Diseases & Conditions Blog

High Schools Paying More Attention to Sports-Related Concussions - Wednesday, January 23, 2008

Head injuries such as concussions are very common in high school sports, especially contact sports like football. Players often do not display typical symptoms of a brain injury in the days immediately following the injury, but now there is technology available that allows a closer look at brain function following a traumatic injury.

In Colorado, high school officials are not in agreement about how best to treat brain injuries among young athletes, prompting debate in a state that has seen three high school student-athletes die from on-the-field brain-related trauma in 16 years. Experts estimate that between 1.6 and 3.8 million sports-related concussions occur each year in the United States.

However, there may be a solution in the midst. A computerized test, called ImPACT (Immediate Post-Concussion Assessment and Cognitive Testing), was developed in 1998 by University of Pittsburgh doctors to assist trainers and physicians in determining when athletes suffering from brain injuries can safely return to play. The program is a 20- to 25-minute computer test that measures a variety of brain functions, including memorization.

Already a majority of NFL teams use ImPACT, as do several teams in the National Hockey League and Major League Baseball. At this time, more than 40 Colorado public schools use the computerized program for brain testing.

NFL Players' Depression Correlated With Concussions - Tuesday, January 8, 2008

A recent study conducted by the University of North Carolina's Center for the Study of Retired Athletes indicates the rate of diagnosed clinical depression among retired National Football League (NFL) players is strongly correlated with the number of concussions they sustained while playing professional football. The report was based on a general health survey of over two thousand retired NFL players and was published in the journal of the American College of Sports Medicine. This study certainly calls into question the NFL's long-held contention that concussions have no long-term effects on the players.

At the end of May 2007, NFL commissioner Roger Goodell announced several initiatives including the creation of a fund to help pay the medical expenses of players suffering from dementia-related illnesses such as Alzheimer's disease. Goodell also announced obligatory neuropsychological testing for all players suffering a concussion and a "whistle blower system" whereby players and doctors can anonymously report a coach who attempts to override a doctor's order regarding a concussed player.