Concussion-Related Decision-Making by Certified Athletic Trainers: Implications for Concussion Prevention and Care.

Concussions are a common sport-related injury that require appropriate initial care. Athletic trainers, often a primary source of healthcare for student-athletes, are key individuals involved in initial concussion diagnostic and management decisions. Challenges exist within the athletic environment that may hinder the consistency, efficacy, and/or effectiveness of concussion-related decision-making by athletic trainers, thereby impacting secondary concussion prevention and patient health.

Comparison of Concussion Sideline Screening Measures Across Varying Exertion Levels Within Simulated Games.

Context: Currently, there is no gold standard to evaluate the effect of varying game-like exertion states on Sport Concussion Assessment Tool 3rd Edition (SCAT-3) outcomes. Baseline assessments may occur before, during, or after physical activity, while postinjury evaluations predominantly occur following physical activity. Thus, clinicians may be comparing postinjury evaluations completed following exertion to baseline evaluations completed following varying levels of rest or exertion, which may not be a valid method for clinical decision making.

Delivering Chest Compressions and Ventilations With and Without Men's Lacrosse Equipment.

Context:   Current management recommendations for equipment-laden athletes in sudden cardiac arrest regarding whether to remove protective sports equipment before delivering cardiopulmonary resuscitation are unclear.

Objective:   To determine the effect of men's lacrosse equipment on chest compression and ventilation quality on patient simulators.

Design:   Cross-sectional study.

Head Impact Biomechanics in Women's College Soccer.

Introduction: There are limited nonlaboratory soccer head impact biomechanics data. This is surprising given soccer's global popularity. Epidemiological data suggest that female college soccer players are at a greater concussion injury risk than their male counterparts.

Helmet fit and cervical spine motion in collegiate men's lacrosse athletes secured to a spine board.

Context: Proper management of cervical spine injuries in men's lacrosse players depends in part upon the ability of the helmet to immobilize the head.

Objective: To determine if properly and improperly fitted lacrosse helmets provide adequate stabilization of the head in the spine-boarded athlete.

Design: Crossover study.

Comparison of 3 airway access techniques during suspected spine injury management in American football.

Objective: To determine how head movement and time to access airway were affected by 3 emergency airway access techniques used in American football.

Design: Prospective counterbalanced design.

Setting: University research laboratory.

Comparison of 3 Airway Access Techniques During Suspected Spine Injury Management in American Football.

Objective: To determine how head movement and time to access airway were affected by 3 emergency airway access techniques used in American football.

Design: Prospective counterbalanced design.

Setting: University research laboratory.

Effect of ice hockey helmet fit on cervical spine motion during an emergency log roll procedure.

Objective: To investigate cervical spine motion during a log roll technique in ice hockey players under different helmet fit conditions.

Design: Prospective counterbalanced design.

Setting: University research laboratory.