News & Events

We’re working on a number of initiatives to expand participation and safety in sports. See what we’re up to.
January 21, 2026 News & Events

2025 Year-End Highlights Reel

IN THIS ISSUE: Message from the Director | National Recognition for Dr. Stan Herring | Mental Strength Training | Game Plan Equestrian | ExerciseRx Research | Husky Fellowship | Advancing the Field | Get Involved Message from our Director I'm honored to step into my first year as director of The Sports Institute at UW Medicine. As Clinical Professor in Sports & Spine Medicine and the holder of the Endowed Professorship in Sports & Exercise Medicine, I dedicate my career to making sports and physical activity safer and more accessible for everyone. What excites me most about TSI is how we set ourselves apart...

December 18, 2025 News & Events

ExerciseRx™ trial aims to increase physical activity for people with MS

Click to see the post on UW Med Rehabilitation Medicine's Website A new digital health tool may help encourage people with MS increase their activity levels. Image credit: Africa Studio, stock.adobe.com. Staying physically active is important for people with multiple sclerosis (MS), but many face challenges meeting recommended activity levels. A team at the University of Washington Department of Rehabilitation Medicine is studying a new digital health tool designed to make it easier. The tool, called ExerciseRx™, developed by The Sports Institute and UW Computer Science & Engineering Ubicomp Lab, connects a patient’s activity data to their care team. It tracks daily steps...

October 19, 2025 News & Events

October 2025 Sideline Report

HIGHLIGHT REEL Photo Credit: Stock Image Back to School Concussion Awareness: What Every Parent Needs to Know As kids head back to school and sports, it's time to brush up on concussion basics. A concussion is a brain injury that can be caused by a blow to the head, or by colliding with another person, an object or the ground. Also, a hard blow to the body can transmit force to the brain and cause a concussion. Most sports-related concussions do not involve being "knocked out." Watch out for warning signs requiring urgent attention: severe headache or neck pain, weakness in arms or legs,...

October 19, 2025 News & Events

Why You Should Still Go Outside When the Weather Sucks

Click to see the original post on Right as Rain by UW Medicine Autumn has entered the chat, and we PNW-ers know what that means: The early sunsets and dreariness of the Big Dark are here for the foreseeable future. If you live east of the Cascades, snow has probably already made an appearance, and if you live closer to the coast, you know we have months left in our annual rainy season(s). Instead of retreating to your couch and blanket when the weather’s less than desirable, consider braving the elements and finding a park, trail or other outdoor spot to visit. Why?...

September 13, 2025 News & Events

University of Washington program uses sports to teach mental health skills: HealthLink

Click to see the post on KING 5 News The "Mentally Strong" initiative helps young athletes develop critical coping strategies through sports. "Really thinking about, how do you manage stress, how do you get through a stressful moment, how do you deal with big, emotional challenges?" said Dr. Sara Chrisman, a pediatrician and professor of adolescent medicine at the University of Washington School of Medicine. Dr. Chrisman is part of an innovative program based at the UW's Sports Institute that helps young students navigate stress—not only through physical fitness, but through mental stamina. "It's a perfect place to kind of practice some of these skills that...

August 7, 2025 News & Events

The Sports Institute Joins the Department of Rehabilitation Medicine: A New Era of Innovation and Impact

Click to see the post at UW Medicine Department of Rehabilitation Medicine We are excited to share that The Sports Institute at UW Medicine is entering a new chapter. Effective July 1, 2025, The Sports Institute (TSI) transitioned from the Department of Neurological Surgery to the Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, both part of the University of Washington School of Medicine. This move represents a strategic alignment rooted in shared purpose and complementary strengths. Since its founding as a hub within Neurological Surgery, TSI has grown into a nationally recognized leader in sports safety, human performance, and community health. The transition to Rehabilitation Medicine is...

June 21, 2025 News & Events

FIFA funded study to research potential link between ACL tears and a woman’s monthly period: HealthLink

Click to see the post on King 5 News SEATTLE — It's a common injury that athletes endure, and it's among the most dreaded. ACL tears affect about one in 3,500 people a year in the U.S., with some studies showing women are more at risk. Women athletes are also noticing an interesting coincidence. Seattle athletes Sue Bird and Megan Rapinoe recently brought it up in their podcast, "A Touch More." This is why funding medical research matters, because then we can really answer these questions," said Dr. Cindy Lin, a clinical professor of sports and spine medicine at UW Medical Center. Dr. Lin explained ACL is short for...

March 31, 2025 News & Events, Uncategorized

Para-athlete realized dreams in Paris

Click to see post by the UW Medicine Newsroom Taylor Swanson prepares to run the 60-meter dash at the Husky Classic. Image Credit: UW Medicine News Video Team  A local para-athlete who won two medals last summer in Paris is now an advocate for athletes with disabilities. The Paralympic Games are the premier event for athletes with disabilities. They take place right after the Olympics, at the same venues, and are broadcast worldwide. It’s an event that every para-athlete dreams to compete in. Taylor Swanson’s dream became a reality this past summer in Paris. Swanson, a Seattleite now living in Spokane, competed in her first...

March 26, 2025 News & Events

Empowering Women with Axial Spondyloarthritis: Dr. Rachael Stovall Awarded SAA Research Grant for Innovative Exercise Program

As part of the Spondyloarthritis Association of America’s ongoing mission to expand horizons in spondyloarthritis research, the SAA hopes to encourage new, upcoming rheumatologists and researchers to focus on the future of treatment and research in ankylosing spondylitis and related diseases. The SAA created the Spondylitis Association of America/Bruckel Early Career Investigator Award, which recognizes outstanding contributions to the care and understanding of patients with spondyloarthritis. The winner of this award is granted $30,000 from the SAA to put towards spondyloarthritis research.  Dr. Rachael Stovall, MD, MAS, an acting assistant professor in the Division of Rheumatology at the University of Washington,...