In recognition of National Athletic Training Month, the Concussion Center hosted a Concussion & Cocktails event featuring Jeremiah Freeman, the NeuroSport Athletic Trainer Clinical Specialist. As an experienced Athletic Trainer with Michigan Medicine since 2000, Jeremiah is an invaluable team member, providing at-the-elbow support for clinicians and student-athletes in concussion treatment and management.

More than 20 center members, including colleagues from Emergency Medicine, Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation (PM&R), NeuroSport, Kinesiology, and Athletic Medicine, attended the event. Jeremiah demonstrated the concussion rehab protocol and shared clinically relevant information tips and resources for the audience. 

“Research has shown the benefits of supervised exercise progression for our sports concussion athletes. Having a structured progression can help the athlete manage their recovery and progress their activity in a way that helps them recover more quickly,” said Jeremiah. 

Different clinical rehab protocols were introduced to the audience, including the aerobic progression (e.g., stationary bike, elliptical, treadmill), basic vestibular protocol (e.g., medicine ball toss and chops, hopping exercises), light impact progression (e.g., box drill), and agility/ sports-specific exercises such as the agility ladder and drills. 

“I am very impressed with how Jeremiah presented the evidence-based practices supporting athletes during concussion recovery,” said Benjamin Wojtas, a strength and conditioning coach with PM&R, “I look forward to attending more in-person events like this in the future.”