The Adolescent Patient Perspective on Activity Limitations Following Sport-Related Concussion.

CONTEXT: Assessment of sport-related concussion (SRC) has begun to include patient- reported outcome measures (PROMs). However, there is a limited understanding of which health limitations are most meaningful to adolescents following SRC. OBJECTIVE: To explore patient-perceived activity limitations following SRC and throughout recovery to return-to-play (RTP) and mapped according to the International Classification of Functioning, Disability, and Health (ICF) model. DESIGN: Longitudinal. SETTING: Secondary school athletic training facilities. PATIENTS OR OTHER PARTICIPANTS: Fifty patients (41 males, 5 females, 4 sex not reported, age=14.9±3.5 years, grade=10.2±0.93 level) with a medically diagnosed SRC. INTERVENTIONS: The Patient Specific Functional Scale (PSFS) was used to assess changes in the patient's condition and the impact the injury posed on their ability to perform activities. The PSFS is a self-reported assessment of health used to identify activity limitations and rate the difficulty of performing those tasks. The PSFS was administered to patients on days 3 (D3) and 10 (D10) following SRC and at RTP. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Activities impacted by injury were coded into common categories and themes by a three-person research team for subsequent analysis. The coded themes were also mapped to the ICF domains, chapters, and categories. The dependent variables were the PSFS themes, number of activities endorsed, PSFS scores, ICF domains, chapters, and categories. Descriptive analyses and frequencies were reported for the dependent variables. RESULTS: A total of 157 different activities were identified at D3 and coded into 28 categories that fit into six themes: activities of daily living (ADLs), cognitive and school (COG), sports and physical activity (SPA), screen time (SCR), sleep (SLP) and social (SOC). On D3, all patients (50/50) identified at least one activity limitation. The majority related to SPA (37.6%) and COG (31.2%). Sixty percent of patients endorsed activity limitations at D10, primarily in COG (38.6%) and SPA (36.6%). All (100%) response categories were mapped to the ICF, with most (75%) fitting the activities and participation (AP) domain. CONCLUSION: Our primary findings suggest that sport-related concussion influences many facets of the lives of adolescent athletes. Specifically, adolescent athletes identified activity restrictions primarily related to physical activity and sports participation.

Athletic Trainers' Observations of Social Determinants of Health in the Collegiate Setting: A Card Study.

CONTEXT: Addressing social determinants of health (SDH) in all populations improves patient outcomes, leading to better patient-centered care. Despite known influences of SDH, little is known about the ability of athletic trainers (ATs) to observe SDH in practice. OBJECTIVE: To explore ATs' observations of SDH and describe actions taken at the point-of-care in college/university settings. DESIGN: Descriptive via an observational card study. SETTING: Athletic training facilities. PARTICIPANTS: ATs (23 participants across 20 institutions) employed in the college/university setting. DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS: ATs used a modified observation card to document observations of SDH during patient encounters in the college/university setting. Cards contained instructions for completion and a table with 4 columns: (1) a list of 19 predetermined SDH, (2) checkbox for observed SDH, (3) checkbox for perceived negative influence of observed SDH on patient health, and (4) open box to write in what actions, if any, were taken to address the observed SDH. RESULTS: Overall, 424 cards were collected. Of 725 observed SDH, access to social media (153/725, 21.1%), academic stressors (131/725, 18.1%), and behavioral health issues (71/725, 9.8%) were the most commonly observed. Nearly 39% (281/725) had a perceived negative 16.4%), and transportation issues (32/281, 11.4%) were most common. For the 23.0% (166/725) of SDH acted on, ATs used counseling and education (73/166), provided additional resources (60/166), referred to others (29/166), or communicated with others (4/166). CONCLUSIONS: Because ATs are positioned to accurately assess SDH, they can promote better patient-centered care and improve patient outcomes. Our results suggested many SDH observed by ATs in the college/university setting had a negative influence on patient health. Better support for patients with behavioral health issues and academic stressors is important because these SDH were commonly perceived to negatively influence health and well-being.

