Welcome to JAT Chat, presented by the Journal of Athletic Training, the official journal of the National Athletic Trainers' Association. In this episode, co-host Dr. Kara Radzak speaks with Dr. Alan Needle about the paper, "Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation Over the Motor or Frontal Cortex in Patients With Chronic Ankle Instability". 

The episode explains transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) mechanisms, study design (motor vs frontal vs sham, paired motor-planning rehab), main outcomes (patient-reported improvements across groups, limited neurophysiologic change), and practical implications for incorporating neuromodulatory strategies into athletic training and future research directions.

Article: https://doi.org/10.4085/1062-6050-0728.24 

Episode Guest: Alan Needle, PhD, ATC, CSCS - Professor in Departments of Kinesiology and Rehabilitation Sciences at Appalachian State University in Boone, NC. https://phes.appstate.edu/faculty-staff/alan-needle 

Welcome to JAT Chat, presented by the Journal of Athletic Training, the official journal of the National Athletic Trainers' Association. In this episode, co-host Dr. Shelby Baez speaks with Dr. Erica Beidler (Duquesne University) about her recent publication, "Concussion-Related Anxiety Perceptions of Parents of Youth Athletes". They discuss how parents interpret concussion risks, the study methods focused on football, soccer, ice hockey and lacrosse, and key findings showing high levels of worry—especially among mothers and parents without personal concussion history—while prior education did not reliably lower anxiety.

Takeaways include asking parents about their beliefs before giving information, tailoring communication, promoting safe sport participation, and the vital role athletic trainers play in providing person-centered, psychologically informed care.

Article: https://doi.org/10.4085/1062-6050-0579.23

Welcome to JAT Chat, presented by the Journal of Athletic Training, the official journal of the National Athletic Trainers' Association. In this episode, co-host Dr. Kara Radzak speaks with Dr. Travis Anderson and Dr. Eric Post about their recently published article, "Multiplying Alpha: When Statistical Tests Compound in Sports Medicine Research".

Drs. Anderson and Post discuss how multiple statistical tests can inflate false-positive rates in sports medicine research, explain family-wise and experiment-wise error, and illustrate risks with a large-scale Paris Olympic Games analysis. They recommend transparency, pre-registration, correction for multiplicity, and consider Bayesian approaches to improve rigor and clinical decision-making.

Article: https://doi.org/10.4085/1062-6050-0700.24

Guest Bios:

Travis Anderson, PhD: Travis recently joined US Soccer as the Manager of Research and Innovation, following his work as a Research Scientist at the USOPC where he worked closely with Eric. His academic background is in exercise physiology, although he dabbled in statistics throughout graduate school and enjoys continuing his education in applied statistics in sports medicine and exercise science.

Eric Post, PhD, ATC: Eric is the Manager of the Sports Medicine Research Laboratory for the United States Olympic and Paralympic Committee. Eric previously served as Program Director for the Master's in Athletic Training Program at Indiana State University and as a faculty member at San Diego State University.

Welcome to JAT Chat, presented by the Journal of Athletic Training, the official journal of the National Athletic Trainers' Association. In this episode, co-host Dr. Shelby Baez speaks with Dr. Rachel Meyers (Sports Physical Therapist at Children's Hospital Colorado) and Dr. David Howell (Associate Professor of Orthopedics at the University of Colorado School of Medicine) about their recent publication, "Adolescent Female Athletes With Menstrual Dysfunction Report Worse Sleep and Stress Than Those Without Menstrual Dysfunction". They explain what menstrual dysfunction is, discuss related conditions, and emphasize the importance of early screening, education, and the athletic trainer's role in prevention and care.

Article: https://doi.org/10.4085/1062-6050-0583.24

Welcome to JAT Chat, presented by the Journal of Athletic Training, the official journal of the National Athletic Trainers' Association. In this episode, co-host Dr. Kara Radzak speaks with Dr. Rachel Koldenhoven Rolfe about the recently published systematic review and meta-analysis on gait training interventions for individuals with chronic ankle instability. Discover the inspiration behind this review, the methodologies used, and the diverse range of interventions explored in included studies. Learn about the potential effectiveness of gait training and its implications for future clinical practice and research. This episode sheds light on the promising advancements in gait biomechanics for improved patient outcomes.

Article: https://www.doi.org/10.4085/1062-6050-0499.23

Guest Bio: Dr. Rachel Koldenhoven Rolfe is an Assistant Professor of Athletic Training at Texas State University. Her research interests involve measuring biomechanics for individuals with chronic ankle instability and using impairment-based techniques to improve patient outcomes.

