Returning to Sports After COVID-19: Safety and Equity on the Field

As athletes returned to play after the COVID-19 shutdowns, the challenges went far beyond regaining physical fitness. In this episode, the AT Last team explores how underserved communities faced disproportionate risks in their comeback, from gaps in access to athletic trainers and safe conditioning programs, to the mental health toll of uncertainty.This conversation highlights the urgent need to reimagine return-to-play protocols with equity at the center, ensuring that every athlete, regardless of background, has the resources and support to safely step back on the field.AT L.A.S.T.Website: WeAreATLast.orgEmail: [email protected]: https://secure.givelively.org/donate/athletic-trainers-leveraging-activism-for-social-transformationLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/at-l-a-s-tInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/atlastpod35% OFF Thorne Products compliments of http://raincrosshp.com/ go to https://thor.ne/Ch2Uc20% OFF Xcelerated Recovery products: Code Rain20: https://xrscience.org/Artwork by Jason Eisenberg Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dots_and_squares/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jasoneisenberg00/Music by Willie B the Ichiban DonInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/ichibandon/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/william-brown-25945b168/Production / Engineering / Editing / by Gerson SandovalWebsite: www.davyrover.comInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/davy.rover/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gersonsandovalengineer/HostsChris Bates: https://www.linkedin.com/in/coachbatesatc/Kristen Ross: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kristenross85/Adam C. Cady: https://www.linkedin.com/in/adamccady/ReferencesPASC: https://www.nih.gov/about-nih/who-we-are/nih-director/statements/nih-launches-new-initiative-study-long-covidKim JH, Levine BD, Phelan D, et al. Coronavirus disease 2019 and the athletic heart: emerging perspectives on pathology, risks, and return to play. JAMA Cardiol. 2021;6(2):219.https://www.latimes.com/sports/highschool/story/2021-01-12/youth-sports-competitions-grow-in-southlandhttps://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/community/schools-childcare/youth-sports.htmlElliott N, Martin R, Heron N, Elliott J, Grimstead D, Biswas A. Infographic. Graduated return to play guidance following COVID-19 infection. Br J Sports Med. 2020;54(19):1174-1175.