Sports Medicine Broadcast

Explore GI evaluations, red flags, the gut-brain axis, and supplement trends with Dr. Sean Healy on the Sports Medicine Broadcast hosted by Chase Morales.

Sports Medicine Broadcast
A Podcast to Promote and Improve Your Practice as an Athletic Trainer

Gastrointestinal (GI) complaints are among the most common yet challenging non-musculoskeletal issues encountered by athletic trainers in clinical and sideline settings. In this episode of the Sports Medicine Broadcast, host Chase Morales sits down with team physician Dr. Sean Healy to break down essential GI examination techniques, triage methods for acute abdominal pain, the interplay between psychological health and Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS), and practical guidance on supplement safety and gastroenteritis management.

Evaluating abdominal complaints begins with taking a structured patient history and correlating symptoms to specific anatomical quadrants. When evaluating an athlete presenting with abdominal discomfort:

Distinguishing urgent medical conditions from benign or non-urgent GI distress is vital for quick referral. Dr. Healy highlights several immediate red flags requiring urgent higher-level care:

The relationship between neurological/psychiatric factors—such as anxiety and performance stress—and GI motility is significant.

With the rise of protein-dense foods and pre-workout products, athletes are consuming high quantities of nutritional supplements.

When managing acute gastroenteritis or suspected “stomach bugs”:

Athletes often feel hesitant or embarrassed to report gastrointestinal issues. Athletic trainers should work to normalize gut health conversations and establish a progressive referral pipeline:

Athletic Trainer Assessment -> Primary Care Physician (PCP) -> GI Specialist

Dr. Sean Healy can be reached directly for professional inquiries via email:

Presentation on YouTube: https://youtu.be/jNlHXVZti9k

When an overhead or rotational athlete—such as a baseball pitcher, softball player, volleyball server, or tennis player—suffers a significant upper extremity injury, traditional care often calls for shutdown periods lasting anywhere from six weeks to several months. While restricting arm motion is crucial for surgical or tissue healing, completely shutting down the athlete can lead to lost athleticism, decreased conditioning, and a difficult return-to-play process.

In this episode of the Sports Medicine Broadcast, host Chase Morales is joined by Cathy Nguyen, Xavier Porter, and physical therapist Ryan Collins to dive into strategies for keeping overhead athletes conditioned and engaged while protecting healing shoulder and elbow tissues.

Overhead performance relies heavily on total-body coordination, trunk rotation, and lower-body ground reaction forces. When the arm is immobilized or restricted, clinicians have a valuable window to address other components of the kinetic chain:

Standard rehabilitation protocols for procedures such as SLAP repairs, UCL reconstructions, or rotator cuff repairs are designed around histology—how tissue heals over specific timeframes. While respecting these tissue-healing boundaries is mandatory, Collins points out that protocols should serve as adaptable templates rather than rigid, calendar-only directives:

Before introducing plyometrics, medicine ball throws, or return-to-throwing protocols, clinicians should look beyond simple pain ratings:

By viewing rehabilitation as an ongoing part of athletic training, sports medicine professionals can ensure that sidelined athletes return to the field fully prepared, strong, and confident.

YouTube Presentation: https://youtu.be/D4l77KKSfkU

A Podcast to Promote and Improve Your Practice as an Athletic Trainer

In a recent episode of the Sports Medicine Broadcast, host Chase Morales, along with Ross Little and second-year M.A. student Dorothy Bailey, sat down with Dr. Craig Garrison, Director of Research and Education at the Memorial Hermann Rockets Sports Medicine Institute. Dr. Garrison shared critical insights on identifying and correcting faulty throwing mechanics, understanding the biomechanical drivers of modern throwing velocity, and implementing practical strategies to protect overhead athletes across sports.

In today’s sports landscape, throwing velocity serves as the baseline measuring stick for recruitment and advancement. High school baseball pitchers striving for Division I recruitment are now expected to consistently throw in the low-to-mid 90s—a notable contrast to a decade ago when lower velocity ranges were far more common.

This rise in velocity is heavily linked to advancements in biomechanical evaluation and motion analysis technology. By leveraging data-driven insights, clinicians and strength coaches can optimize kinetic sequencing, helping athletes generate explosive power while aiming to mitigate tissue stress.

