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Includes a Live Web Event on 07/30/2026 at 9:00 AM (CDT)New
The National Institutes of Health now recognizes CTE as a progressive brain disease that can cause dementia and that is caused in part by repetitive head impacts (RHI). Research-to-date suggests CTE the odds of developing CTE are associated with exposure to RHI. However, education about CTE is not yet institutionalized for athletic trainers, coaches, athletes, or parents, and CTE risk reduction is not prioritized.
Live Webinar Hosted by NATA in Collaboration with the Concussion & CTE Foundation
July 30, 2026 | 9:00–10:00 a.m. CT
Unable to attend live? The recording will be available on demand within a few days following the webinar.Abstract:
The National Institutes of Health now recognizes CTE as a progressive brain disease that can cause dementia and that is caused in part by repetitive head impacts (RHI). Research-to-date suggests CTE the odds of developing CTE are associated with exposure to RHI. However, education about CTE is not yet institutionalized for athletic trainers, coaches, athletes, or parents, and CTE risk reduction is not prioritized.This course will provide athletic trainers with the latest updates on CTE research, provide a foundation for serving as CTE community educators, and provide actionable steps athletic trainers can take to implement CTE risk reduction within their professional practice.
Learning Objectives:
- Summarize the current state of CTE research, including the NIH’s recognition of CTE as a progressive brain disease caused in part by repetitive head impacts (RHI), and explain the neuropathological criteria used to diagnose CTE.
- Identify evidence-based strategies for reducing repetitive head impact exposure in sport, including contact limitation protocols and rule modifications, and apply these strategies within their professional practice setting.
- Demonstrate the ability to educate athletes, coaches, and parents about CTE risk factors, early warning signs of chronic neurological disease, and the importance of head impact reduction as part of a comprehensive athlete safety program.
Level:
AdvancedDomain(s):
Domain 1: Risk Reduction Wellness and Health Literacy
Domain 2: Assessment Evaluation and Diagnosis
Domain 5: Health Care Administration and Professional ResponsibilityCEUs:
1.0 Category AKeywords:
CTE, dementia, brain injury, head impactEnhanced Access On-Demand Course Expiration:
Access to this course will expire at the end of the membership year on December 31 at 11:59 p.m. CST.
For full details, refer to the Expiration Date Policy on our FAQ page.Robert Cantu, MD
Currently Dr. Cantu’s professional responsibilities include Medical Director and Director of Clinical Research, Dr. Robert C. Cantu Concussion Center, Chief of Neurosurgery Service and Director of Sports Medicine at Emerson Health in Concord, MA; Clinical Professor of Neurology and Neurosurgery, Clinical Therapeutics Leader AD-CTE Center Boston University Medical Center, Boston, MA; Founding member and Medical Director Concussion Legacy Foundation, Boston, MA; Medical Director National Center for Catastrophic Sports Injury Research, Chapel Hill, NC; Vice President and Chairman of Scientific Advisory Committee, National Operating Committee on Standards for Athletic Equipment (NOCSAE); Member NFLPA Mackey-White Health and Safety Committee and Co-chair of the equipment committee; NCAA Concussion Safety Advisory Group Member and NCAA Student-Athletic Concussion Injury Litigation Committee (Medical Science Committee); Member of the World Rugby Concussion Working Group.
He has authored over 580 scientific publications, including 34 books on neurology and sports medicine. A past president and spokesperson for the American College of Sports Medicine, he has participated in numerous nationally televised sports programs. He has served as associate editor of Medicine and Science in Sports and Exercise and Exercise and Sports Science Review, and on the editorial boards of The Physician and Sports Medicine, Clinical Journal of Sports Medicine, Journal of Athletic Training, Neurosurgery, and World Neurosurgery.
Daniel Daneshvar, MD, PhD
Dr. Daneshvar is Director of the HealthSpan Lab, which investigates the biological, behavioral, and environmental factors that influence lifelong health and long-term brain function. The lab takes a systems-level approach to uncover early markers of decline, identify mechanisms responsible for risk and resilience, and develop interventions to prevent disease before it begins. Dr. Daneshvar has authored and co-authored over 100 scientific papers including in JAMA, Nature Communications, and Brain, for which he received the 2024 National Neurotrauma Society Rising Star Award. His work has been featured broadly including in the New York Times, the Wall Street Journal, NPR, and ESPN.