Welcome to JAT Chat, presented by the Journal of Athletic Training, the official journal of the National Athletic Trainers' Association. In this episode, co-host Dr. Shelby Baez speaks with Dr. Bree Baker as they explore the intricate case of a Division I heptathlete's journey through hidden injuries and the pivotal role of sleep in recovery. Dr. Baker's recent publication in JAT, "Don’t Sleep on Sleep: A Clinical CASE Report From a Division I Heptathlete" is available in the April 2025 issue. 

Article: https://doi.org/10.4085/1062-6050-0537.24

In this episode, learn about the collaborative efforts of a multidisciplinary team, including athletic trainers and sports medicine professionals, who worked tirelessly to identify and address the root cause of the athlete's persistent pain. This in-depth discussion highlights the importance of sleep and holistic health in both preventing injuries and enhancing recovery, offering key insights for athletic trainers, coaches, and healthcare providers.

Guest Bio: Dr. Bree Baker is an assistant professor in the School of Kinesiology, Applied Health, and Recreation and Director of the Musculoskeletal Adaptations to Aging and eXercise lab (MAAX). Dr. Baker's research team regularly uses a DXA bone scanner, Biodex dynamometer, ultrasound, and surveys tools to help better understand bone and muscle health in healthy and clinical populations. They also use information from these tools to better test performance, sleep quality, dietary needs, endocrine function, and injury risk in athletes and first responders.

Welcome to JAT Chat, presented by the Journal of Athletic Training, the official journal of the National Athletic Trainers' Association. In this episode, co-host Dr. Kara Radzak converses with Dr. Francesca (Frankie) Genoese about her recently published paper in the March issue of JAT, The Relationship Between Active Coping Skills and Self-Reported Knee Function in Individuals With Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction. Dr. Genoese shares insights into her research methodology, the impact of coping strategies on recovery outcomes, and practical ways clinicians can incorporate psychological assessments in patient care.

Article: https://doi.org/10.4085/1062-6050-0662.23

Welcome to JAT Chat, presented by the Journal of Athletic Training, the official journal of the National Athletic Trainers' Association. In this episode, Dr. Shelby Baez is joined by Dr. Sam Walton as they delve into health-promoting behaviors among former National Football League players. The paper discussed in this episode, "Health-Promoting Behaviors and Their Associations With Factors Related to Well-Being Among Former National Football League Players: An NFL-LONG Study" is available open access in the February 2025 issue of JAT.

Article: https://doi.org/10.4085/1062-6050-0537.23

Guest Bio: Dr. Samuel (Sam) Walton is a certified athletic trainer who studied at the University of Southern Maine (B.S. in Athletic Training, 2008) and the University of Virginia (M.Ed. in Athletic Training, 2013; Ph.D. in Sports Medicine, 2019). He has 11 years of clinical experience with three different NCAA Division I universities and he completed postdoctoral research training at the University of North Carolina - Chapel Hill (2022). Currently, Dr. Walton is an Assistant Professor of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation with the Virginia Commonwealth University School of Medicine and a Research Associate with the Richmond Veterans Affairs Medical Center. His current research focuses on 1) the short-term, long-term, and cumulative effects of concussion among athletes and military personnel, including a specific focus on sex-differences, 2) promotion of brain health and well-being across the lifespan, and 3) guiding transition experiences to life after sport & military service. He also provides service for marketing, promotions, and communications efforts to the World Federation of Athletic Training and Therapy (WFATT) and the Concussion in Sport Group (CISG). 

Welcome to JAT Chat, presented by the Journal of Athletic Training, the official journal of the National Athletic Trainers' Association. In this episode, co-host Dr. Kara Radzak sits down with Drs. Morgan Eckenrod and Melissa Kossman to discuss their recent "Working With and Through Athletic Trainers to Meet Student Athletes' Mental Performance and Mental Health Needs," published in the January 2025 issue of the Journal of Athletic Training. 

Article: https://doi.org/10.4085/1062-6050-0132.24

Welcome to JAT Chat, presented by the Journal of Athletic Training, the official journal of the National Athletic Trainers' Association. In this episode, Dr. Shelby Baez is joined by Dr. Gianluca Del Rossi from Creighton University to delve into the compelling findings from Dr. Del Rossi's manuscript, "Student Debt Associated with Entry-Level Athletic Training Education," published in the December 2024 issue of the Journal of Athletic Training.

Article: https://tinyurl.com/5xkcy8hf 

Key Points:

The average education-related debt-to-income ratio reported by entry-level athletic trainers is considered high by finance industry standards.

High debt-to-income ratio and monthly payment debt-to-income ratio related to student debt portends the possibility of experiencing financial challenges postgraduation for entry-level athletic trainers.

Guest Bio: Dr. Del Rossi is a Professor in the School of Pharmacy and Health Professions at Creighton University. His research is focused on pre-hospital emergency care and most recently on education-related topics.