Although baseball pitching dominates discussions around overhead biomechanics, the core mechanical principles extend across multiple disciplines. Dr. Garrison highlighted that track and field throwers—specifically javelin athletes—exhibit nearly identical mechanical principles and injury risk profiles:

To lower injury risk, clinicians must evaluate both force production and kinematic sequencing. An athlete who produces exceptional lower-body force but lacks proper sequencing will experience high stress on the upper extremity, drastically increasing injury risk.

When designing rehabilitation protocols or performance programs for young overhead throwers, focus should remain on foundational movement rather than isolated arm exercises.

Forces delivered at ball release originate in the lower body. Training should prioritize lower extremity power, squat performance, and jumping mechanics. The upper extremity primarily serves as the vehicle for delivering the force generated by the legs and core.

Because a baseball pitch is delivered in approximately 250 milliseconds, the human brain cannot consciously process complex internal mechanical adjustments mid-throw.

To overcome this, Dr. Garrison advocates for external cueing using simple tools like a metronome:

Addressing biomechanics effectively also requires managing realistic athlete capacities and behavioral compliance:

Addressing throwing mechanics requires a comprehensive approach that prioritizes lower-body force generation, external timing cues, and careful workload management.

YouTube Presentation: https://youtu.be/FGm5caSDJDg

As an AT in Idaho, Tracy Collins shares the beauty of the state and some of the challenges the Athletic Trainers face. With over 300 ATs, the Idaho ATA joins the Sports Medicine Broadcast to discuss work-life balance.

Host Jeremy Jackson sits down with Tracy Collins, Head Athletic Trainer at Lewis-Clark State College, to discuss her long career and the unique life of an AT in Idaho. They cover Tracy’s journey from a record-setting high school track athlete to a veteran healthcare professional, the challenges and solutions for AT coverage in the state’s rural settings, and what the Idaho Athletic Trainers Association is working on with their practice act. Tracy also gives her top recommendations for experiencing the stunning outdoor activities and travel destinations that the state of Idaho has to offer.

Contact Tracy Collins:

Frio Hydration – Superior Hydration products.

Xothrm – Best heating pad available – Use “SMB” or email [email protected] and mention the Sports Medicine Broadcast

Donate and get some swag (like Patreon but for the school)

HOIST – No matter your reason for dehydration DRINK HOIST

MedBridge Education – Use “TheSMB” to save some money, be entered in a drawing for a second year free, and support the podcast.

Marc Pro – Use “THESMB” to recover better.

Athletic Dry Needling – Save up to $100 when registering through our link.

Being an AT in Georgia is a lot like being an AT in Texas. Rob Dicks knew he wanted to become an AT by the time he started high school. He is now leading the Georgia Athletic Trainers Association.

This episode features Jeremy Jackson and Rob Dix, the current President of the Georgia Athletic Trainers Association (GATA). Rob shares his journey from a 14-year-old aspiring ‘sports doctor’ to a seasoned Athletic Trainer, driven by an early interaction with an AT after an MCL sprain. He recounts his experience balancing a high-achieving student life and a career that included internships with the Buccaneers and the Falcons. Rob eventually prioritized family, leading him to a 22-year career at Lagrange College, where he transitioned through several administrative and leadership roles, culminating as an Associate AD before returning to high school athletics at Callaway High School.

Rob discusses his leadership philosophy, ‘We are better together,’ and his role as a servant leader for GATA members. He highlights his commitment to mentorship, including co-founding a large support group/think tank for brown and black athletic trainers. On the legislative front, Rob addresses current challenges facing AT in Georgia, such as opposition to updating the Practice Act and the exclusion of athletic trainers from a dry needling bill that could make the practice illegal for ATs in the state. Despite the challenges, Rob notes Georgia’s leadership in the profession: the state is now number one nationally for heat illness policies and is a top contender for secondary school AT hiring and salary data. The ultimate goal is to place an AT in every school system with athletics.

Rob Dix discusses his passion for athletic training, his pivot from an NFL career path to collegiate and high school settings, and his dedication to leadership and mentorship within the profession.

Group: The Brown and Black AT Think Tank (contact Rob for involvement)

Frio Hydration – Superior Hydration products.

Xothrm – Best heating pad available – Use “SMB” or email [email protected] and mention the Sports Medicine Broadcast

Donate and get some swag (like Patreon but for the school)

HOIST – No matter your reason for dehydration DRINK HOIST

MedBridge Education – Use “TheSMB” to save some money, be entered in a drawing for a second year free, and support the podcast.