The Knowledge and Use of the International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (ICF) Framework in Athletic Training.

In 2015, the Strategic Alliance adopted the International Classification of Functioning, Disability, and Health (ICF) as the disablement model framework for delivery of and communication about patient care in athletic training. The purpose of this study was to examine athletic trainers' familiarity, knowledge, application, and implementation of the ICF framework. We used a cross-sectional online survey with 185 athletic trainers (age = 35 ± 9 y), which included 32 items focused on familiarity, knowledge, application, and implementation of the ICF framework. Most participants (n = 96, 51.9%) reported never learning about the ICF framework. During the knowledge assessment, participants scored 4.3 ± 2.7 out of 8, which is equivalent to 53.7%. For the sorting assessment, participants scored 10.9 ± 3.9 out of 18, which is equivalent to 60.5%. On the implementation matrix, the most frequently reported ICF tasks elicited by the athletic trainers included neuromusculoskeletal and movement, structure related to movement, and mobility. The most common 'never elicited' ICF tasks included voice and speech, sexual orientation, and structures related to genitourinary and reproductive system. Deficits related to the ICF framework exist. Athletic trainers reported low implementation across all ICF categories. The decision to not elicit information on these areas of health may reduce the ability to provide patient-centered healthcare.

Athletic Trainers' Perceptions of and Experience with Social Determinants of Health.

The role that social determinants of health (SDHs) play in athletic healthcare is gaining attention, yet little is known about athletic trainers' (ATs) perceptions of and encounters with the impact of SDHs. The purpose of this study was to evaluate ATs' perceptions of various SDHs and their experience treating patients whose health and well-being were influenced by SDHs. This was a cross-sectional, web-based survey completed by 1694 ATs (completion rate = 92.6%; 61.1% female; age = 36.6 ± 10.8 years). The survey consisted of several multipart questions focusing on specific SDHs. Descriptive statistics were used to report frequencies and percentages. Results indicated widespread agreement that SDHs matter to patient health and are of concern in athletic healthcare. The SDHs that ATs most commonly reported encountering included lifestyle choices (n = 1306/1406; 93.0%), social support (n = 1185/1427; 83.0%), income (n = 1167/1502; 77.7%), and access to quality and timely healthcare (n = 1093/1420, 77.0%). The SDHs that ATs least commonly reported having experience with was governmental policy (n = 684/1411; 48%). The perceived importance of SDHs among ATs and their commonly reported experiences managing patient cases in which SDHs negatively influence patients' health and healthcare suggest that efforts to assess these factors are needed so that strategies to address their influence on athletic healthcare can be identified.

Athletic Trainers' Familiarity, Comfort, Knowledge, and Recognition of Social Determinants of Health.

CONTEXT: Social determinants of health (SDH)-education, transportation, housing, employment, health systems and services, economic status, and physical and social environments-influence patient outcomes; therefore, athletic trainers (ATs) need to be able to understand and address these factors. However, little is known about how ATs perceive SDH or how knowledgeable they are about social factors that contribute to patient health and well-being. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate ATs' familiarity and comfort with SDH and their perceived knowledge and recognition of SDH. DESIGN: Cross-sectional. SETTING: Online survey. PATIENTS OR OTHER PARTICIPANTS: Our survey was distributed to 17 000 ATs; 1829 accessed it (access rate=10.8%), and 1694 completed it (completion rate=92.6%, AT experience=15.2±10.6 years, age=36.6±10.8 years). MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: The survey included multipart questions that evaluated ATs' perceptions of their familiarity, comfort, and knowledge about SDH. Data were summarized using descriptive statistics. RESULTS: Few respondents (4.1%, 70/1691) reported they were extremely familiar with SDH. Most reported being moderately familiar (45.0%, 761/1691), minimally familiar (34.7%, 587/1691), or not familiar at all (16.1%, 273/1691). For questions about comfort, few reported being extremely comfortable (3.5%, 59/1691) with SDH, and most reported being moderately comfortable (35.4%, 598/1691), minimally comfortable (41.1%, 695/1691), or not comfortable at all (18.6%, 314/1691). For questions about knowledge, few reported being extremely knowledgeable (2.7%, 46/1686) about SDH, and the majority reported being moderately (38.9%, 622/1686), minimally (41.8%, 704/1686) or not knowledgeable at all (18.6%, 314/1686). Over half of ATs accurately categorized 8 of the 9 SDH listed in the survey, and 22% endorsed more correct than incorrect items. CONCLUSIONS: A majority of ATs perceived their familiarity, comfort, and knowledge about SDH to be moderate-to-low, which may reflect the relatively recent emphasis on SDH in athletic healthcare. Because SDH can have a major impact on patient health and well-being, strategies should be developed for educating ATs about SDH. Developing strategies to increase comfort with the SDH in patient care is critical to ensure that those factors that can be addressed at the patient level are identified and managed.

