, Martha Yost, Aric J. Warren

Journal of Sports Medicine and Allied Health Sciences: Official Journal of the Ohio Athletic Trainers Association

Clinical Scenario: In collegiate athletic and military populations alike, the repetitive and intense training increase the risk of experiencing a stress fracture, representing a significant time loss and financial cost. Research suggests the use of supplemental vitamin D to prevent the occurrence of stress fractures in high-risk adults. Clinical Question: In high risk, physically active adults, does the effect of vitamin D supplementation on serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D [25(OH)D] concentration effect the occurrence of stress fractures? Clinical Bottom Line: The findings suggest that clinicians should consider the use of supplemental vitamin D as a protective measure against the occurrence of stress …

A Comparison Of Novel Treatment Interventions To Improve Hamstring Range Of Motion, Sadie Buboltz-Dubs, Brittney Dejong, William S. Gear

Journal of Sports Medicine and Allied Health Sciences: Official Journal of the Ohio Athletic Trainers Association

Purpose: Perceived hamstring tightness is a prevalent condition caused by multiple factors, including anterior pelvic tilt and neural tension. Traditional treatments, such as static stretching, do not address these underlying conditions. This study aimed to determine the short-term effectiveness of two neuromuscular treatment techniques for increasing hamstring flexibility compared with a traditional static stretching technique. Methods: Hamstring range of motion was measured using PSLR and AKE pre-and post-intervention for two treatment sessions and again as a single discharge measurement one week after the first treatment session. Three treatments were studied: Primal Reflex Release Technique, Neurodynamic Sliding Technique, Static Stretching, …

Effects Of Functional Ankle Instability On Muscle Activation Latency In Ice Hockey Athletes: A Pilot Study, Nicolas Gonzalez, Tyler A. Wood, Nicholas E. Grahovec

Journal of Sports Medicine and Allied Health Sciences: Official Journal of the Ohio Athletic Trainers Association

This study examined lower extremity muscle activation latency during the push-off phase in ice hockey athletes with and without functional ankle instability (FAI). Ten athletes participated, divided into FAI and control groups based on the Identification of Functional Ankle Instability scale. Participants completed three push-off trials while wearing electromyography sensors on the tibialis anterior, fibularis longus, medial gastrocnemius, and gluteus medius. The FAI group demonstrated a significant increase in muscle activation latency across all muscles tested (p

Pre- To Post-Season Changes In Body Composition Among Division Iii Football Players, Sebastian Schaefer, Cesar Navarro, Edward Merritt

International Journal of Exercise Science: Conference Proceedings

Collegiate football player body composition likely changes over the course of the season, and might differ based on player position. The extent to which this occurs in Division III football players is not known. PURPOSE: To examine differences in body composition from pre- to post-season and positional differences among Division III football players at Southwestern University. METHODS: Division III NCAA football players at Southwestern University were recruited prior to the 2025 season. Body composition was determined pre- and post-season by dual energy x-ray absorptiometry (DEXA).  Only athletes who completed the season and were not sidelined due to injury …

Footwear Matters: Speed And Barefoot Running Enhance Medial Gastrocnemius Emg, Kaleb M. Luna, Bryon C. Applequist

International Journal of Exercise Science: Conference Proceedings

Barefoot running alters foot strike mechanics and may change lower-extremity muscle demands compared to shod running, particularly at different speeds. PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of footwear (barefoot vs. shod) and running speed (preferred vs. +20%) on normalized electromyographic (EMG) amplitude of the medial gastrocnemius (MG) and tibialis anterior (TA) in recreational runners. METHODS: Five healthy recreational runners completed treadmill running trials at preferred speed and +20% preferred speed in barefoot and shod conditions. Bilateral surface EMG was recorded from MG and TA (1500 Hz). Signals were bandpass filtered (20–450 Hz), rectified, …