Marc Pro – Use “THESMB” to recover better.

Athletic Dry Needling – Save up to $100 when registering through our link.

Being an AT in Florida offers many opportunities. Dr. Pradeep Vanguri joins Ben Stephenson and Jeremy Jackson to share what being an AT in Florida is like.

Leadership in the Sunshine State: Dr. Pradeep Vanguri on the Future of Athletic Training in Florida

Jeremy Jackson and Ben Stevenson welcome Dr. Pradeep Vanguri, President of the Athletic Trainers Association of Florida (ATAF), to the Sports Medicine broadcast podcast to discuss the professional landscape in Florida. Dr. Vanguri shares his personal journey and outlines the crucial initiatives shaping athletic training across the 67 counties of Florida.

Dr. Vanguri’s interest in sports medicine began in high school in North Carolina, but his decision to become an athletic trainer was cemented in college at East Carolina University after realizing he preferred being on the sideline with teams over working in a clinic or hospital setting. He eventually moved to the state of Florida, where his focus on service led him to the ATAF.

Dr. Vanguri emphasizes that the core strength of athletic training in Florida is its people—the dedicated clinicians and the close-knit professional community. The state offers numerous settings for athletic trainers, including industrial, college/university, secondary school, and professional teams like the Miami Dolphins, Panthers, and Inter Miami. The state also provides excellent opportunities for new and seasoned athletic trainers to continue their practice through collaboration, mentorship, and access to research from academic programs.

A common issue is the lack of full-time coverage and a high rate of turnover for athletic trainers across the 67 counties. The ATAF’s goal is to recruit talent to Florida and work to ensure they stay by focusing on appropriate coverage, quality of life, and compensatory salary and benefits. Medical systems across major regions of Florida, including Miami, Fort Lauderdale, Orlando, Tampa, Jacksonville, and the Panhandle, are supporting these efforts.

Dr. Vanguri’s sales pitch for the state of Florida centers on its people. He urges athletic trainers to move to Florida for the opportunity to connect with individuals making a difference, as well as for the mentorship, research opportunities, and clinical growth provided by the state’s top-notch athletic trainers and supportive medical systems. While the sunshine and alligators are a perk, the central reason to come and stay in Florida is the robust professional community and the emphasis on work-life balance.

The Athletic Trainers Association of Florida annual meeting is scheduled for July 10th to 12th in Orlando, Florida.

To connect with Dr. Vanguri or the ATAF:

Website and Social Media: ataf.org

Frio Hydration – Superior Hydration products.

Xothrm – Best heating pad available – Use “SMB” or email [email protected] and mention the Sports Medicine Broadcast

Donate and get some swag (like Patreon but for the school)

HOIST – No matter your reason for dehydration DRINK HOIST

MedBridge Education – Use “TheSMB” to save some money, be entered in a drawing for a second year free, and support the podcast.

Marc Pro – Use “THESMB” to recover better.

Athletic Dry Needling – Save up to $100 when registering through our link.

Dr. Robert Fullick joins Ben Stephenson and Amari Mercadel at the Sports Medicine Update to discuss shoulder evaluations in the athletic shoulder.

You learn more as time goes on, good training and fine-tuning over the years. A bear hug assesses a specific part of the subscapular tendon. Other testing may be normal with an upper subscapular tendon injury.  

We go from doing all the tests to gaining the confidence to know what the athlete is telling me to help figure out what tests to use. I would recommend doing all the tests until you gain enough knowledge to be able to skip around. You’re gonna get better as you go. I used to have doubts about the shoulder early in my career but look at me now. I see every MRI of every patient that I see, and I see every surgical evaluation that might need it. So I would say I’m pretty good at what I do. I’ve gotta be the best I can so that I’m not the guy saying that we’re gonna do physical therapy because I don’t know exactly what’s wrong, they’re gonna go see another guy. 

My sports background put me in a unique situation where I was comfortable in the locker room. My mentor in Boston worked for pro teams and I got into being on pro sidelines and sitting with different people. Being a young resident covering high-level sports on my own. Foster relationships when I moved to Baltimore got my sports fellowship. 

