The ATSU Concussion Program is under the direction of Tamara Valovich McLeod, PhD, ATC. Dr. McLeod is an Associate Professor in the Athletic Training Program at A.T. Still University in Mesa, Arizona. She received her bachelor's degree in sports medicine from Mercyhurst College and her Master of Science in kinesiology from the University of Colorado. Dr. McLeod completed her doctor of philosophy degree in education with an emphasis in sports medicine from the University of Virginia. She is the director of the ASHS Interdisciplinary Research Laboratory and the CORE-AT Practice Based Research Network, and her research has focused on the pediatric athlete with respect to sport related concussion.
Currently, Dr. McLeod serves as the District 7 representative the NATA Research and Education Foundation. She was a contributing author for the NATA Position Statement on the Management of Sport Related Concussion and a consultant and contributing author on the Appropriate Medical Coverage for Secondary School-Aged Athletes. She is currently chairing the writing group for the NATA's pediatric overuse injury position statement. Dr. McLeod serves on the Editorial Board for The Journal of Athletic Training, The Journal of Sport Rehabilitation, Athletic Training and Sports Health Care and as a reviewer for Perceptual and Motor Skills, Athletic Therapy Today, and the Board of Certification.
The Arizona Interscholastic Association recently implemented a concussion education program for all athletes participating in athletics. Completion of this program is required prior
to participation in AIA sanctioned events.
For more information, watch the press conference announcing the Brainbook program.
We are excited to be involved with several research studies to better understand sport related concussion in the young athlete.
The Effects of
Headache on Health-Related Quality of Life in
Following Sport-Related Concussion.
Funded by the National Headache Foundation. March 2009-June 2010
The goal of this project is to assess the headache-related quality of life and to collect "sport injury impact" narratives from adolescents with sport-related concussion, identify the meanings they attribute to that concussion, and qualitatively determine the effects of concussion and headache on their HRQOL.
The effect of
sport-related concussion on cognition, balance, symptoms and
health-related quality of life in adolescent athletes.
Funded by the National Operating Committee on Standards for Athletic
Equipment (NOCSAE). February 2010-June 2012.
This project aims to: 1) assess the immediate and prolonged effects of concussion on HRQOL in adolescent athletes, 2) asses the relationship between the measures of impairment (cognition, balance and symptoms) and disability (HRQOL), 3) compare the effect of sport related concussion and musculoskeletal injury on HRQOL in adolescent athletes within the first 10 days post-injury and 4) collect "sport concussion impact" narratives from adolescents with sport related concussion, identify the meanings they attribute to that concussion, and qualitatively determine the affects of concussion on their HRQOL.
Dr. McLeod is available to present sport-concussion information to youth sports organizations, schools, and clubs. She has spoken nationally and internationally on pediatric sport related concussion issues and can direct presentations to athletes, parents, coaches, school administrators, and healthcare providers.
1. Normative data using the Pediatric ImPACT computerized neurocognitive program
2. Health-Related Quality of Life Following Sport Related Concussion
*We also provide baseline testing of local athletes ages 5-18 using Pediatric ImPACT or ImPACT as part of our ongoing commitment to making sports safer for our young athletes.
Senate Bill 1521 was recently passed by the Arizona legislature and signed into law by Govenor Brewer. Supported by the Arizona Athletic Trainers Association and the Arizona Sport Concussion
Coalition, this legislation provides guidelines for prevention and management of concussion in interscholastic activities.
You can access the full bill here. Text highlighted in blue indicate the new guidelines adopted by the state.