He also founded Team Up Against Concussions, the first scientifically validated concussion education program for kids, for which he received the 2016 Excellence in Public Health award from the United States Public Health Services. He is the Director of the Institute for Brain Research and Innovation at TeachAids, which created CrashCourse: a free, scientifically validated virtual reality and computer-based concussion education program, for which he received the 2021 Dean’s Community Service Award from Harvard Medical School.
Dr. Daneshvar received his S.B. from MIT, and completed his M.D./Ph.D. at Boston University, where his research resulted in the first dissertation in history to study CTE. He completed residency at Stanford University before joining the faculty at Harvard Medical School.
Christopher Nowinski, PhD
Chris Nowinski, Ph.D., is the founding CEO of the Concussion & CTE Foundation and co-founder of the UNITE Brain Bank at the Boston University CTE Center, where he is leading a global conversation on concussions, CTE, and the future of sports.
After an All-Ivy football career at Harvard, he joined the WWE where he was the youngest Hardcore Champion in history before a 2003 kick to the chin caused career-ending post-concussion syndrome. Researching how to overcome his symptoms, he uncovered buried research showing concussions were far more serious than perceived in the culture at that time. He wrote the 2006 book Head Games: Football’s Concussion Crisis calling for change in concussion care and research into chronic traumatic encephalopathy.
Dr. Nowinski’s research and advocacy normalized brain donation among athletes in the United States, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand, helping drive the adoption of concussion protocols worldwide. He is now focused on advancing CTE prevention protocols across global sports organizations. He earned his Ph.D. in Behavioral Neuroscience from Boston University School of Medicine in 2017 and has authored more than 65 scientific publications.
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New
The consensus statement on concussion in sports highlights the need for tailored approaches in special populations, including athletes who are deaf or hard-of-hearing (D/HoH). Although concussion rates are comparable to that of athletes who are hearing, baseline neurocognitive, behavioral, and physical performance data of athletes who are D/HoH are limited. Differences in baseline performance of athletes who are D/HoH compared to athletes who are hearing may be due to potential anatomical, sensory, and processing factors. It is crucial for clinicians to understand these potential differences in baseline performance and how baseline outcomes will influence concussion recognition, diagnosis, and return-to-play decisions.
This presentation is a replay from NATA 2024 in New Orleans, providing another opportunity to access its valuable content and insights.
Abstract:
The consensus statement on concussion in sports highlights the need for tailored approaches in special populations, including athletes who are deaf or hard-of-hearing (D/HoH). Although concussion rates are comparable to that of athletes who are hearing, baseline neurocognitive, behavioral, and physical performance data of athletes who are D/HoH are limited. Differences in baseline performance of athletes who are D/HoH compared to athletes who are hearing may be due to potential anatomical, sensory, and processing factors. It is crucial for clinicians to understand these potential differences in baseline performance and how baseline outcomes will influence concussion recognition, diagnosis, and return-to-play decisions.Learning Objectives:
- Describe Deaf culture and its significance to Deaf sport.
- Recognize the occurrence of concussions in athletes who are deaf or hard-of-hearing.
- Examine the concussion knowledge and attitudes among athletes who are deaf or hard-of-hearing.
- Describe the anatomical, sensory, and processing variability of athletes who are deaf or hard-of-hearing and their implication on concussion management.
Level:
AdvancedDomain(s):
Domain 2: Assessment Evaluation and DiagnosisCEUs:
1.0 Category AKeywords: Disability; Baseline; mTBIa
Enhanced Access On-Demand Course Expiration:
Access to this course will expire at the end of the membership year on December 31 at 11:59 p.m. CST.
For full details, refer to the Expiration Date Policy on our FAQ page.Thomas McKnight, MS, LAT, ATC, CES
Thomas McKnight, MS, LAT, ATC, CES is an Associate Athletic Trainer at Gallaudet University, where he works with the football, women’s volleyball, men’s basketball, baseball, and track & field teams. He earned his Bachelor of Science in Physical Education and Biology (with University honors) from Gallaudet in 2010 and a Master of Science in Athletic Training from Shenandoah University in 2013. He is currently pursuing a Ph.D. in Health and Human Performance at Concordia University Chicago.
With more than a decade of experience, McKnight has served as an athletic trainer for the USA Men’s Basketball Team at international competitions including the Deaflympic Games and World Championships in Brazil, Bulgaria, and Poland. He also serves on the U.S. Deaf Sports Federation Medical Commission.