Patients Experience Significant and Meaningful Changes in Self-Report of Function During the First 2 Weeks After an Ankle Sprain Injury: A Report From the Athletic Training Practice-Based Research Network.

CONTEXT: Ankle sprains are common during sport participation and associated with long-term deficits in self-report of function. However, little is known of short-term changes in self-report of function following injury. The authors aimed to assess statistical and clinically meaningful changes in self-report of function, as measured by the Foot and Ankle Ability Measure (FAAM), during the first 2 weeks after an ankle sprain injury. DESIGN: A retrospective analysis of electronic medical records. METHODS: Eighty-eight patients, who were diagnosed with an ankle sprain injury by an athletic trainer, received usual care from an athletic trainer, and completed the FAAM during treatment at weeks 1 and 2 postinjury. The authors calculated the percentage of patients who reported clinically meaningful changes and used Wilcoxon signed-rank tests to compare differences in FAAM scores between time points. RESULTS: Between weeks 1 and 2, significant differences were noted for the FAAM Activities of Daily Living (FAAM-ADL) (P < .001) and FAAM Sport (FAAM-Sport) (P < .001). At the patient level, 86.5% (64/74) and 85.2% (69/81) of patients reported changes that exceeded the minimal clinically important difference value for the FAAM-ADL and FAAM-Sport, respectively, between weeks 1 and 2. At week 2, 31.8% (28/88) and 47.7% (42/88) of patients reported a score below 90% on the FAAM-ADL and below 80% on the FAAM-Sport subscale, respectively. Also, 36.4% (32/88) and 25.0% (22/88) of patients reported a score of 100% on the FAAM-ADL and FAAM-Sport subscales, respectively, at week 2. CONCLUSIONS: Patients report statistically significant and meaningful improvements in self-report of function during the first 2 weeks following ankle sprain injury. However, almost half of patients still report deficits in sport function at 2 weeks postinjury. Patient-reported outcome measures such as the FAAM, can help capture the patient's perception of function and inform patient care decisions. Research efforts should explore individual response patterns to treatment.

A Systematic Dry-Needling Treatment to Support Recovery Posttraining for Division I Ice Hockey Athletes: An Exploration Case Series.

CONTEXT: For this case series, 4 student-athletes (age range = 20-22 years) participating in National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I ice hockey served as cases. They were free of injury and participated in all team activities without restrictions. TREATMENT: A dry needling (DN) lower extremity recovery protocol was completed for all athletes during a single session. To administer the DN recovery treatment, we placed static needles in specific bilateral locations that consisted of 5 points on both the anterior and posterior aspects of the lower extremity and lumbopelvic complex. The Acute Recovery Stress Scale was used to evaluate the effect of the DN recovery treatment on each athlete's perception of recovery at 24 and 48 hours post-DN treatment. RESULTS: Overall, total and average scores of Acute Recovery Stress Scale for all cases were closer to baseline at 48 hours post-DN than at the other time points. CONCLUSIONS: Recovery techniques historically have been used postactivity because even normal training loads, which are considered positive, produce stress and fatigue in athletes and can lead to injury. Results from this case series suggest that ice hockey athletes who are experiencing postexercise stress, such as soreness and fatigue, may benefit from a lower extremity DN recovery treatment protocol.

