June 2026 Newsletter Highlights

Research Update in Concussion

Do Female High School Athletes Get a Fair Shot at Concussion Recovery? A study published this May in the Journal of Athletic Training by Williams and colleagues takes a closer look at a question with real equity implications: does access to athletic trainer (AT) coverage and biological sex shape how high school athletes recover from sport-related concussion (SRC)? The timing matters. Only about a third of U.S. high schools have access to a full-time certified athletic trainer, and that gap doesn't fall evenly across sports. Historically, AT resources have been concentrated in high-contact, predominantly male sports like football, meaning female athletes have often had less access to on-site concussion identification, management, and return-to-play guidance.

This is significant because the research consistently shows female athletes face a steeper concussion burden: higher rates in sex-comparable sports, more somatic symptoms (headache, fatigue, sleep disruption), and potentially longer recovery timelines. If female athletes are also less likely to have AT coverage, disparities in outcomes could reflect gaps in care as much as biology. The study's focus on the high school setting is particularly valuable, as most prior work on AT access and sex differences in SRC recovery has centered on collegiate athletes. Why it matters for your practice: Equitable AT coverage at the high school level isn't just a resource issue, it may be a recovery issue. Ensuring female athletes have the same access to trained medical personnel could help close gaps in concussion identification and outcomes. 

Williams K, Finch S, Peterson AJ, Jo J, Jonzzon S, Prozak O, Hajdu KS, Gifford KA, Zuckerman SL, Terry DP. Sex Differences in Athletic Trainer Coverage and Recovery After Sport-Related Concussion in High School Athletes. J Athl Train. 2026 May 11;61(5):315-321. doi: 10.4085/1062-6050-0596.25. PMID: 42181775; PMCID: PMC13198212.

Athletic Trainer Provider Spotlight

Athletic trainers (ATs) are licensed healthcare professionals who occupy a unique position in sports medicine. They are present daily, trusted by athletes, and trained to act from the moment of injury through return to sport. When a concussion occurs, it's often the AT who first identifies it, removes the athlete from play, and begins the documentation that guides every subsequent clinical decision. That continuity of care, built on firsthand observation of how an athlete moves and competes day to day, is something no clinic visit can fully replicate.

What makes ATs especially valuable is their role as the connective tissue of the healthcare team, coordinating among physicians, physical therapists, neuropsychologists, coaches, and families to ensure clinical recommendations translate into daily practice.