I would say the biggest thing that I see missed is not disrobing the shoulder to see the skin, posterior shoulder, etc. Then you’re looking at the testing and trying to discern between a cuff strain versus labral. Thats not your fault. Based on the findings, timing, MOI, you can determine whether the patient needs imaging or do they just need physical therapy and some rehab. I would not be hard on yourself. Everyone is going to be in a different spot. 

Complex scenario but I tell everyone the stronger the rotator cuff and the more motion going into surgery the better the recovery is going to be. Pre-op motion strongly indicates early post-op motion in my opinion.

It’s an impossibility; I might have the luxury to know what a fractured arm looks like, but you might not. If a bone looks crooked, if a shoulder is out of palace then you try to make it look normal. If you go to reduce and you feel movement of the patient feels pain or a clunk or the humeral head doesn’t feel 100% out, then maybe you might think a fracture. You’ll never be able to know in that split second. I still see in the ER that they miss posterior dislocations. If you don’t get an axillary view, you don’t get the full workup. You gotta find a way to get that view, if not, get a CT scan. If you miss a posterior dislocation on the field, that’s okay, you’re doing the best that you can do with what you have. 

If you encounter those with dislocations with sneezing and sleeping, typically they need intervention and surgery for the labrum and bone loss. Patients have more motion post-surgery because trust is restored within the joint.

Jeremy Jackson

Benjamin Stephenson

Layci Harrison

Mark Knoblauch

Ashlyne Elliott

Leslie Bennett

Frio Hydration – Superior Hydration products.

Xothrm – Best heating pad available – Use “SMB” or email [email protected] and mention the Sports Medicine Broadcast.

Donate and get some swag (like Patreon but for the school)

HOIST – No matter your reason for dehydration, DRINK HOIST

MedBridge Education – Use “TheSMB” to save some money, be entered in a drawing for a second year free, and support the podcast.

Marc Pro – Use “THESMB” to recover better.

Athletic Dry Needling – Save up to $100 when registering through our link.

Explore Matthew Hutton’s insights on bridging rehab & reconditioning, chronic vs. acute loads, strength, FMS, and preventing reinjury.

A: My interest began in high school, where I excelled in science and math. After unsatisfying experiences shadowing a dentist and a physical therapist (who didn’t involve athletics), tearing my MCL introduced me to my high school AT, who became my inspiration. My path to soccer and the Dynamo was less direct, stemming from an Iowa soccer team connection that led to the Dynamo academy and eventually the main team.

A: The topic was inspired by a lifelong focus on performance and experience in various competitive athletic gym settings. It emphasizes the crucial collaboration among professionals for optimal return to play, especially evident at the professional soccer level, and highlights a passion for continuous learning in this field.

A: Chronic vs. acute load ratios involve monitoring an athlete’s training load over the past 3-5 weeks and comparing its average to the current training week. While there’s no single “gold standard,” a ratio of 1.4-1.6 is considered ideal, whereas anything above 2.0 suggests an increased risk of injury. Without GPS, metrics like mileage and manual counting of accelerations and decelerations are important. For example, high-speed running is typically above 5.5 m/s, and a sprint is above 7 m/s.

A: Research indicates that strength is more crucial for injury prevention, particularly focusing on strength and fascial length. While power is often overlooked, incorporating speed variables is essential. There’s a significant gap between heavy Nordic hamstring exercises and sprinting, underscoring the importance of bridging this divide.

A: Yes, I am FMS certified, though I rarely use the actual testing. Instead, I heavily utilize the FMS framework and its progression principles. This framework proved highly beneficial, especially when working with large groups of 35-40 athletes at the JUCO level without dedicated strength staff. It allowed me to create reproducible corrective exercise PDFs for efficient widespread application.

A: While not an expert in this specific area, my approach involves understanding the athlete as an individual. I engage with them to comprehend their personal experiences and struggles, believing that this empathy is key to providing effective support and boosting their morale during challenging recovery periods.

A: The most significant complication with hamstring strains is the lack of a clear understanding of all the risk variables involved. For instance, an athlete might demonstrate exceptional hamstring strength on a NordBord, yet still experience recurrent injuries. This suggests that factors beyond isolated strength, such as the nervous system and fatigue, play a substantial role, making the absence of definitive risk factor evidence the primary challenge.

A: My biggest tip for preventing reinjury is to employ a “smooth approach,” akin to art shading. This means gradually and consistently progressing exercises without sudden spikes in any variables. The key is to manipulate training variables appropriately and avoid abrupt changes to ensure a smooth and safe rehabilitation journey.

