Battling concussions: Where's the trainer?

To protect the heads of football players, it might be advisable to have them occasionally practice without head protection, according to a counterintuitive new study of a successful Division I football program.

Research has shown the importance of infant-primary caregiver attachment for the future of the child's cognitive ability, emotional health, and parent relationship. Infant Mental Health Specialists and other practitioners have emphasized programs and techniques to improve this relationship, for example infant massage classes, and specifically tailored interventions.

Research has found that physical movement, such as dance, can be an affective treatment and rehabilitation for people with Parkinson’s Disease. The Dance Well Initiative brings people with Parkinson’s, as well as community members, together to stage dance performances in gallery spaces as treatment and a creative response to the surrounding art.

A collaboration between a Parkinson’s disease support group and a New York City dance company created a program of movement for people managing the disease. Besides an improvement in physical mobility, participation also gave people an increase in self-esteem and cognitive function.

In San Diego, Little Angels Service Dogs are being trained to not just assist people but also recognize symptoms leading up to seizures. This practice allows people to proactively handle their seizures before they happen.

Kick-off soccer academy provides young people with mentorship, education, and talent development. It was created by a group of young friends during the COVID-19 pandemic after they noticed many young people getting into drugs and alcohol while out of school during pandemic-related shutdowns. The team, who mobilizes parents and caretakers so that they buy into the program’s benefits, serves almost 100 young people. The program develops the athletic skills of the young people but also increases their self-esteem and responsibility.

Transcranial magnetic stimulation is being used to treat people with treatment-resistant depression. The noninvasive procedure uses magnetic fields to stimulate nerves in the brain to improve symptoms of depression. So far 19 people have undergone the program at Brattleboro Retreat — many of which have seen improvements in their symptoms — and more than 300 treatments have been completed to date.

Accelerated by the First Point Foundation, a growing movement is working to increase the number of high school and college men's volleyball programs, a sport dominated by women's programs.

The Carolina Athletics Mental Health and Performance Psychology Program works with university sport teams in weekly sports psychology meetings, where student athletes can discuss their mental health concerns and learn ways to overcome them. The Program currently has three licensed mental health clinicians on staff and hopes to hire more.

Automated External Defibrillators (AEDs) are life-saving tools in sudden cardiac emergencies, but many students don’t know how to use them. After Michael T. Ellessar, a Massachusetts high school student, died suddenly of cardiac arrest at a high school football game, “Michael’s Law” was passed, requiring schools to practice their cardiac response throughout the year. Several other organizations and legislation have emerged to increase AED presence and use in schools, as only five states currently have mandated AED drills.