The sport of football is facing a growing problem regarding
the health and safety of its athletes.
Approximately 3.8 million athletes in the United States will suffer a
concussion this year. Many of
these may be the result of high velocity collision sports like football and
hockey. Since last season, four
NFL players have committed suicide and autopsies revealed chronic brain damage
associated with multiple brain injuries.
Concussion is best defined as “a syndrome of immediate and
transient alteration of neurologic function as a result of a biomechanical
force.” The biomechanical force is
generally a blow to the head.
Athletes have become bigger, stronger and faster over the past twenty
years and protective equipment has not been able to keep up.
Many experts in the field of sports medicine have focused
their efforts on reducing brain damage from repeated concussion. Recommendations include modification of
rules, teaching proper playing skills, providing appropriate, well-fit
equipment and assuring the presence of trained medical personnel at sporting
events.
Education is crucial to the success of any far-reaching
public health effort. Locally, Backus Hospital has partnered with the NFL Players’ Association and St. Louis Rams Super Bowl champion Ernie Conwell to produce an
eight-minute video educating coaches, parents and athletes on the signs and
symptoms of concussion.
Six local high schools have already agreed to show the video
to every athlete involved in a high-velocity collision sport. The goal of this program, titled,
Concussion: Recognition, Rest, Recovery,
is to increase early awareness and reporting of concussions.
The video is available online at www.backushospital.org. Copies of the CD can be obtained free
by sending an e-mail to aalessi@wwbh.org.
Concussion is a serious consequence for all athletes
regardless of gender and level of competition. The widespread dissemination of accurate information can be
lifesaving.
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