Sports Injury Prevention Essentials

Dai Sugimoto serves as Associate Professor of Sport Sciences at Waseda University, bringing extensive expertise in sports injury prevention and athletic training. His academic journey includes a BS from the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse, MS from the University of Rhode Island, MEd from Lakeland College, and PhD in Rehabilitation Science from the University of Kentucky. His career spans significant roles including post-doctoral research at Boston Children's Hospital and The Micheli Center for Sports Injury Prevention, followed by an instructor position at Harvard Medical School from 2015 to 2020. His research has significantly impacted the field of sports medicine, particularly in developing neuromuscular training programs to prevent anterior cruciate ligament injuries in female athletes. His 12-year prospective intervention study demonstrated significant reduction in ACL injuries through hip-focused prevention training. As a certified athletic trainer, he has worked at various institutions including Lakeland College and Seton Hill University. Currently at Waseda University, he teaches sports injury prevention through both traditional and online platforms, including a MOOC on edX that combines scientific and practical approaches to reducing sports-related injuries. His research has been widely cited, with over 500 citations for his work on team sports and athlete mental health.