Towson Research Academy for Collaborative Sport Science

Mission Statement

The mission of the Towson Research Academy for Collaborative Sports Science (TRACS) is to engage an interdisciplinary collaboration aimed at improving all aspects of performance related to sport, fitness, health, and wellness.

Strategy

The TRACS is a collaborative effort between the academic faculty within the Department of Kinesiology and the TU Sports Medicine team. The broad objectives of the institute are to:

1. Provide state-of-the-art clinical testing of Towson University student-athletes with the aim of optimizing sport performance.
2. Mentor and train the next generation of undergraduate students committed to careers in coaching, sports management, athletic training and sports science research.
3. Foster synergies between the Towson University Departments of Athletics and the Department of Kinesiology, and health care partners.
4. Interface with the campus community and the Greater Baltimore Metropolitan Region in the hopes of offering interested constituent groups interventions related to health, wellness, fitness, and active living concerns.

TRACS Conception

The TRACS evolved from discussions between the kinesiology faculty and TU Sports Medicine clinicians during the planning of a study conducted with members of the Towson University football team. Faculty wanted to evaluate the prevalence of sleep apnea among collegiate football players. At the same time, other kinesiology faculty were studying how concussions sustained during collision sports affect the brain. Given that concussions represent approximately 6 percent of all collegiate athletic injuries and emerging data suggest that proper sleep plays an important role in recovery from concussions, it became quickly apparent that by combining knowledge in these areas, more could be accomplished by working together than working alone. It was equally apparent that in order to advance the scientific mission of these investigators, the collaborative relationship between the Athletics Department and the Department of Kinesiology needed to be bolstered and expanded. This would include fostering greater interaction with coaching and athletic training staff and community partners, so that discoveries made in the “research laboratory” could inform interventions designed to optimize athletic and academic performance as well as injury prevention and rehabilitation. 

Research Efforts

Our goal at TRACS is to advance research and technologies that ensure the uncompromised health and performance of our student-athletes and members of Greater Baltimore Metropolitan Region, including our campus community. We invite fellow researchers at TU to participate and collaborate in our ongoing mission. Located at Towson University, we conduct interdisciplinary research using state-of-the-art facilities with a particular focus on enhancing the health and physical performance capacity of our student-athletes.

• Biomechanical properties of concussion
• Functional movement screening
• Musculoskeletal injury prevention
• Obstructive sleep apnea
• Active living and older adults
• Sport marketing and management
• Student worker feedback
• Internal/external communications