From Data to Deployment: Guiding Onsite Naturopathic Care Unit Preparation and Response Through Injury Analytics from a High-Volume Team-Based Court Sport Tournament

Background: The Emerald City Volleyball Classic is an annual tournament involving over 1,000 amateur female youth athletes. Since 2010, a medical team composed of licensed naturopathic physicians and student clinicians from Integrative Medicine Group and Bastyr University has provided onsite sports medicine support. Purpose: To retrospectively analyze the injury types and treatment modalities delivered during the 2024 tournament and to evaluate how this data can inform future medical planning and healthcare provider readiness for similar athletic events. Methods: Over three days (May 25–27, 2024), medical care was administered to athletes at a central treatment station. Interventions included athletic and elastic taping guided by the Manual Tissue Direction Test, soft tissue release, joint manipulation, concussion assessments (Sport Concussion Assessment Tool-6), and first aid. Treatment data were collected and categorized by body region, treatment type, and day. Results: A total of 664 injury-related treatments were provided to more than 300 athletes. The most common interventions were elastic taping of the lower extremities and athletic taping of the ankles and knees. The left ankle, right shoulder, and lumbar spine were the most frequently treated areas. Ten concussions were assessed using Sport Concussion Assessment Tool-6, and two athletes were referred for suspected fractures. A trend of cumulative fatigue was observed, with increased spinal and shoulder complaints by Day 3. Discussion: This report highlights key injury trends and treatment demands observed in amateur female youth volleyball athletes. The findings support the importance of lower extremity support, early fatigue recognition, and concussion management readiness. Integrating naturopathic providers into event coverage may enhance preventative and functional care. Limitations include lack of diagnostic coding and stratification by age or player position. Recommendations include expanding future data collection and strengthening provider preparation for recurrent treatment patterns. Conclusion: This retrospective observational report provides clinically relevant insights for improving athlete care, training protocols, and medical preparedness at youth tournaments. It supports the role of structured, evidence-informed naturopathic care in multidisciplinary sports medicine delivery.