Tom Kaminski
Professor, Kinesiology and Applied Physiology | University of Delaware
Newark, DE, UNITED STATES
Prof. Kaminski is a leading expert on issues related to purposeful headers in interscholastic and intercollegiate soccer.
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Biography
Tom Kaminski is a leading expert on issues related to purposeful headers in interscholastic and intercollegiate soccer. His research interests include concussions, sports-related mild traumatic brain injuries and ankle instability. He co-directs the Athletic Training Research Laboratory at UD's Human Performance Laboratory and is part of a team working on the landmark NCAA/Department of Defense project examining the history of concussions in intercollegiate sports.
Industry Expertise (2)
Health and Wellness
Sport - Professional
Areas of Expertise (3)
Chronic Ankle Instability
Repetitive Head Impacts
Recovery Assessment
Media Appearances (5)
Soccer, concussions and women | UDaily
University of Delaware online
2021-12-14
Kaminski, a leading expert with decades of experience in research in this specialized area, was invited to speak at the conference in a discussion entitled, "Medical and Scientific Challenges in Women's Football." “I’m humbled by the opportunity,” said Kaminski. “Because Manchester United, arguably, is the most popular brand of soccer in the world in terms of professional league...it’s top shelf stuff.”
Junior sport: age categories and soccer headers
ABC Radio National online
2019-06-21
Guests: Jamie Salter - High Performance Pathway Manager, Swimming Australia William, Charlie, Leo, Luke - Under 8 soccer players Thomas Kaminski - Director of Athletic Training Education, University of Delaware
Avoiding the “Bobblehead Effect”: Strength Training Could Help Soccer Players
Scientific American online
2018-06-29
Upper-body strength could even mitigate a major health concern among soccer players: brain injury from repeated headers, according to Thomas Kaminski, director of the Athletic Training Education Program at the University of Delaware. Kaminski’s own research investigates ways to reduce soccer’s adverse effects on the brain.
Soccer Headers Cause More Brain Damage in Female Players
Scientific American online
2018-10-01
Thomas Kaminski, a sports physiologist at the University of Delaware, who was not involved in the work, calls it “truly groundbreaking.” The research is unique in highlighting the cumulative effect of repetitive knocks on the skull, as opposed to major traumatic injuries, he says. “Very few of these subjects had a history of concussion.”
What makes an Olympic body
The News Journal online
2016-08-05
Fellow UD professor Thomas Kaminski, director of athletic training education, agreed. "Certainly genetics plays an important part in the process," he said.
Articles (5)
Incidence of Concussion and Associated Risk Factors in Collegiate Soccer: Findings from the NCAA-DoD CARE Consortium
Science and Medicine in Football2023 This retrospective cohort study aims to examine concussion incidence rates (IR) in collegiate soccer players and compare IRs based on risk factors including sex, competition level, games/practices, history of concussion, and playing position. Collegiate soccer players were recruited (n = 2,471) from 23 institutions from the NCAA-DoD Concussion Assessment, Research, and Education (CARE) Consortium. Incidence rates for concussion per 1000 athlete exposures (AEs) were calculated across the 2015-16/2016-17 seasons. Incidence rates (IR) comparing risk factor groups were also calculated. A total 162 concussions occurred during the study, for an IR of 0.08/1000 AEs. Females were more likely to have a concussion than males overall (IR = 1.47), and were more likely to have a concussion in games (IR = 1.42) and practices (IR = 2.91).
Similar Concussion Rates in Spring Football and Preseason: Findings From the Concussion Assessment, Research and Education Consortium
Journal of Athletic Training2023 Context Increasing attention has been directed toward identifying aspects of football participation for targeted policy change that reduces the concussion risk. Prior researchers evaluated concussion risks during the preseason and regular seasons, leaving the spring season largely unexplored. Design In this nationally representative observational investigation of 19 National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I collegiate football programs, we assessed concussion rates and head impact exposures during the preseason, regular season, and spring practices from 2014 to 2019. All participating programs recorded the incidence of concussions, and a subset (n = 6) also measured head impact exposures.
