Day 2: Friday, May 16th
McCormick Place, Room W196 (Level 1)
7:30 AM – 8:30 AM
Blood Flow Restriction Therapies Workshop
Registered participants only
9:00 AM – 12:00 PM
NBATA Tradeshow
12:00 PM
Lunch
1:00 PM
Welcome
NBA, NBAPA, NBPA Presidents
Brian Cole (Host)
1:05 PM
Core Injuries in the NBA: Evolving Best Practices for Diagnosis, Treatment and Return to Play
L. Michael Brunt, Benton A. Emblom, Ashley Campbell, William C. Meyers — moderated by Fred Azar
Description
This panel will provide an expert-level understanding of athletic pubalgia in NBA players. Discussion will seek to clarify diagnostic challenges and current consensus on terminology, compare best practices in treatment (surgical and non-surgical), and discuss return-to-play (RTP) criteria and outcomes in the professional basketball setting. Panelists will also share emerging research and innovations in the field.
1:40 PM
Who Wants to be Culturally Competent?—The Skillful Practice of Cultural Humility in Mental Health
Stephanie Pinder-Amaker
Description
Pending
2:05 PM
Management Strategies for Soft Tissue Strains and Injuries in Professional Sports
Travis Maak, Christina Mack, Xavi Schelling, Andre Tucker, Tyler Williams — moderated by Asheesh Bedi
Description
Pending
2:45 PM
15-Minute Intermission
3:05 PM
Venous Thromboembolism: Guidelines & Best Practices in Management
Rachel Rosovky
Description
Pending
3:30 PM
Current Concepts in Blood Flow Restriction Therapy for Professional Athletes
Brittany Forbes, Jeremy Loenneke, Kelechi R. Okoroha , Johnny Owens — moderated by Bill Moutzouros
Description
As the demands on NBA athletes continue to grow, so does the need for innovative, evidence-based strategies to accelerate recovery, enhance performance, and reduce injury risk. Blood Flow Restriction (BFR) therapy has emerged as a promising tool in sports medicine, rehabilitation, and performance training.
This panel will explore the latest research, practical applications, safety considerations, and future directions of BFR use in high-performance environments. The discussion will provide valuable insight into how BFR is reshaping athletic care for clinicians, trainers, and researchers.
4:05 PM
Closing Remarks