Patient-reported outcome measures as an outcome variable in sports medicine research.

Injury prevention and rehabilitation research often address variables that would be considered clinician-oriented outcomes, such as strength, range of motion, laxity, and return-to-sport. While clinician-oriented variables are helpful in describing the physiological recovery from injury, they neglect the patient perspective and aspects of patient-centered care. Variables that capture patient perspective are essential when considering the impact of injury and recovery on the lives of patients. The inclusion of patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs) as dependent variables in sports medicine research, including injury prevention and rehabilitation research, provides a unique perspective regarding the patient's perception of their health status, the effectiveness of treatments, and other information that the patient deems important to their care. Over the last 20 years, there has been a significant increase in the use of PROMs in sports medicine research. The growing body of work gives opportunity to reflect on what has been done and to provide some ideas of how to strengthen the evidence moving forward. This mini-review will discuss ideas for the inclusion of PROMs in sports medicine research, with a focus on critical factors, gaps, and future directions in this area of research. Important elements of research with PROMs, including instrument selection, administration, and interpretation, will be discussed and areas for improvement, consideration, and standardization will be provided.

Characterizing athletic healthcare: A perspective on methodological challenges, lessons learned, and paths forward.

Recently, there has been an emphasis on collecting large datasets in the field of sports medicine. While there have been great advances in areas of sport performance and sport epidemiology, there have been fewer efforts dedicated to understanding the effectiveness and impact of athletic healthcare, including injury prevention programs and rehabilitation interventions provided at the point-of-care. In 2009, the Athletic Training Practice-Based Research Network (AT-PBRN) was launched to address this need, with the mission of improving the quality of care provided by athletic trainers. Unlike other research efforts in sports and medicine, such as sport epidemiology, there are fewer methodological best practices specifically related to clinical data in athletic healthcare. As a result, the AT-PBRN has encountered several methodological challenges during its tenure and has established guidelines based on various sources within the fields of sports and medicine to address these challenges. Therefore, the purpose of this perspective is to identify the challenges and describe strategies to address these challenges related to characterizing athletic healthcare using a large database. Specifically, challenges related to data entry (data quality and reliability) and data extraction and processing (data variability and missing data) will be discussed. Sharing challenges and perspectives on solutions for collecting and reporting on athletic healthcare data may facilitate a greater consistency in the approach used to collect, analyze, and report on clinical data in athletic healthcare, with the goal of improving patient outcomes and the quality of care provided by athletic trainers.

Interpreting patient-rated outcome measures in adolescent patients following concussion.

OBJECTIVE: To estimate scale scores for patient-reported outcome (PRO) measures that classify patients as improved or unimproved at days 3 and 10 post-concussion. METHODS: Data from 187 adolescent patients who sustained a concussion (150 males, 32 females, 5 not reported) were analyzed. Patients completed the Pediatric Quality of Life Inventory (PedsQL), PedsQL Multidimensional Fatigue Scale (MFS), Headache Impact Test (HIT-6), and Global Rating of Change (GROC) on days 3 and 10 post-concussion. Dependent variables: PedsQL total score, 3 MFS subscale scores [general (MFS-GF), sleep (MFS-SLF), cognitive (MFS-CF) fatigue], and HIT-6 total score. Higher scores on PedsQL and MFS indicate better health; lower scores on HIT-6 indicate less impact on headache-related health. GROC ascertained patient-perceived magnitude of change in health status since concussion. Receiver Operating Characteristic Curve analyses estimated PRO cut-point scores that classified patients as improved or unimproved. RESULTS: Day 3 PRO cut-points: PedsQL total = 90; MFS-GF = 73; MSF-CF = 85; MFS-SLF = 81; and HIT-6 total = 54. Day 10 PRO cut-points: PedsQL total = 91; MFS-GF = 85; MFS-CF = 85; MFS-SLF = 90; and HIT-6 total = 51. CONCLUSIONS: Our results define PedsQL, MFS, and HIT-6 scores as they relate to perceived improvement following concussive injuries. Cut-point scale scores help clinicians interpret concussion PROs and make informed decisions during the management of patients with concussion.

