The potential for injury while participating in violent
collision sports has become more apparent in recent years. Athletes are now bigger, stronger and
faster since the inception of sports like football and hockey. The problem is clear but the solution
is not. The Mackey-White Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) Committee
is making an effort to solve this problem.
Named after NFL Hall of Fame players John Mackey and Reggie
White, the committee was established in 2009 under the direction of the
National Football League Player Association (NFLPA) Executive Director
DeMaurice Smith.
"The Mackey-White Committee is the forum which helps
guide the NFLPA on workplace safety and the health of our players,” said Thom
Mayer, the NFLPA medical director. “While it originally focused on
concussions and traumatic brain injury, its scope now encompasses all aspects
of player safety. Its membership comprises a "Pro Bowl" team of
physicians, scientists, and current and former players whose work has been
extremely impressive," said Mayer.
Among the most productive features of the meeting is
discussion with current and former athletes, some of whom suffer from the
chronic effects of TBI. One
request is to protect athletes from themselves when they make bad decisions to
keep playing after brain injuries.
Positioning neurologists and other sports concussion experts
on each sideline during games is one recommendation that is still being
considered by the National Football League. At collegiate and youth levels of the sport, a recent study
confirmed that the association of a licensed health care professional with a
team improves the diagnosis and recovery from concussion.
Empowering on-field officials to report concussion and
remove injured athletes from play has already been productive. Instituting a “battle buddy” program
that has helped military personnel is under consideration.
It has become clear that football must continue to evolve in
order to continue its current level of popularity.
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