James Travis Eckner, MD

Dr. Eckner is the Director of Clinical Research at Michigan NeuroSport.  He works with the sports medicine programs at the University of Michigan, Eastern Michigan University, and the USA Hockey National Team Development Program. His primary area of research interest is mild traumatic brain injury in athletes. His research addresses concussion assessment using a simple clinical test of reaction time; the neck’s role in concussion susceptibility and the potential role for neck strengthening as an intervention to reduce an athlete’s concussion risk; concussion biomechanics using body-worn impact sensors; and assessment of the short- and long-term effects of concussion and sport-associated head trauma on an athlete’s neurocognitive health. His current research funding includes a K23 Career Development Award from the National Institutes of Health, as well as research grants from the National Collegiate Athletic Association, US Department of Defense, University of Michigan Injury Center, and Foundation for Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation.

Musculoskeletal and neurological rehabilitation; Electrodiagnostic medicine, TBI in athletes.

University of Michigan Health participates with most health insurance plans.

Mild traumatic brain injury, or concussion, in athletes:  I am interested in determining the role of reaction time testing in this population, long term effects of concussion on cognitive and mental health, as well as, in the rehabilitation of athletes with mild traumatic brain injuries.