In addition to his clinical work, McKnight has taught at Gallaudet since 2014 as an adjunct professor in biology and physical education, offering courses such as Human Anatomy & Physiology, Nutrition, and Care and Prevention of Athletic Injuries. He is an active member of the National Athletic Trainers’ Association (NATA), Mid-Atlantic Athletic Trainers’ Association, and the District of Columbia Athletic Trainers’ Association (DCATA). He previously served on the board of the Association of Medical Professionals with Hearing Loss (AMPHL).
Originally from Shirley, Massachusetts, McKnight graduated from The Learning Center for the Deaf (now Marie Philip School) in 2006. He is also an avid disc golfer and helped design Gallaudet’s campus disc golf course in 2023, where he now advises the student disc golf club. He currently resides in Riverdale, Maryland.
Matthew Brancaleone, PhD, PT, DPT, AT
Dr. Matt Brancaleone is an Assistant Clinical Professor of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences at The Ohio State University and the long-time Medical Coordinator for the OSU Marching Band. A two-time graduate of Central Michigan University (BS in Athletic Training, DPT in Physical Therapy), he went on to complete a Sports Physical Therapy Residency and earn his PhD in Health and Rehabilitation Sciences at Ohio State.
His clinical and research interests include musculoskeletal rehabilitation, health and wellness of athletes who are deaf or hard-of-hearing, and the physical demands of marching artists. With more than a decade of experience, Dr. Brancaleone brings both academic expertise and practical insight to his teaching.
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Clinical preceptors are essential to developing competent athletic trainers, yet many receive little formal training in how to teach in clinical settings. Most preparation emphasizes supervision and administrative tasks rather than fostering clinical reasoning, learner autonomy, and effective learning environments. This course addresses that gap by shifting the focus from supervising to developing clinicians. Participants will explore strategies to create psychological safety, support productive struggle, and apply a practical framework for balancing patient care with student learning. Emphasis is placed on real-time, efficient teaching techniques that enhance clinical reasoning and improve the overall quality of clinical education.
Abstract:
Clinical preceptors are essential to developing competent athletic trainers, yet many receive little formal training in how to teach in clinical settings. Most preparation emphasizes supervision and administrative tasks rather than fostering clinical reasoning, learner autonomy, and effective learning environments. This course addresses that gap by shifting the focus from supervising to developing clinicians. Participants will explore strategies to create psychological safety, support productive struggle, and apply a practical framework for balancing patient care with student learning. Emphasis is placed on real-time, efficient teaching techniques that enhance clinical reasoning and improve the overall quality of clinical education.Learning Objectives:
- Describe the role of the preceptor as a clinical educator rather than solely a supervisor.
- Identify key characteristics that distinguish effective preceptors from average clinical instructors.
- Apply strategies to create psychological safety and productive learning environments in clinical settings.
- Differentiate between moments that require direct intervention and those that allow for guided student autonomy.
- Implement at least one practical teaching strategy to enhance student clinical reasoning in real time.
Level:
EssentialDomain(s):
Domain 5: Health Care Administration and Professional ResponsibilityOrthopedic Domain(s):
N/ACEUs:
1.0 Category AKeywords:
Clinical instruction; Professional responsibility; mentorship; Quality improvement; Reflective practiceEnhanced Access On-Demand Course Expiration:
Access to this course will expire at the end of the membership year on December 31 at 11:59 p.m. CST.
For full details, refer to the Expiration Date Policy on our FAQ page.Jonathan Jenkins, MS, SCAT, ATC
Jonathan Jenkins, MS, LAT, ATC, GTS, is an Athletic Trainer Supervisor with Prisma Health and an Adjunct Professor in the Athletic Training and Exercise Science programs at University of South Carolina. With over seven years of experience in clinical, outreach, and military leadership settings, he specializes in sports medicine, rehabilitation, mentorship, and healthcare education.
Jonathan has presented research at regional and state athletic training conferences and has been recognized with multiple honors, including the 2025 NATA Preceptor of the Year award. His professional interests include evidence-based rehabilitation, leadership development, and advancing athletic training education.
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As advancements in lifesaving care have been discovered and established as best practice, the requirement to provide these for all athletes has been absent, specifically at the state level. This has allowed the creation of health disparities for lifesaving heat policies, cardiac policies and access to AEDs. This session will briefly discuss the established best practices for SCA and heat stroke, describe access to these lifesaving standards for high school athletes, and provide an overview of current collaborative efforts to enhance health and safety for high school athletes.
This presentation is a replay from NATA 2024 in New Orleans, providing another opportunity to access its valuable content and insights.