A: The concept of working backward in rehab planning originated from my experience with the Dynamo. Early on, I made the mistake of progressing athletes day by day based on their immediate feeling, which led to an expedited progression and a subsequent contralateral injury setback. This experience highlighted the importance of understanding the overall timeline and setting larger goals in advance to prevent moving too quickly through the rehabilitation process.

A: Curvilinear running involves having athletes run along a uniform curve, like a half-circle, often marked by the edge of a box. This practice helps identify that the fastest linear sprinters may not necessarily be the fastest curvilinear sprinters, emphasizing the distinct biomechanical demands of curved running.

Jeremy Jackson

Benjamin Stephenson

Layci Harrison

Mark Knoblauch

Ashlyne Elliott

Leslie Bennett

Frio Hydration – Superior Hydration products.

Xothrm – Best heating pad available – Use “SMB” or email [email protected] and mention the Sports Medicine Broadcast.

Donate and get some swag (like Patreon but for the school)

HOIST – No matter your reason for dehydration, DRINK HOIST

MedBridge Education – Use “TheSMB” to save some money, be entered in a drawing for a second year free, and support the podcast.

Marc Pro – Use “THESMB” to recover better.

Athletic Dry Needling – Save up to $100 when registering through our link.

Understand asthma in athletes, including environmental triggers, gender disparities, and symptom differentiation.

A: Living near chemical plants, such as Pasadena High School, can lead to a higher incidence of asthma due to pollutants. These pollutants can damage tissues and cause respiratory issues, mimicking asthma symptoms. It’s not typically an age-related development but rather an environmental factor.

A: It is possible that the higher incidence of asthma and injuries in boys is due to a greater number of boys participating in athletics. We often diagnose asthma in children who are going to be athletes, and this demographic tends to be more boys than girls. A true genetic cause for this difference is not currently known.

A: A 2008 study indicated that Black individuals have higher incidences of asthma, followed by White individuals, and then Hispanic individuals. The specific reason for this disparity is not fully understood at this point.

A: The impact of asthma triggers varies by individual. All of these factors can trigger asthma. For example, some individuals with allergic asthma may experience more severe reactions in rural areas due to pollen, while others may be more affected by industrial air quality problems in urban settings. Allergen tests can help determine an individual’s specific triggers.

A: URIs are likely to be confused with asthma, especially in younger patients who have not been tested for asthma. In emergency room settings, albuterol is often administered due to its low risk and typical effectiveness. If a patient improves with albuterol, it can lead to a presumption of asthma or bronchial hyper-responsiveness.

A: It is challenging to differentiate between an athlete being out of shape and having asthma, as the symptoms can be very similar. Increased access to medical professionals for diagnosis is encouraged. Athletic trainers should promote education about asthma. It can be a difficult situation, particularly if a coach suggests a student is feigning asthma to avoid participation.

A: An asthmatic baseline device can be beneficial, especially for younger athletic populations, and can be purchased from retailers like Amazon. These devices can be reused if properly cleaned between athletes. Establishing a baseline helps athletic trainers objectively assess an athlete’s lung function, determining if intervention or rest is needed before play.

A: An asthmatic baseline should be established out of season, before the season starts when the athlete is having a normal day and not experiencing symptoms. It should be retested approximately once a year to account for changes in fitness levels and lung capacity as the athlete grows and develops. It is not necessary to test daily, only at the beginning of the season to gauge their baseline.

A: Acid reflux can mimic asthma, especially in younger individuals who may not be able to articulate their symptoms precisely. They might point to their chest, similar to how they would for cardiac issues, instead of explaining the burning sensation associated with acid reflux. This can lead to a misinterpretation of their discomfort as asthma.

Jeremy Jackson

Benjamin Stephenson

Layci Harrison

Mark Knoblauch

Ashlyne Elliott

Leslie Bennett

Frio Hydration – Superior Hydration products.

Xothrm – Best heating pad available – Use “SMB” or email [email protected] and mention the Sports Medicine Broadcast.

Donate and get some swag (like Patreon but for the school)

HOIST – No matter your reason for dehydration, DRINK HOIST

MedBridge Education – Use “TheSMB” to save some money, be entered in a drawing for a second year free, and support the podcast.

Marc Pro – Use “THESMB” to recover better.

Athletic Dry Needling – Save up to $100 when registering through our link.