{"id":22735,"date":"2025-04-18T12:06:50","date_gmt":"2025-04-18T12:06:50","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.tun.com\/home\/?p=22735"},"modified":"2025-04-18T12:06:51","modified_gmt":"2025-04-18T12:06:51","slug":"using-ai-to-predict-post-concussion-injury-risk-in-college-athletes","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.tun.com\/home\/using-ai-to-predict-post-concussion-injury-risk-in-college-athletes\/","title":{"rendered":"Using AI to Predict Post-Concussion Injury Risk in College Athletes"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<div class=\"wp-block-group\"><div class=\"wp-block-group__inner-container is-layout-constrained wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-uagb-blockquote uagb-block-e7eb3fc3 uagb-blockquote__skin-border uagb-blockquote__stack-img-none\"><blockquote class=\"uagb-blockquote\"><div class=\"uagb-blockquote__content\">University of Delaware researchers have created an innovative AI model with 95% accuracy in predicting athletes&#8217; injury risk post-concussion, having implications far beyond sports.<\/div><footer><div class=\"uagb-blockquote__author-wrap uagb-blockquote__author-at-left\"><\/div><\/footer><\/blockquote><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group is-content-justification-space-between is-nowrap is-layout-flex wp-container-core-group-is-layout-0dfbf163 wp-block-group-is-layout-flex\"><div style=\"font-size:16px;\" class=\"has-text-align-left wp-block-post-author\"><div class=\"wp-block-post-author__content\"><p class=\"wp-block-post-author__name\">The University Network<\/p><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-uagb-social-share uagb-social-share__outer-wrap uagb-social-share__layout-horizontal uagb-block-ee584a31\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-uagb-social-share-child uagb-ss-repeater uagb-ss__wrapper uagb-block-ec619ce7\"><span class=\"uagb-ss__link\" data-href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=\" tabindex=\"0\" role=\"button\" aria-label=\"facebook\"><span class=\"uagb-ss__source-wrap\"><span class=\"uagb-ss__source-icon\"><svg xmlns=\"https:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" viewBox=\"0 0 512 512\"><path d=\"M504 256C504 119 393 8 256 8S8 119 8 256c0 123.8 90.69 226.4 209.3 245V327.7h-63V256h63v-54.64c0-62.15 37-96.48 93.67-96.48 27.14 0 55.52 4.84 55.52 4.84v61h-31.28c-30.8 0-40.41 19.12-40.41 38.73V256h68.78l-11 71.69h-57.78V501C413.3 482.4 504 379.8 504 256z\"><\/path><\/svg><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-uagb-social-share-child uagb-ss-repeater uagb-ss__wrapper uagb-block-32d99934\"><span class=\"uagb-ss__link\" data-href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/share?url=\" tabindex=\"0\" role=\"button\" aria-label=\"twitter\"><span class=\"uagb-ss__source-wrap\"><span class=\"uagb-ss__source-icon\"><svg xmlns=\"https:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" viewBox=\"0 0 512 512\"><path d=\"M389.2 48h70.6L305.6 224.2 487 464H345L233.7 318.6 106.5 464H35.8L200.7 275.5 26.8 48H172.4L272.9 180.9 389.2 48zM364.4 421.8h39.1L151.1 88h-42L364.4 421.8z\"><\/path><\/svg><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-uagb-social-share-child uagb-ss-repeater uagb-ss__wrapper uagb-block-1d136f14\"><span class=\"uagb-ss__link\" data-href=\"https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/shareArticle?url=\" tabindex=\"0\" role=\"button\" aria-label=\"linkedin\"><span class=\"uagb-ss__source-wrap\"><span class=\"uagb-ss__source-icon\"><svg xmlns=\"https:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" viewBox=\"0 0 448 512\"><path d=\"M416 32H31.9C14.3 32 0 46.5 0 64.3v383.4C0 465.5 14.3 480 31.9 480H416c17.6 0 32-14.5 32-32.3V64.3c0-17.8-14.4-32.3-32-32.3zM135.4 416H69V202.2h66.5V416zm-33.2-243c-21.3 0-38.5-17.3-38.5-38.5S80.9 96 102.2 96c21.2 0 38.5 17.3 38.5 38.5 0 21.3-17.2 38.5-38.5 38.5zm282.1 243h-66.4V312c0-24.8-.5-56.7-34.5-56.7-34.6 0-39.9 27-39.9 54.9V416h-66.4V202.2h63.7v29.2h.9c8.9-16.8 30.6-34.5 62.9-34.5 67.2 0 79.7 44.3 79.7 101.9V416z\"><\/path><\/svg><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>Athletes returning to play after a concussion face an elevated risk of injury. A novel artificial intelligence model developed by researchers at the University of Delaware aims to change that by accurately predicting the likelihood of lower-extremity injuries with 95% accuracy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/link.springer.com\/article\/10.1007\/s40279-025-02196-4\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"\">Published<\/a> in the journal Sports Medicine, this study marks a significant advancement in sports medicine, addressing a complex issue that has long baffled medical professionals.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Athletes are susceptible to post-concussion injuries, such as sprains, strains, broken bones or torn ACLs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>&#8220;This is due to brain changes we see post-concussion,&#8221; Thomas Buckley, a professor of kinesiology and applied physiology in UD\u2019s College of Health Sciences, said in a news release. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>These subtle yet impactful changes affect skills like balance, cognition and reaction times. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>&#8220;Even a minuscule difference in balance, reaction time, or cognitive processing of what\u2019s happening around you can make the difference between getting hurt and not,&#8221; Buckley added.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">AI: A New Frontier in Injury Risk Assessment<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>To develop this AI model, Buckley joined forces with an interdisciplinary team from UD. Austin Brockmeier, an assistant professor of electrical and computer engineering, and C\u00e9sar Claros, a doctoral student, played crucial roles in this collaboration, along with Wei Qian, an associate professor of statistics in the College of Agriculture and Natural Resources, and Melissa Anderson, a former KAAP doctoral fellow and now an assistant professor at Ohio University.