AT Spotlight: JoAnna Simon Shares Her Journey and Expertise

JoAnna Simon, Assistant Athletic Trainer at Oberlin College, provides essential care for the men’s basketball, football, baseball, and women’s tennis teams.

With a passion for helping athletes recover from injuries, Simon’s journey into athletic training began when she experienced an injury herself.

Initially aspiring to be a physical therapist, Simon found her calling in athletic training, as it allowed her to combine her love for sports and rehabilitation.

"It was the best of both worlds; not only could I work on helping individuals return to sport, but I would be able to be around sports."

Simon’s expertise in football comes from treating a wide range of injuries, especially in this high-contact sport. She highlights that common injuries during football practices are sprains, contusions, and strains.

However, during games, the risk intensifies, with more concussions, dislocations, and fractures.

“The frequency of injuries may be the only difference, because football is a high-impact, high-intensity sport.” 

Concussions are a significant concern in football, and Simon emphasizes that diagnosing them requires both subjective and objective measures, such as computerized exams like ImPACT or Sway.

She stresses the importance of strength and conditioning in football. Simon referred to the Cleveland Browns running back who suffered a major injury despite his conditioning.

"I do not think that injuries can be prevented just because of strength and conditioning. Nick Chubb is an example." 

Regarding the recovery process, Simon explains that severe injuries like torn ACLs or broken bones require physical therapy, strength rebuilding, and mental recovery.

Ensuring athletes don’t return to the field too soon is a balance of observing their physical abilities and body language during rehabilitation.

Looking at long-term consequences, Simon points to the prevalence of chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE) in former NFL athletes, though she notes that college-aged players may not exhibit the same chronic conditions yet.

Simon emphasizes the importance of early reporting and tailored treatment to mitigate long-term damage.

Learn more in her full interview here!