Abstract:
As advancements in lifesaving care have been discovered and established as best practice, the requirement to provide these for all athletes has been absent, specifically at the state level. This has allowed the creation of health disparities for lifesaving heat policies, cardiac policies and access to AEDs. This session will briefly discuss the established best practices for SCA and heat stroke, describe access to these lifesaving standards for high school athletes, and provide an overview of current collaborative efforts to enhance health and safety for high school athletes.Learning Objectives:
- Determine best practices related to identifying, managing, and treating sudden cardiac arrest and heat stroke in high school athletes.
- Recognize gaps and health disparities that exist in sudden cardiac arrest care and heat stroke for high school sports.
- Identify collaborative initiatives that have been used or that currently exist to address health disparities for best practices in sudden cardiac arrest care and heat stroke for high school athletes
Level:
EssentialDomain(s):
Domain 5: Health Care Administration and Professional ResponsibilityCEUs:
1.0 Category AKeywords: Emergency Action Plan; AED; Coach Education
Enhanced Access On-Demand Course Expiration:
Access to this course will expire at the end of the membership year on December 31 at 11:59 p.m. CST.
For full details, refer to the Expiration Date Policy on our FAQ page.Rebecca Stearns, PhD, ATC
Rebecca Stearns is the Chief Operating Officer for the Korey Stringer Institute (KSI), where she has worked since its founding in 2010. A certified athletic trainer, she has experience at the high school level and at major endurance events including the Boston, New York City, and Marine Corps Marathons. Dr. Stearns has co-authored multiple position statements on preventing sudden death in sport and published over 95 research articles. Her research focuses on heat and hydration effects on performance and exertional heat stroke risk. She also helped develop an online course and co-edited books on emergency management and sudden death prevention in sport. An avid runner, she has completed nine marathons, including Boston, NYC, Tokyo and Berlin. Dr. Stearns earned her bachelor’s degree at Duquesne University and her master’s and doctoral degrees in kinesiology at the University of Connecticut.Douglas Casa, PhD, ATC
Dr. Casa is the CEO of the Korey Stringer Institute (since it was founded in 2010) and is a Board of Trustees Distinguished Professor of Kinesiology (began at UCONN in 1999) at the University of Connecticut. Additionally, he is the editor of a book titled: Preventing Sudden Death in Sport and Physical Activity (2nd edition, 2017), published by Jones & Bartlett in cooperation with the American College of Sports Medicine. Another recent book titled Sports and Physical Activity in the heat: Maximizing Performance and Safety was published by Springer in the winter of 2018. His latest book- Elite Soccer Players: Maximizing Performance and Safety was published by Routledge in 2020. Dr. Casa has published about 400 peer- reviewed publications/book chapters and presented more than 600 times on subjects related to maximizing performance in the heat, exertional heat stroke, heat-related illnesses, preventing sudden death in sport, and hydration. As a licensed athletic trainer Dr. Casa has successfully treated 401 cases of exertional heat stroke (with 0 fatalities). In addition, from 2018 through 2021 he served on the International Olympic Committee Adverse Weather Impact Expert Group for the Olympic Games Tokyo 2020 (took place in 2021) that focused on the extreme heat anticipated for these games. During his 25 years as a faculty member in the Department of Kinesiology at UConn the department has been ranked 1st or 2nd for 15 of the 25 years by the National Academy of Kinesiology.He has been a lead or co-author on over 15 sports medicine position statements/consensus statements/roundtables related to heat illness, hydration, and preventing sudden death and participated as a writing group member on 15 other policy statements for leading organizations (ACSM, NATA, WA, IOC, DOD, etc.). Dr. Casa has worked with numerous media outlets across the country in discussing his research including the HBO, NBC Today Show, Good Morning America, ESPN, CNN, PBS, Sports Illustrated, USA Today, Wall Street Journal, The New York Times, among many others. Dr. Casa earned his bachelor’s degree in biology from Allegheny College in 1990; his master’s degree in athletic training from the University of Florida in 1993; and his doctorate in exercise physiology from the University of Connecticut in 1997. He is happily married to his wife Tutita Casa, PhD and they have 3 kids; Montana, Navia and Alessio.Christianne M. Eason, PhD, ATC
Christianne Eason returned to the University of Connecticut to join the Korey Stringer Institute team as the director of innovATe and a contributor to the TUFSS project in the summer of 2020. Dr. Eason is a certified athletic trainer and has worked clinically in the NCAA Division I, NCAA Division III, and secondary school settings. She continues to serve as a medical volunteer at mass medical tent events including the Boston Marathon and Falmouth Road Race. Christianne has provided testimony on behalf of athletic training scope of practice legislation before the Massachusetts Joint Committee on Public Health multiple times and continues to be a strong proponent of professional and personal advocacy.