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The AI model analyzes over 100 variables, including sports and medical histories, concussion type and cognitive data before and after the concussion. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>&#8220;Every athlete is unique, especially across various sports,&#8221; Brockmeier added. &#8220;Tracking an athlete\u2019s performance over time, rather than relying on absolute values, helps identify disturbances, deviations, or deficits that, when compared to their baseline, may signal an increased risk of injury.&#8221;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Interestingly, the AI model\u2019s accuracy remains high even without accounting for the specific sport played by the athlete, suggesting that individual characteristics significantly contribute to injury risks. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>&#8220;We tested a version of the model that doesn\u2019t have access to the athlete\u2019s sport, and it still accurately predicted injury risk,&#8221; added Brockmeier.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">From Research to Real-World Applications<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>The research shows that the risk of musculoskeletal injury post-concussion persists and may even increase over time as athletes unconsciously adapt to minor neurological deficits. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>&#8220;Common sense would suggest that injuries would occur early in an athlete\u2019s return to play, but that\u2019s simply not true,&#8221; Buckley added. &#8220;Our research shows that the risk of future injury increases over time as athletes compensate and adapt to small deficits they may not even be aware of.&#8221;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The next steps involve collaborating with UD Athletics\u2019 strength and conditioning staff to design real-time interventions aimed at mitigating these risks. Dan Watson, the deputy athletic director of competitive excellence and campus recreation, sees enormous potential in the AI model. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>&#8220;In sport performance, we have two goals: improve the athlete&#8217;s abilities in their sport and to keep them on the field,&#8221; Watson added.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Beyond Sports: AI\u2019s Broader Implications<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>The model\u2019s applications extend far beyond athletics. Brockmeier envisions its use in predicting fall risks for patients with conditions like Parkinson\u2019s disease. Claros is exploring its potential in aging research, especially regarding cognitive impairments. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>&#8220;We want to use brain measurements to investigate whether baseline lifestyle measurements such as weight, BMI and smoking history are predictive of future mild cognitive impairment or Alzheimer\u2019s disease,&#8221; added Claros.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The University of Delaware\u2019s AI model opens new horizons for injury prevention and could revolutionize not only sports safety but also medical protocols for various at-risk populations, making it a significant breakthrough in contemporary health research.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:18px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Source: <\/strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.udel.edu\/udaily\/2025\/april\/kaap-concussion-artificial-intelligence-injury-prediction-athletics\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"\">University of Delaware<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Athletes returning to play after a concussion face an elevated risk of injury. A novel artificial intelligence model developed by researchers at the University of Delaware aims to change that by accurately predicting the likelihood of lower-extremity injuries with 95% accuracy. Published in the journal Sports Medicine, this study marks a significant advancement in sports [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"single-no-separators","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_uag_custom_page_level_css":"","_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[8],"tags":[311],"class_list":["post-22735","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-ai","tag-university-of-delaware"],"acf":[],"aioseo_notices":[],"uagb_featured_image_src":{"full":false,"thumbnail":false,"medium":false,"medium_large":false,"large":false,"1536x1536":false,"2048x2048":false},"uagb_author_info":{"display_name":"The University Network","author_link":"https:\/\/www.tun.com\/home\/author\/funky_junkie\/"},"uagb_comment_info":0,"uagb_excerpt":"Athletes returning to play after a concussion face an elevated risk of injury. A novel artificial intelligence model developed by researchers at the University of Delaware aims to change that by accurately predicting the likelihood of lower-extremity injuries with 95% accuracy. Published in the journal Sports Medicine, this study marks a significant advancement in sports&hellip;","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.tun.com\/home\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/22735","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.tun.com\/home\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.tun.com\/home\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.tun.com\/home\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.tun.com\/home\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=22735"}],"version-history":[{"count":7,"href":"https:\/\/www.tun.com\/home\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/22735\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":22852,"href":"https:\/\/www.tun.com\/home\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/22735\/revisions\/22852"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.tun.com\/home\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=22735"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.tun.com\/home\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=22735"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.tun.com\/home\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=22735"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}