Sports Vision Training: A Look Towards Concussion Prevention and Rehabilitation

  • Register
    • Non-member - $31.25
    • Member - Free!
    • Student - Free!
    • Staff - Free!
    • Certified Student - Free!
    • Retired - $18.75

    Continue

Abstract:
Evaluating concussion in the context of a public health approach to study concussion prevention has been a focus of concussion research in the past few years. Concussion researchers have followed public health approaches that tend to emphasize prevention over treatment and engage multiple levels of the socio-ecological framework. Some preliminary data suggest that engaging the visual system through a pre-season sports vision training program may improve peripheral vision allowing student-athletes to anticipate blindside hits, which may prevent some concussions from occurring. While prevention programs may be of benefit as a primary prevention strategy, not all concussions will be prevented, requiring the development of secondary prevention strategies. In the case of sport-related concussion, secondary prevention strategies include appropriate treatment and management of the concussion, education, and post-injury anticipatory guidance. Post-injury deficits in vision or oculomotor function have been identified and specific assessments developed to target appropriate assessments of vision after concussion. Furthermore, some evidence suggests that oculomotor and visual rehabilitation is warranted and successful in some patients. This presentation will discuss the theory behind sports vision training, oculomotor function assessment, pre-season training exercises, and post-injury rehabilitation strategies.

Objectives:

  • Participants will be able to discuss the role of vision in concussion prevention., 
  • Participants will be able to develop a pre-season sports vision program., 
  • Participants will be able to devise a post-injury vision rehabilitation plan.

Level:
Advanced

Domains:
Domain 2: Assessment Evaluation and Diagnosis

CEUs:
1.25 Category A

Keywords: concussion, prevention, vision training, treatment, management, oculomotor, visual, rehabilitation, oculomotor function assessment

On-Demand (Enhanced Access) Course Expiration:
Courses registered for after February 5, 2025, must be completed by December 31, 2025, at 11:59 p.m. CST.
For full details, refer to the expiration policy on our FAQ page.

Tamara Valovich McLeod, PhD, ATC, FNATA

Dr. Tamara Valovich McLeod is the Chair, Director, and a Professor of Athletic Training, Professor in the School of Osteopathic Medicine in Arizona, and John P. Wood, D.O., Endowed Chair for Sports Medicine at A.T. Still University in Mesa, Arizona. Dr. McLeod completed her PhD from the University of Virginia. She was the founding director of the Athletic Training Practice-Based Research Network and her research has focused on the pediatric athlete with respect to sport-related concussion. 

Dr. McLeod is fellow of the NATA, the National Academy of Kinesiology, and the National Academies of Practice-Athletic Training and was the recipient of the NATA Foundation Medal for Distinguished Athletic Training Research in 2023.

Components visible upon registration.