Congress Reviews Head Injuries in Pro Football
A long list of former NFL players, executives and lawmakers appeared before the House Judiciary Committee Wednesday to discuss the long-term effects of head injuries on current and former NFL players and to determine if the NFL is doing enough to protect the players.
Despite growing evidence showing long-term affects of even mild concussion and head trauma in former pro football players, NFL commissioner Roger Goodell defended the league's policies on concussions during his testimony before Congress. He did, however, state that they can do more, and they are taking steps to make the game safer. Read more about the hearing in the NY Times article.
The long-term effects of head injuries in pro football is an important issue, but it has implications far beyond the NFL. The real significance of this story is that head injuries in sport -- any sport -- can have long-term, severe consequences and athletes, coaches and parents need to be aware of the signs and symptoms of concussions and other head trauma in order to minimize the risk.
Even Mild Head Injuries Are Serious
Research shows that even mild concussions can have serious long-term effects, but one of the most serious complications of a head injury, an epidural hematoma, can occur with little warning and, if not treated promptly, can result in death.
Head Injury Warning Signs
All experts agree that wear safely equipment, such as a helmet and mouth guard, can reduce the risk of serious head injuries. If you suffer any head injury, stop playing and sit out the rest of the game. Even if you think it's a mild bump on the head, you may have minor damage that can be repaired. If you return to play, you risk making that mild injury a permanent one.
Read More about Head Injuries
- Head Injury First Aid
- What is a Concussion?
- Serious Effects of Mild Concussions
- Girls Suffering More Concussions in High School Sports
- Link Between Concussions and Depression
- Concussion Symptoms and Treatment
- Recurrent concussions may increase the risk of clinical depression
- New Guidelines for Head Injury and Concussion in Youth Sports
Head Injury Research
The latest research on the effects of head injuries continues to support the fact that concussions, and even mild head injuries, can cause lasting damage to the brain
In September, 2009, the National Football League Player Care Foundation released the results of their Study of Retired NFL Players which revealed that the rate of dementia and cognitive disorders among retired NFL players was five times higher than among the general population.
In 2007, researchers at the University of Illinois at Chicago College of Medicine reported finding structural changes in the brains of head injury patients that correlate to cognitive deficits in thinking, memory and attention. They found that mild head injuries caused damage only to the outer surface of the nerve (the myelin sheath of an axon), which may be able to be repaired if allowed to heal. More severe head injuries tended to cause damage to the axon itself, which may not be as easily repaired. Read the study abstract, published in the journal Brain or the Read the study press release from the University of Illinois at Chicago
With all the hype about concussions, I think it is still the most commonly missed sports injury. Perhaps because symptoms are not disclosed to parents, coaches, ATC’s, and physicians for fear of being removed from the game.