Prior to joining the KSI team, Dr. Eason worked as an Assistant Professor of Athletic Training and the graduate school coordinator for the School of Health Sciences at Lasell University. During her time at Lasell, Dr. Eason was able to assist in the professional level degree transition of the Athletic Training program. Her research interests focus on the work-life interface of athletic trainers and the examination of individual and organizational level factors that impact retention, professional commitment, work-life conflict, and patient care. Dr. Eason is a lead or contributing author on nearly 50 peer reviewed articles, including the NATA Position Statement, Facilitating Work Life Balance in Athletic Training Practice Settings, and authored five textbook chapters. She has presented at numerous national, regional, and state conferences on topics including professional commitment, career intentions, organizational structure, and mentoring. Dr. Eason has expertise in qualitative and mixed-methodologies.
Christianne is a recreational runner and has completed half marathons in the Grand Tetons and Rocky Mountains. She is a self-proclaimed paddle board aficionado and travel enthusiast. Dr. Eason earned her Bachelor’s Degree in Athletic Training from the University of Connecticut, her Master’s Degree in Nutrition and Physical Activity from James Madison University and her Doctorate in Sport Management from the University of Connecticut.
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History of prior injury is the strongest risk factor for future lower extremity injury. In addition, a large portion of secondary injuries occur during the first 2-3 months following return to sport. Thus, there is a gap in determining when an individual is ready to safely return to sport following initial injury. Individuals who pass a comprehensive return to sport testing battery are at lower risk for subsequent injury once returning to sport. As such, the development and utilization of a comprehensive return-to-sport testing battery can help determine one´s readiness to safely return to sport. This presentation will discuss the key components of…
This presentation is a replay from NATA 2019 in Las Vegas, offering a second chance to experience the event's valuable content and insights.
Abstract:
History of prior injury is the strongest risk factor for future lower extremity injury. In addition, a large portion of secondary injuries occur during the first 2-3 months following return to sport. Thus, there is a gap in determining when an individual is ready to safely return to sport following initial injury. Individuals who pass a comprehensive return to sport testing battery are at lower risk for subsequent injury once returning to sport. As such, the development and utilization of a comprehensive return-to-sport testing battery can help determine one´s readiness to safely return to sport. This presentation will discuss the key components of an evidence-based return to sport testing battery following lower extremity injuries.
Objectives:- Participants will be able to describe the changes in injury rates following initial lower extremity injury and subsequent return to sport.,
- Participants will be able to describe the known risk factors for secondary injury following initial lower extremity injury.,
- Participants will be able to utilize validated return to sport testing that can determine an individual´s readiness to return to sport.,
- Participants will be able to discuss the role of training load monitoring and management in the return to sport process following lower extremity injury.
Level:
Advanced
Domains:
Domain 1: Risk Reduction Wellness and Health Literacy, Domain 2: Assessment Evaluation and DiagnosisCEUs: 1.0 Category A
Keywords: knee, injury, lower extremity, return to sport, ankle, leg, testing
Enhanced Access On-Demand Course Expiration:
Access to this course will expire at the end of the membership year on December 31 at 11:59 p.m. CST.
For full details, refer to the Expiration Date Policy on our FAQ page.Please note: This course will be retired from our catalog after December 31, 2026, and its content will no longer be accessible. Be sure to download any necessary handouts before this date. Your statement of credit will remain available on the Transcript page, accessible via the left sidebar menu.
Darin Padua, PhD, ATC
Darin A. Padua is the Associate Provost for Academic Operations of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. As an academic leader, he works to listen, collaborate, and empower others to work as a team towards our shared mission, vision, and priorities.
The Joseph Curtis Sloane Distinguished Professor of Exercise and Sport Science, Padua has been a member of UNC’s faculty since 2001. He teaches courses in biomechanics, human anatomy, and kinesiology with a focus on injury risk mitigation and optimizing human performance. Throughout his career, Padua has mentored fellow faculty, along with hundreds of graduate and undergraduate students. He served as chair in the Department of Exercise and Sport Science from 2013 to 2023.
