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Let's help our kids avoid life-altering concussions
By Dong Kim and Summer Ott | October 12, 2012 | Updated: October 12, 2012 8:32pm
Photo By DONNA MCWILLIAMFormer Dallas Cowboys quarterback Troy Aikman was forced to retire from professional football after sustaining a number of concussions.
The 2012 National Football League season is under way, accompanied by the sights and sounds of ferocious, brain-rattling collisions incessantly replayed on ESPN highlights, sometimes to the dismay of fans concerned about concussions. Recently, concussions suffered by quarterbacks Robert Griffin III of the Washington Redskis and Matt Cassel of the Kansas City Chiefs raised wide concern among sports pundits and fans alike. But while we fret over the neurologic toll these violent collisions have on our favorite professional players, the real concern should be the thousands of kids who strap on pads and helmets to play football under the Friday night lights of Texas, or in an area Pop Warner league.
Consider these statistics: An estimated 1.6 million to 3.8 million sports-related concussions occur in the United States annually, prompting the Centers for Disease Control to conclude that sports concussions have reached an "epidemic level." Moreover, over an eight-year period - 2001 to 2009 - sports-related emergency room visits for youth ages 5 to 18 increased 62 percent to a total of 2.6 million annually, with 173,285 involving a traumatic brain injury (TBI).
While football has consistently resulted in the highest number of concussions at the high school and college level, soccer is the most common cause of concussions in female athletes, according to studies examining the incidence rate of concussions in athletes.
Yes, these statistics are eye-opening, but we cite them not to dissuade parents from letting their children participate in sports. Team sports have many benefits - physical activity can help to combat childhood obesity, increase cardiovascular health and develop physical skills, not to mention build teamwork, discipline and perseverance. Rather, these figures should serve as an insightful alarm that encourages parents to be more educated about concussions, how to prevent them and, more importantly, what to do if your child suffers one.
Over the past decade, the evaluation and management of concussions has been a growing area of interest in the media, with reports of concussions occurring in famous professional athletes such as former Dallas Cowboys quarterback Troy Aikman, who was forced to retire as a result of several concussions, and National Hockey League player Sidney Crosby, who continues to play despite suffering several concussions.
Professional sports leagues such as the NFL and NHL have taken the initiative to protect against the effects of multiple concussions and further injury to their players by developing comprehensive programs structured to offer education, a better diagnosis, and to employ proper management following injury, with concussion specialists utilizing pre- and post-injury neurocognitive evaluations.
These same comprehensive programs and protocols should be afforded to athletes of all levels of play, whether they are participating in football or other sports. Fortunately in Texas, where football is king, Natasha's Law was passed in 2011 to help protect University Interscholastic League-governed student athletes in junior high and high school. However, in order to protect our young athletes, club sports and leagues also should apply the components of Natasha's law, which requires immediate removal from play for any athlete suspected of a concussion as well as evaluation and clearance by a physician before returning to sport-related activities. A gradual return to physical activity with careful oversight by the student's athletic trainer or concussion health care professional also is a requirement of the law.
While education of parents, health care professionals, coaches and teachers is of great importance, we often forget to include the young athlete in this process - possibly to their detriment. With concussions, athletes, particularly young ones, can be their own best advocates. The more informed they are, the better. Why?
If they suffer a concussion, they may be the only person who recognizes it. Moreover, if the young athlete understands the risks associated with second impact syndrome, (a re-injury to the head when it's still recovering, which could lead to more severe brain injury), it may dissuade players from trying to hide a concussion in order to remain in the game. In other words, it's better to be smart about concussions than macho.
Some parents may think that better equipment to protect the head will prevent concussions. Think again. Here's the reality: There is no concussion-proof helmet. Yes, safety gear and helmets have evolved tremendously over the years. But the best protection is being educated on the signs, symptoms and proper management following a concussion.
It is also imperative that athletes see a specialist following a concussion. Although the family physician may be your first phone call, he or she may not be trained to help on this front. You wouldn't take your child to an orthopedic physician to treat a heart condition; therefore, you should trust your child's brain to clinicians with training in brain behavior science and the complexity of neurological and neuropsychological factors that accompany concussion.
Concussions can be a life-altering injury to student athletes, and they should be treated as such. Sports are meant to be fun, not tragic. So let the kids play, but let us protect them by paying attention and recognizing a concussion when it happens.
Kim is professor and chairman of the University of Texas Medical School at Houston and director of the Mischer Neuroscience Associates at Memorial Hermann Hospital. Ott is a neuropsychologist and assistant professor of the Department of Orthopedics at the UT Medical School at Houston and director of the Memorial Hermann Ironman Sports Medicine Institute Concussion Program.