A descriptive and comparative analysis of injuries reported in USA Cycling-sanctioned competitive road cycling events.

BACKGROUND: Competition in road cycling events is common, yet little is known about the nature and disposition of injuries sustained in these events. The purpose of this study is to describe injured body regions and the disposition of injuries sustained by cyclists during competitive road cycling events. METHODS: Data regarding body region injured and injury disposition were retrospectively analyzed from a convenience sample of 1053 injury reports (male: n = 650 [61.7%], age = 33.4 ± 13.6 years; female: n = 116 [11.0%], age = 33.3 ± 13.9 years; missing: n = 284 [27.0%]) completed during the 2016 competitive season. RESULTS: A total of 1808 injuries were reported. Injured body regions included upper extremity (46.5%, n = 841), lower extremity (32.2%, n = 583), head/neck (10.4%, n = 189), torso/back (5.2%, n = 95), face (4%, n = 87), and internal/other (0.7%, n = 13). There were 1.37 ± 0.81 injuries recorded per report. Dispositions following injury were medical attention (34.1%, n = 316), ambulance/EMS (19.3%, n = 179), report only (15% n = 139), referred (13.0% n = 121), released to parent/personal vehicle (12.1% n = 112), refused care (4.1% n = 38), and continued riding (2.5% n = 23). Males (34.0%, n = 212) received medical attention more frequently than females (23.3%), p < 0.05. Females received EMS transport (29.1%, n = 30) more frequently than males (16.8%, n = 105), p < 0.05. CONCLUSIONS: Upper extremity is the most injured body region in this data set. Following injury, racers often receive medical attention and a substantial percentage require transport by EMS. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Anticipating the nature of injuries sustained by cyclists may promote positive health outcomes by ensuring medical teams are prepared for the immediate medical needs of cyclists.

Non-Time-Loss and Time-Loss Injuries in Secondary School Girls' Volleyball Athletes: A Report From the National Athletic Treatment, Injury, and Outcomes Network Surveillance Program.

CONTEXT: Volleyball is a popular sport with a risk of injury to the entire body. Insight into non-time-loss (NTL) and time-loss (TL) injuries is needed to inform seasonal injury trends that may lead to appropriate prevention and management strategies. This study provides a descriptive analysis of volleyball injuries among secondary school athletes. STUDY DESIGN: Descriptive epidemiology study. METHODS: Data were collected from 72 secondary schools, representing 135 team seasons of data from the National Athletic Treatment, Injury, and Outcomes Network Surveillance Program (2014-2015 to 2018-2019 academic years). Injury counts, injury rates (IR) per 1000 athlete exposures (AEs), and incidence rate ratios (IRR) were reported with 95% confidence intervals (CIs). RESULTS: In total, 529 injuries over 193,858 AEs for girls' volleyball were captured, producing an IR of 2.73/1000AEs (95% CI = 2.50-2.96). The overall IR was highest during the preseason compared with regular season (IRR = 1.31, 95% CI = 1.09-1.59). Overall IRs were higher in competition (IR: 3.56, 95% CI = 3.07-4.05) compared with practice (IR: 2.38, 95% CI = 2.12-2.64; IRR = 1.49, 95% CI = 1.25-1.79). Common body locations injured were ankle (n = 141, 26.7%; NTL: n = 56, 21.7%; TL: n = 85, 31.7%), knee (n = 61, 11.5%; NTL: n = 33, 12.8%, TL: n = 28, 10.5%), hand/wrist (n = 59, 11.2%; NTL: n = 32, 12.4%, TL: n = 27, 10.1%), and head/face (n = 62, 11.7%; NTL: n = 14, 5.4%; TL: n = 47, 17.5%). CONCLUSIONS: Volleyball IRs were highest in preseason and during competition. Most injuries affected the lower-extremity which is notable considering the high upper-extremity load in volleyball. Consideration of strategies to reduce injuries prior to the start of the formal sports season may be needed to help reduce the incidence of preseason injuries.