With more than 25 years of experience, Padua is an internationally recognized scholar and is the Co-Director of the Musculoskeletal Injury Prevention (MOTION) Science Institute. His research revolves around prevention of musculoskeletal injuries, such as ACL rupture, by studying the role of movement quality and biomechanics as injury risk factors and intervention targets. He has published over 200 peer-reviewed articles, and his work has been funded by the National Institutes of Health, the National Athletic Trainers’ Association, and the American Orthopaedic Society for Sports Medicine. He
He received the Young Investigator Award by the National Athletic Trainers’ Association (2006) and was later awarded the O’Donoghue Sports Injury Research Award for the most outstanding sport injury related research paper by the American Orthopaedic Society for Sports Medicine (2008). He attained Fellow status in the National Academy of Kinesiology, the National Athletic Trainers’ Association, and received the Most Distinguished Athletic Trainer Award. His career research achievements were recognized by the by the National Athletic Trainers’ Association with receipt of the Medal for Distinguished Research (2017).
Padua earned a B.S. in athletic training from San Diego State University, M.A. in exercise and sport science/athletic training from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, and PhD in sports medicine from the University of Virginia. Born and raised in Visalia, California, he lives with his wife Jody and three daughters in Durham, NC.
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Knee pathologies are common complaints for athletes and active patients presenting to athletic trainers for assessment and intervention, and though often not as complex as other joints in the body (ie, shoulder or hip), can present significant diagnostic challenges when imaging techniques are not readily or immediately available. Common traumatic disorders of the knee include forces that impact the menisci, ligaments, bones, and associated joints (ie, patellofemoral, tibiofemoral), while overuse injuries involving the patellofemoral joint, surrounding tissues (ie, IT Band), patellar tendon and tibiofemoral joint can challenge the unsuspecting diagnostician, as well. Undiagnosed, or improperly diagnosed knee conditions can also lead to lifelong disability and/or profound decreases in…
Abstract:
Knee pathologies are common complaints for athletes and active patients presenting to athletic trainers for assessment and intervention, and though often not as complex as other joints in the body (ie, shoulder or hip), can present significant diagnostic challenges when imaging techniques are not readily or immediately available. Common traumatic disorders of the knee include forces that impact the menisci, ligaments, bones, and associated joints (ie, patellofemoral, tibiofemoral), while overuse injuries involving the patellofemoral joint, surrounding tissues (ie, IT Band), patellar tendon and tibiofemoral joint can challenge the unsuspecting diagnostician, as well. Undiagnosed, or improperly diagnosed knee conditions can also lead to lifelong disability and/or profound decreases in health-related quality of life and functional enjoyment. Unsuspecting or inexperienced clinicians in all branches of sports medicine, if not careful can naively rely on special test results in isolation, or upon medical imaging for a working or final diagnosis, which includes false positive and negative results, increases overall healthcare costs, and/or cause unnecessary delays in treatment or return to participation. Experts in medical research have confirmed that accurate diagnoses come from the history portion of the exam in over 80 to 90% of cases and that individual physical exam test results should be viewed with suspicion in isolation. The focus of this presentation is to present the athletic training profession a review of physical examination special tests for common knee injuries and conditions, while also introducing or reviewing the evidence behind each test's respective diagnostic accuracy. In so doing, an overview of diagnostic accuracy terms and principles will be presented, followed by available diagnostic accuracy dates for each test presented in order for clinicians to become more aware of the strengths and limitations of tests commonly used to help assess athletic injuries of the knee.
Objectives:
- Participants will be able to state the fundamental principles and terms associated with diagnostic accuracy of physical examination tests, including sensitivity and specificity, positive and negative likelihood ratios, positive and negative predictive values, and overall utility scores.,
- Participants will be able to identify the most useful, evidence-based physical examination tests for assessing various conditions of the knee.,
- Participants will be able to recognize and incorporate the best-evidence tests in times of acute and chronic assessment of common knee injuries.,
- Participants will be able to apply use of pooled tests in order to more accurately assess various orthopedic conditions of the knee in athletes and active patients.
Level:
Advanced
Domains:
Domain 2: Assessment Evaluation and DiagnosisCEUs:
1.25 Category AKeywords: knee, orthopedic, menisci, ligaments, bones, joints, patellofemoral, tibiofemoral
Enhanced Access On-Demand Course Expiration:
Access to this course will expire at the end of the membership year on December 31 at 11:59 p.m. CST.
For full details, refer to the Expiration Date Policy on our FAQ page.Please note: This course will be retired from our catalog after December 31, 2026, and its content will no longer be accessible. Be sure to download any necessary handouts before this date. Your statement of credit will remain available on the Transcript page, accessible via the left sidebar menu.
