Concussions: How we can better protect ourselves and loved ones (part 2 of 2)
(please read part 1 of 2 first...it makes more sense that way)
In part 1 of this series we learned that concussions in sports are very common, the symptoms, the current limitations of our understanding, diagnosis and treatment. With this said, how can you better protect yourself and the athletes that you love?
1. Be vigilant. Watch for you or your child getting 'dazed' or their 'bell rung' after contact. If this happens or is even merely suspected, the day is over. No more contact period. No exceptions. The athlete (especially the young) should not be allowed to participate in any contact until ALL symptoms have resolved. The option of returning to the contest should never be presented to the concussed athlete.
2. Newer generation football helmets that emphasize jaw protection.
Check out www.riddell.com revolution helmet
3. Proper mouth guards. More and more studies are beginning to reveal the importance of a mouth guard that properly aligns the jaw (TMJ). Correct jaw alignment helps to lessen the force that gets transmitted to the skull and brain after being struck on the jaw. Protecting the jaw is an important factor in reducing the number of concussions.
Check out www.mahercorlabs.com maher mouth guard
4. Headgear (helmet) for soccer. Yes they do make a light weight soccer helmet. But unfortunately some of them are too skimpy or nothing more than a padded head band that provide insufficient protection. The use of the current generation of soccer helmets is controversial. But if I had my way, adequate helmets would be mandatory for high school soccer participation. More testing needs to be undertaken to develop an adequate helmet that will address both collisions and heading.
5. Padded soccer goal posts (cage). There is resistance to padding soccer goals because of how it might affect the carom of the ball. I could not care less about the flight of the ball. I only care about the safety of the young person that collides with that steel structure.
6. Neurocognitive testing. A simple on-line test that the athlete can take at the beginning of each season that will create and archive a baseline (normal value). If the athlete suffers a concussion during the year, after all of they symptoms have resolved, they then re-take the on-line test. They can return to contact only when their score returns to their normal value. This is currently the best piece of objective data that doctors have to help us determine when it is safe to 'clear' a concussed player for return to contact.
Check out www.impacttest.com
Have fun. By all means play sports. Be safe.
Comments