ESPN.com senior writer and injury analyst Stephania Bell joined the network in 2007.
There is no offseason for sports injuries.
Stephania Bell, ESPN’s injury analyst and an ESPN.com senior writer, is constantly on the network’s platforms providing insights into what ails athletes.
A physical therapist who is a board-certified orthopedic clinical specialist and a certified strength and conditioning specialist, Bell also is an avid fantasy sports player and contributes heavily to ESPN Fantasy. Her love of sports helped pave her path to ESPN.
Front Row asked Bell about sports injury trends, insight into how she does her job, and “The Curse of Stephania Bell.”
With the attention being drawn to concussions, where would you want to see the leagues’ focus be placed: Education; prevention; equipment; something else?
If I had to choose, then education would come first and foremost and the reason is simple: Everything else flows forward from there. The increased public discourse regarding concussions, which is largely due to happenings within the NFL, is a positive step. People understandably have many questions not only about the condition itself but also regarding safety in sports participation. Unfortunately, medicine doesn’t have all the answers when it comes to concussions but we continue to learn more daily. As medical knowledge and understanding of concussion recognition and management grows, that information can be shared with the public to help develop better teaching and training programs for coaches, parents and athletes as well as enhancements in the area of prevention and treatment. The more educated we all become on this emotionally-charged topic, the more rational and informed decisions we will make going forward.
How do you push the envelope and provide unique insights to fans?
I get ideas daily. They might come from something I see on air, something I read or something suggested by someone else. It usually starts with a story I feel passionately about which I think warrants a deeper look. The Brian Roberts piece [a Sept. 2011 Outside The Lines feature about the MLB player's problems with concussions] came out of a desire for me to show that there are some therapies that seem to be helping people with certain types of concussive injuries. We have such a unique platform here to be able to provide accurate, credible information in an audience-pleasing way — via the stories of athletes — and I’m just thrilled to be a part of it.
Can you recall a short time span with so many severe injuries suffered by superstars: Derrick Rose in the NBA, Terrell Suggs in the NFL and Mariano Rivera in baseball? What’s it been like reporting on so many situations? continue reading…