Paul Geisler, EdD, AT Ret.
Associate Dean Geisler is a native of Lakeville, MA and current resident of Boston, MA. A certified athletic trainer since 1987 with over 15 years of varied clinical practice and 23 years' experience directing athletic training education programs at Georgia Southern University and Ithaca College. He is deeply interested in the development and assessment of the medico-clinical thinking processes of novice and experienced clinicians, the development of adaptive expertise in clinicians, progressive curriculum design, capability-based education, and meaningful programmatic assessment. He has over 170 national and international presentations and publications on clinical and educational based subjects in athletic training and health professions education to his credit. He is a member of the European Board of Medical Assessors, and past member of the Association of Medical Education, Europe.
As a scholar, he is the recipient of two manuscript awards from the Journal of Athletic Training and the Athletic Training Education Journal. For his many professional contributions, he has been the recipient of the NATA Athletic Training Service Award and NATA Most Distinguished Athletic Trainer Award. As an educator, he was awarded the NATA Executive Council on Education's Sayers "Bud" Miller Distinguished Educator Award in 2021 and has received two Dean's Awards for Excellence & Innovation in Teaching, a Dean's Excellence Award for Diversity and Inclusion in Teaching and Learning, and the all college Faculty Excellence Award, all from Ithaca College.
He admits to being an enthusiastic but slow road cyclist, an amateur shutterbug of nature and wonder, an aspiring wine snob and amateur foodie, and an unabashed promoter of equal rights, freedom, justice, and authentic democracy for all living beings. Susan, his life partner and wife of 34 years and he are fulfilled parents of two amazing young men – Nicholas, a writer living in Los Angeles, CA and Benjamin, a photographer and artist living in Brooklyn, NY.
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The focus of this presentation is to present the most current clinical recognition strategies for evaluating ankle sprains and linking these strategies to the identification of those who are at the highest risk for developing CAI.
Abstract:
The focus of this presentation is to present the most current clinical recognition strategies for evaluating ankle sprains and linking these strategies to the identification of those who are at the highest risk for developing CAI.
Objectives:- Participants will be able to summarize the recommendations of the NATA Position Statement on the Conservative Management and Prevention of Ankle Sprains in Athletes within the context of Clinical Evaluation and Diagnosis.,
- Participants will be able to identify the most important evidence-based key features associated with lateral ankle sprain recognition.,
- Participants will be able to incorporate the emerging evidence of patient- and clinician-oriented outcome measures for identifying those at risk for developing chronic ankle instability.,
- Participants will be able to make use of the outcome measures discussed in the presentation, including the Foot and Ankle Ability Measure, the Cumberland Ankle Instability Tool, the weight-bearing lunge test, the single limb balance test, and the star excursion balance test, within their clinical practice.
Level:
Advanced
Domains:
Domain 2: Assessment Evaluation and DiagnosisCEUs:
1.0 Category AKeywords: ankle, sprain, instability, diagnosis, lateral ankle sprain, balance test
Enhanced Access On-Demand Course Expiration:
Access to this course will expire at the end of the membership year on December 31 at 11:59 p.m. CST.
For full details, refer to the Expiration Date Policy on our FAQ page.Please note: This course will be retired from our catalog after December 31, 2026, and its content will no longer be accessible. Be sure to download any necessary handouts before this date. Your statement of credit will remain available on the Transcript page, accessible via the left sidebar menu.
Patrick McKeon, PhD, ATC, CSCS
Dr. Patrick McKeon is a BOC certified athletic trainer who joined the Ithaca College Athletic Training faculty in 2013. He received his Bachelor of Science degree in Athletic Training from Springfield College in Springfield, MA; his Master of Science degree in Sports Health Care from the Arizona School of Health Sciences in Phoenix, AZ (now in Mesa, AZ); and his PhD in Sports Medicine at the University of Virginia in Charlottesville. He has held several positions as a clinical athletic trainer including Pearl River High School, Canisius College, and Marist College in New York, as well as Phoenix College and Brophy College Preparatory in Arizona.