High School Athletes' Health-Related Quality of Life Across Recovery After Sport-Related Concussion or Acute Ankle Injury: A Report From the Athletic Training Practice-Based Research Network.

BACKGROUND: Evaluating adolescent athletes' perceived health status after a sport-related injury can provide important direction for health promotion strategies and preparation for a successful return to play. Furthermore, comparing specific injury types regarding their impact on athletes' perspectives of their global and domain-specific health perceptions allows for a more detailed understanding of an athlete's experience while also providing avenues for targeted treatment strategies. PURPOSE: To compare health-related quality of life (HRQOL) between high school athletes who had sustained either a concussion or an acute ankle injury and compare how these injury types related to their global and domain-specific HRQOL across recovery. STUDY DESIGN: Cohort study; Level of evidence, 3. METHODS: Electronic medical records created by athletic trainers working in 32 high school facilities were examined, and records from 1749 patients who sustained either a sport-related concussion (n = 862) or ankle sprain (n = 887) were screened for inclusion. HRQOL was assessed by self-reported scores on the Pediatric Quality of Life Inventory (PedsQL) at 2 time points after injury (T1 = 0-2 days; T2 = 11-29 days). A 2-way group by time analysis of variance was conducted to examine differences in trajectories and disrupted areas of HRQOL. RESULTS: Overall, 85 patient cases (46 concussion, 39 ankle sprain) fit the inclusion criteria. Each injury group exhibited improved global and domain-specific PedsQL scores between their 2 measured time points (P < .05), indicating recovery. However, domain-specific comparisons revealed that at T2, patients who had sustained an ankle sprain reported significantly lower PedsQL physical functioning scores (78.3 ± 19.3 vs 86.2 ± 15.7 for concussion; P = .005), whereas patients who had sustained a concussion reported lower scores related to their school functioning (80.0 ± 20.0 vs 90.8 ± 12.7 for ankle sprain; P = .006). CONCLUSION: The study results indicated that in high school athletes, the trajectories and disrupted areas of HRQOL stemming from a sport-related injury may be influenced differentially when comparing concussions with ankle sprains.

Social Determinants of Health: Considerations for Athletic Health Care.

Health disparities are prevalent concerns in the United States and a frequent topic of conversation in the public health realm. Causes of health disparities include social inequities and social determinants of health. Although social determinants of health have been suggested to contribute more to individual and population health than the health care provided, this concept in athletic health care has received little attention. Therefore, the purpose of our article was to describe social determinants of health, present examples of social determinants, and discuss actionable steps for the athletic training profession to become more culturally proficient. By increasing the awareness of and acknowledging social determinants of health, athletic trainers will be positioned to improve patient outcomes more readily and contribute to ongoing conversations at the policy level of health care.

Looking to Improve Your Practice? Consider the Science of Quality Improvement to Get Started.

Quality improvement in health care is the responsibility of everyone (eg, patients, families, health providers, and administrative staff) to work toward delivering high-quality patient care, advancing professional knowledge and skills, and creating effective and efficient processes of care. Those involved in athletic health care, similar to other health care professionals, should strive to create patient care experiences that are safe, timely, effective, efficient, equitable, and patient centered. Exploring the differences between quality improvement and research will help define the focus of improvement sciences on the health of systems, which is to identify quality gaps and evaluate processes of care, as opposed to filling knowledge gaps. Furthermore, considering the principles of quality improvement will set the foundation for quality initiatives in health care to focus on patients, value teams, emphasize systems and processes of care, appreciate variability, and require data. With a greater understanding of the principles of the quality improvement sciences, athletic trainers will be better positioned to create a culture of quality improvement and to take the initiative in leading improvement efforts so that local systems support the delivery of high-quality patient care.

