Honors Projects
Abstract
The following study explores the importance and need of athletic trainers (ATs) in marching band settings. Athletic Training is an essential backbone to many sports programs worldwide. Athletic Trainers are commonly seen as active staff members for many high school, collegiate, professional teams as well as in clinical office sites. Athletic Trainers are also staffed in non-traditional settings such as corporate settings, performing arts, military branches. Marching bands are categorized under non-traditional sports settings and ATs are becoming more highly preferred in this area. This study follows the Bowling Green State University (BGSU) Falcon Marching Band (FMB) during the 2025 marching season. The study closely examined injury frequencies among different instrumentalist subgroups as well as non instrumental auxiliary members, which include color guard and twirlers. Data was collected on injury rates, injury types, and academic year at BGSU. A comparison analysis between observed and expected frequencies were also conducted. The purpose of this study is to examine why ATs would be beneficial to marching band settings by quantifying the types of injuries that occurred throughout the season. Marching band involves a great deal of physical involvement and can be demanding on individuals who participate. This study found trends that suggest that instrument plays an influential role in injuries sustained by band members. It was also found that the academic year at BGSU did not have an effect on injury frequencies. This study lastly found that observed injury frequencies were higher than expected injury frequencies. Marching bands involve a great deal of physical activity and can put members at risk of injury. This study aims to explore why it is essential that band members have medical access due to injury risks that marching band instrumentalists are exposed to.
Department
Exercise Science
Major
Exercise Science
First Advisor
Todd Keylock
First Advisor Department
Exercise Science
Second Advisor
David Tobar
Second Advisor Department
Sport Management
Third Advisor
Andrea Cripps
Third Advisor Department
Athletic Training
Publication Date
Spring 4-27-2026
Repository Citation
Liebhardt, Madelyn, "Marching Health from Music to Injury: The Implications of Marching Band Athletic Training Accessibility" (2026). Honors Projects. 1149.
https://scholarworks.bgsu.edu/honorsprojects/1149
Included in
Kinesiotherapy Commons, Other Rehabilitation and Therapy Commons, Sports Sciences Commons