The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) has officially published the updated, Sudden Death in the Young: Information for the Primary Care Provider.  Announced in June, this update recommends that all children despite athletic status should be undergo cardiac screening on regular basis.  This recommendation acknowledges the impact of sudden cardiac arrest (SCA) and sudden cardiac death (SCD) in ..read more

OPENING STORY: Brandeis assistant athletic trainer Mandy Nicoles shares how she became an advocate for transgender athletes very early in her career.  Her first job at a small all women’s college is where she met her first transgender athlete during his first year.  As a result of transitioning, he would not be allowed to compete as senior because at the time the NCAA did not allow transgend ..read more

Happy National Athletic Training Month!  Given all that has happened over the last year or so I encourage all athletic trainers to stop, take a deep breath, and pat yourself on the back for continuing to work through a once-in-a-lifetime pandemic keeping yourself and patients safe. If there was ever a question as to whether athletic trainers' clinical skills, passion, adaptability and perserveran ..read more

It seems there is still much to be done to create a post-pandemic world. The calendar has turned the page, but the infection rates and death toll continue to rise, especially in California. The vaccine provides hope that we will be beyond the grip of the pandemic, but we can't really be sure when that will be. Even when the pandemic eases its impact on each of us will be felt for years to come, in ..read more

It seems like nearly every blog I've written since March has somehow connected to COVID-19 and it's impact on sports at all levels.  As I thought about what to write this month I wondered how much l might have missed because we have been so focused on surviving, adapting and thriving safely during the pandemic. To that end, below you find a list of sports-related position statements that have bee ..read more

In 2020 COVID-19 is not the only challenge that athletic trainers have faced.  Discussions of inequality and social justice have also dominated the news cycle nearly as much as COVID-19. It seems, more than anytime I can recall college and professional athletes are using their positional power and fame to bring attention to the inequities that they and/or their teammates may face.  During all th ..read more

I recently posted an article on the A4IA Facebook page titled, A year after tragedy, Hillsborough facing shortage of trainers for high schools” and it was one of A4IA's most popular posts in the last year.  Facebook followers felt the need to weigh in.  The responses highlighted two themes:  There are plenty of athletic trainers out there willing to work, but a livable wage that accounts for ..read more

Many of you reading this blog are familiar with Advocates for Injured Athletes' (A4IA) tireless effort to push for the presence of athletic trainers at athletic events and practices to prevent catastrophic injuries.  When these injuries do occur, athletic trainers are the best trained, first line of defense, to recognize and manage severe life-threatening situations including head and neck injuri ..read more

It's been over a month since stay-at-home orders have been issued by Gov. Newsom.  The latest reports suggests we'll need to continue for at least another month before California even begins to slowly relax social distancing requirements - meaning we'll all continue to  look for ways to stay engaged and healthy for the foreseeable future.  So, I thought perhaps it was time for an app and websit ..read more

Health Care Through Action has taken on an entirely new meaning as March has progressed.  It is suddenly much bigger than National Athletic Training Month, it’s about being vigilant during the COVID-19 pandemic. In a time when governments, businesses and health authorities are taking unprecedented steps to slow the spread of the virus the new norm is social distancing and self-quarantine. In th ..read more