Sensitivity and Specificity of the ImPACT Neurocognitive Test in Collegiate Athletes and US Military Service Academy Cadets with ADHD and/or LD: Findings from the NCAA-DoD CARE Consortium
Sports Medicine2023 Background and Objective Computer-based neurocognitive tests are widely used in sport-related concussion management, but the performance of these tests is not well understood in the participant population with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and/or learning disorder (LD). This research estimates the sensitivity and specificity performance of the Immediate Post-Concussion Assessment and Cognitive Testing (ImPACT) computer-based neurocognitive test in identifying concussion in this population.
King-Devick sensitivity and specificity to concussion in collegiate athletes
Journal of Athletic Training2023 Context The King-Devick (K-D) test is used to identify oculomotor impairment after concussion. However, the diagnostic accuracy of the K-D test over time has not been evaluated. Objectives To (1) examine the sensitivity and specificity of the K-D test at 0 to 6 hours postinjury, 24 to 48 hours postinjury, the beginning of a return-to-play (RTP) protocol (asymptomatic), unrestricted RTP, and 6 months postconcussion and (2) compare outcomes between athletes with and those without concussion across confounding factors (sex, age, sport contact level, academic year, learning disorder, attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder, migraine history, concussion history, and test administration mode).
Optimizing concussion care seeking: a longitudinal analysis of recovery
The American Journal of Sports Medicine2023 Background: Approximately half of concussions go undisclosed and therefore undiagnosed. Among diagnosed concussions, 51% to 64% receive delayed medical care. Understanding the influence of undiagnosed concussions and delayed medical care would inform medical and education practices. Purpose: To compare postconcussion longitudinal clinical outcomes among (1) individuals with no concussion history, all previous concussions diagnosed, and ≥1 previous concussion undiagnosed, as well as (2) those who have delayed versus immediate symptom onset, symptom reporting, and removal from activity after concussion.
Accomplishments (5)
Eastern Athletic Trainers’ Association (EATA) 49’ Club (Hall of Fame) (professional)
2020
National Academy of Kinesiology Fellowship (professional)
2019
Marietta College Distinguished Alumnus Award (professional)
2018
University of Delaware Excellence in Service Award (professional)
2017
NATA Foundation Medal for Distinguished Athletic Training Research, (professional)
2016
Education (3)
University of Virginia: PhD, Sports Medicine 1996
University of Arizona: MS, Exercise and Sport Science 1985
Marietta College: BS, Sports Medicine 1984
Affiliations (7)
- National Academy of Kinesiology
- American College of Sport Medicine (ACSM
- Society of Health and Physical Education (SHAPE America)
- American Kinesiology Association (AKA)
- Delaware Athletic Trainers’ Association (DATA)
- American Red Cross - Heartsaver Automated External Defibrillation Program
- Beta Beta Beta Biological Society - IOTA Chapter of Marietta College
Links (3)
Languages (1)
- English
Event Appearances (5)
Electropuncture for the treatment of chronic ankle instability
(2022) 9th International Ankle Symposium Virtual
Sagittal Plane Energy Absorption during Side Hops among Individual with Anterior Cruciate Ligament Deficit
(2022) 9th World Congress of Biomechanics Taipei, Taiwan
"De-ICED”: Weaning Athletic Trainers off Their Dependency on Rest-Ice-Compression 2022 and Beyond!
(2022) NATA 73rd Annual Meeting and Clinical Symposia Philadelphia, PA
"Athlete Recovery: Foundational Knowledge for the Athletic Trainer"
(2022) RMATA Clinical Symposium and Business Meeting Albuquerque, New Mexico
“Principles of Rehabilitation with Lab” & “Foot and Ankle Injuries” & “Foundations Lab – Sport-Related Concussion Assessment Tests”
(2022) SEATA (Southeast Athletic Trainers Association) Athletic Training Student Symposium
Patents (1)
Materials and methods for enhancing muscle performance and recovery from fatigue
US6100287A
2000 The subject invention pertains to compositions and methods for enhancing muscle performance and recovery from fatigue in humans and animals. In a specific embodiment, the unique formulation is a glycine and L-arginine monohydrochloride salt of alphaketoisocaproic acid calcium (GAKIC).
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