Abstract
The capstone of the Doctor of Athletic Training program is a Dissertation of Clinical Practice Improvement (DoCPI). The DoCPI is designed to examine and articulate an athletic trainer’s evolution as a scholarly practitioner. Included in this extensive document is a Plan of Advanced Practice, which encompasses an understanding of current clinical practices, professional goals, strengths and weaknesses, and a blueprint for my clinical practice future. Reflecting on patient-reported outcomes and clinical strengths and weaknesses combined to contribute to the chapters that are contained within this DoCPI. The final research multi-site study reflects the philosophy of the DAT in its mission to engage in action research and utilize practice-based evidence to address local clinical practice challenges and enhance clinical decision making. The exploration of the effects of Mulligan Concept® positional sustained natural apophyseal glides on mechanical neck pain within the athletic population has provided a means to directly treat non-traumatic musculoskeletal injury of the cervicothoracic region without reluctance. The point of engaging in action research is not to discover new knowledge or argue theories but rather to obtain insight that has practical applications to the solution of a specific problem. The following DoCPI offers evidence of how action research can be integrated and applied in a clinically meaningful way as well as depict my adventure from a novice athletic trainer to advanced practitioner.