Evaluating Multiple Domains of Health in High School Athletes With Sport-Related Concussion.

CONTEXT: Concussions are shown to hinder multiple health dimensions, including health-related quality of life (HRQOL), suggesting a need for a whole-person approach to assessment and treatment. Patient-reported outcome measures are one method to gather the patient's perspective regarding their HRQOL. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate perceived HRQOL using the Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System Pediatric-25 subscale in patients throughout concussion recovery. DESIGN: Prospective cohort, descriptive survey. SETTING: There were 9 high school athletic training facilities. PARTICIPANTS: A total of 70 patients with diagnosed concussions (51 males, 7 females, 12 unreported; age = 15.7 [0.9] y, height = 174.6 [8.4] cm, mass = 72.8 [14.8] kg, grade = 10.0 [0.9] level). INTERVENTIONS: Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System Pediatric-25 was administered at 3 days, 10 days postconcussion, and return to play (RTP). MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System Pediatric-25 subscale T scores and self-reported concussion history (yes/no). RESULTS: A total of 70 patients completed the study. For the Pediatric-25 subscales, the severity of problems associated with Physical Function Mobility, Anxiety, Depression, Fatigue, and Pain Interference were highest 3 days postconcussion, decreasing at 10 days and RTP (all p < .05). No differences were found between days 3 and 10 for Peer Relationship scores, but improvements were identified at RTP (p < .05). Pediatric-25 subscale scores at the 3 measurements were not statistically associated with concussion history (all p > .05). Ceiling and floor effects were present in all subscales throughout each timepoint, except for Physical Function Mobility (14.7%), and pain interference (11.8%) at day 3 postinjury. CONCLUSIONS: Patients who had suffered a concussion improved from day 3 through RTP on multiple health domains as demonstrated through the Pediatric-25 subscales. These findings highlight the need for health care professionals to serially monitor HRQOL and social factors that may affect the patient postconcussion as part of a multifactorial assessment. Ceiling effects in high functioning adolescent athletes were present; thus, efforts should be made to identify appropriate scales for use in managing recovery in athletic populations.

Patient-Reported Outcome Measures in Sports Medicine: A Concise Resource for Clinicians and Researchers.

BACKGROUND: Despite the importance of assessing patient outcomes during patient care, current evidence suggests relatively limited use of patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs) by athletic trainers (ATs). Major barriers to PROM use include lack of knowledge, navigating the intricate process of assessing a wide variety of PROMs, and selecting the most appropriate PROM to use for care. A concise resource for ATs to consult when selecting and implementing PROMs may help facilitate the use of PROMs in athletic health care. OBJECTIVE: To review the instrument essentials and clinical utility of PROMs used by ATs. METHODS: We studied 11 lower extremity region-specific, 10 upper extremity region-specific, 6 generic, and 3 single-item PROMs based on the endorsement of at least 10% of ATs who use PROMs, as reported in a recent investigation of PROM use in athletic training. A literature search was conducted for each included PROM that focused on identifying and extracting components of the instrument essentials (ie, instrument development, reliability, validity, responsiveness and interpretability, and precision) and clinical utility (ie, acceptability, feasibility, and appropriateness). Through independent review and group consensus, we also classified each PROM question by International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health domain and health-related quality-of-life dimensions. KEY FINDINGS: The PROMs contained in this report generally possessed appropriate instrument essentials and clinical utility. Moreover, the PROMs generally emphasized body structure and function as well as the physical functioning of the patient. Athletic trainers aiming to assess patients via a whole-person approach may benefit from combining different PROMs for use in patient care to ensure broader attention to disablement health domains and health-related quality-of-life dimensions.

