Tele-health in sports nursing: A narrative review of expanding access to care for athletes

Tele-health has revolutionized healthcare delivery by bridging geographical barriers and expanding access to timely medical services. In sports nursing, where rapid response, continuous monitoring, and specialized interventions are vital, telehealth provides an innovative solution to the challenges athletes face in receiving care. Athletes often require multidisciplinary support for injury management, rehabilitation, nutrition, and mental health, but access to specialized services is not always feasible, particularly in remote or underserved regions. This article examines the applications of telehealth in sports nursing, emphasizing its role in enhancing care accessibility, efficiency, and outcomes for athletes. Key areas explored include injury assessment and management, rehabilitation support, nutritional counseling, mental health services, and chronic condition monitoring. The paper also evaluates the benefits and limitations of telehealth, including technological challenges, data privacy concerns, and the importance of nurse training. Telehealth represents a paradigm shift in sports nursing, offering innovative solutions to expand access to care for athletes. Its applications range from injury management and rehabilitation to nutrition, mental health, and chronic disease monitoring. By eliminating geographical barriers, promoting timely care, and facilitating multidisciplinary collaboration, telehealth enhances both health outcomes and performance in athletes. Despite challenges such as technological barriers, privacy concerns, and limitations in physical assessment, the benefits of telehealth outweigh the drawbacks. Nurses, as frontline healthcare providers, play a central role in delivering telehealth services, educating athletes, and ensuring ethical practice. The integration of telehealth into sports nursing has the potential to redefine athlete care, ensuring that healthcare keeps pace with the dynamic and demanding nature of sports. The integration of telehealth into sports nursing practice holds significant promise for improving athlete well-being, reducing healthcare disparities, and fostering holistic, patient-centered care.