Dr. Ryan N. Moran, a faculty member at the University of Alabama and researcher in the Department of Health Science and the Athletic Training Research Laboratory, has been awarded a research grant from the Lakeshore Foundation’s Sport Science and Performance Center (SSPC) to study innovative methods for detecting sport-related concussions in wheelchair athletes.
“We know that concussion signs and symptoms can look different in wheelchair athletes, and the current tools aren’t designed or validated with that in mind,” Moran explained. “This project is about ensuring our athletes receive the same level of care and inclusion in basic science research as their intercollegiate athletics peers.”
Data collection is already underway at UA’s Adapted Athletics facility, where Moran and his team are using high-precision instruments to evaluate postural responses during wheelchair basketball, tennis, and track and field activities throughout the 2025 season.
The study’s findings may help shape future approaches to concussion detection, management, and prevention in wheelchair sports, addressing a critical gap in athlete safety and sports medicine.
Collaborating on the project is Alex C. Curry, director of sports medicine for UA Adapted Athletics and a Lakeshore SSPC Scholar. Under Moran’s mentorship, Curry is leading a complementary study on mental health in collegiate adapted athletes, using the Sport Mental Health Assessment Tool.
She has already collected data from more than 130 athletes and plans to present her findings at upcoming conferences.
Moran credited Lakeshore SSPC’s support as essential to the project’s success.
“Lakeshore’s investment has given us the resources and confidence to pursue ideas that directly benefit athlete safety and well-being,” he said.
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