SCHOLARLY/RESEARCH INTERESTS
Dr. McKeon’s research focuses on functional alterations associated with lower extremity joint injury. He incorporates patient-, clinician-, and laboratory-oriented outcomes to evaluate these alterations due to injury. Dr. McKeon also seeks to develop a greater understanding of the restoration of function associated with rehabilitation. He aims to provide insight into effective clinical interventions for the sports medicine clinician to improve functional outcomes and enhance prevention strategies for patients who suffer lower extremity injury.EDUCATIONAL INTERESTS
Dr. McKeon's educational focus centers on evidence-based practice concepts and clinical reasoning theory. Within the courses he teaches, Dr. McKeon strives to instill a strong foundation in the integration of internal and external evidence for enhancing decisions related to the recognition, rehabilitation, and prevention of injuries/illnesses associated with athletic training clinical practice.PERSONAL
Dr. McKeon enjoys spending his free time with his family and friends seeking out great life experiences. His wife, Dr. Jennifer McKeon is the IC Athletic Training Program Director and a faculty member in the Department of Exercise Science and Athletic Training. They have two children (Bobby and Mallory) who are also proud to be Bombers!-
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The complex design of the glenohumeral joint, which is comprised of multiple structures with varying orientations and attachments, makes it challenging to provide an accurate diagnosis in an injured shoulder. Adding to the difficulty, there are many components within the clinical shoulder examination that provide important information on both a macro (history, range of motion, manual muscle testing, special/stress testing, etc.) and micro (specific questions, directions, movements, and maneuvers within each macro component) level. Research has been scattered regarding the value of the shoulder examination components for diagnosing specific injuries with information being simultaneously supportive and…
Abstract:
The complex design of the glenohumeral joint, which is comprised of multiple structures with varying orientations and attachments, makes it challenging to provide an accurate diagnosis in an injured shoulder. Adding to the difficulty, there are many components within the clinical shoulder examination that provide important information on both a macro (history, range of motion, manual muscle testing, special/stress testing, etc.) and micro (specific questions, directions, movements, and maneuvers within each macro component) level. Research has been scattered regarding the value of the shoulder examination components for diagnosing specific injuries with information being simultaneously supportive and critical of similar components. Of greater importance, a comprehensive approach has been advocated as the superior method of examination suggesting that no one area provides concrete information for diagnosticians. Although a comprehensive approach has been recommended, there is conflicting information regarding the effectiveness of special testing maneuvers for diagnosing specific types of shoulder injury. Practicing clinicians currently perform a comprehensive examination to varying degrees, comprised of a multitude of tests and maneuvers but there is no established set of core components for the special testing component. Thus, it would be beneficial for practicing clinicians to be provided a summary detailing the shoulder special tests that can provide reasonable information which can assist clinicians in making diagnoses of common injuries.
Objectives:- Participants will be able to list the definitions of diagnostic accuracy statistics (sensitivity, specificity, likelihood ratios, accuracy, and predictive values),
- Participants will be able to identify the special tests that have the best clinical utility for diagnosing rotator cuff injury, labral injury, acromioclavicular joint injury, and glenohumeral instability,
- Participants will be able to identify the special tests that have stronger clinical utility when combined with other examination components (patient history, range of motion, manual muscle testing, etc.)
Level:
Advanced
Domains:
Domain 2: Assessment Evaluation and DiagnosisCEUs:
0.75 Category AKeywords: shoulder, range of motion, rotator cuff, labral injury, glenohumeral, instability, diagnostic, testing, examination
Enhanced Access On-Demand Course Expiration:
Access to this course will expire at the end of the membership year on December 31 at 11:59 p.m. CST.
For full details, refer to the Expiration Date Policy on our FAQ page.Aaron Sciascia, PhD, LAT, ATC, PES
Aaron is the Clinical Outcomes and Research Director at Lexington Clinic. He previously served as an associate professor for Eastern Kentucky University's CAATE-accredited Master’s in Athletic Training program and spent 13 years as the coordinator of the Shoulder Center of Kentucky. He received a Bachelor of Science in Athletic Training degree from the University of Delaware and a Master of Science in Kinesiology degree, graduate certificate in Clinical and Translational Science, and Doctor of Philosophy in Rehabilitation Science, all from the University of Kentucky. He has been previously honored as Clinical Athletic Trainer of the Year and with the Award of Merit from the Kentucky Athletic Trainers’ Society and the Founders' Award from the American Society of Shoulder and Elbow Therapists (ASSET). Aaron has previously served ASSET as President and holds the distinction of Fellow within the Society. He is also an Affiliate Member of the American Shoulder and Elbow Surgeons and a Distinguished Fellow of the Athletic Training Academy within the National Academies of Practice. Aaron has produced multiple peer-reviewed articles and book chapters related to function, evaluation, and treatment of the shoulder and scapula, and he speaks at various venues annually. He has co-edited 2 textbooks and serves as an associate editor for the International Journal of Athletic Therapy and Training.
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