Non-Time-Loss and Time-Loss Softball Injuries in Secondary School Athletes: A Report From the National Athletic Treatment, Injury and Outcomes Network (NATION).

CONTEXT: Most studies of injury trends associated with softball focus on injuries requiring at least 24 hours of missed participation time (time-loss [TL] injuries), with little focus on those that do not (non-time-loss [NTL] injuries). A better understanding of injury trends associated with softball will improve athlete care. OBJECTIVE: To describe NTL and TL injuries experienced by secondary school girls' softball players. DESIGN: Descriptive epidemiology study. SETTING: Secondary school athletic training clinics. PATIENTS OR OTHER PARTICIPANTS: Secondary school girls' softball players. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S): Aggregate data were collected from schools participating in the National Athletic Treatment, Injury, and Outcomes Network surveillance program during the 2011-2012 through 2013-2014 academic years. Frequencies and rates of injuries (NTL and TL) according to time of season, event type, body part injured, and diagnosis were analyzed. RESULTS: In total, 1059 injuries were reported during 140 073 athlete-exposures (AEs): overall injury rate = 7.56/1000 AEs. Of these injuries, 885 (83.6%) were NTL (NTL rate = 6.32/1000 AEs) and 174 (16.4%) were TL (TL rate = 1.24/1000 AEs). Of the NTL and TL injuries, the largest numbers occurred during the regular season (NTL: n = 443 [50.1%]; TL: n = 131 [75.3%]). Injuries sustained during practices accounted for the majority of NTL and TL injuries (NTL: n = 631 [71.3%]; TL: n = 104 [59.8%]). The NTL injuries occurred most often at the shoulder (n = 134 [15.1%]) and hand/fingers (n = 109 [12.3%]) and were diagnosed as contusions (n = 316 [35.7%]), strains (n = 157 [17.7%]), and abrasions (n = 151 [17.1%]). The largest numbers of TL injuries were to the head/face (n = 71 [40.8%]) and diagnosed as concussions (n = 50 [28.7%]) and strains (n = 28 [16.1%]). CONCLUSIONS: Secondary school softball players sustained a larger proportion of NTL injuries than TL injuries. Although NTL injuries may be less severe, they are numerous. Efforts are needed to ensure that injury-prevention programs are incorporated into the care of softball athletes to promote health and reduce injury occurrence.

The Impact of a Previous Ankle Injury on Current Health-Related Quality of Life in College Athletes.

CONTEXT: There has been an increased interest in understanding how ankle injuries impact patient outcomes; however, it is unknown how the severity of a previous ankle injury influences health-related quality of life (HRQOL). OBJECTIVE: To determine the impact of a previous ankle injury on current HRQOL in college athletes. DESIGN: Cross-sectional study. SETTING: Athletic training clinics. PARTICIPANTS: A total of 270 participants were grouped by the severity of a previous ankle injury (severe = 62, mild = 65, and no injury = 143). MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Participants completed the Foot and Ankle Ability Measure (FAAM) and the Short Form 12 (SF-12). METHODS: A 2-way analysis of variance with 2 factors (injury group and sex) was used to identify interaction and main effects for the FAAM and SF-12. RESULTS: No interactions were identified between injury group and sex. Significant main effects were observed for injury group, where the severe injury group scored lower than athletes with mild and no injuries on the FAAM activities of daily living, FAAM Global, and SF-12 mental health subscale scores. In addition, a main effect was present for sex in the SF-12 general health, social functioning, and mental health subscales in which females reported significantly lower scores than males. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings suggest that a severe ankle injury impacts HRQOL, even after returning back to full participation. In addition, females tended to report lower scores than males for aspects of the SF-12, suggesting that sex should be considered when evaluating HRQOL postinjury. As a result, clinicians should consider asking athletes about their previous injury history, including how much time was lost due to the injury, and should mindful of returning athletes to play before they are physiologically and psychologically ready, as there could be long-term negative effects on the patients' region-specific function as well as aspects of their HRQOL.