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 Geoghegan (A.T. Still University) about her recent publication, "Advancing Care for Pregnant and Postpartum Athletes: A Call to Action for Athletic Trainers". This episode explores the limited evidence around exercise and injury in pregnant and postpartum athletes and emphasizes the vital role athletic trainers play in monitoring health, modifying training, recognizing complications, and supporting mental well-being.

Dr. Rachel Gohagan issues a clear call to action: integrate perinatal health into education and research, develop clinical guidelines, and promote interprofessional, individualized return-to-play care so athletes receive evidence-informed and dignified support throughout pregnancy and postpartum.

Article: https://doi.org/10.4085/1062-6050-0060.25

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