Concussions can happen to all children, not just the athletes

This article discusses how concussions are possible in all children, not only the ones who are in football or other sports.

The gridiron is back in action. From little leagues to professional teams, football frenzy has begun, and with it, concerns about concussions. But it's not just jarring tackles that can lead to concussions in kids. According to Dr. Ryan Coates, pediatric neurologist at Loyola University Health System, there are many ways kids are exposed to concussion risks.

"We hear a lot about concussions when it comes to sports and we should be on the lookout for head injuries, but athletes aren't the only ones who are at-risk for brain trauma," said Coates.

Concussions are a result of a traumatic brain injury that causes a disruption of the brain function. Disruption of neurologic function can manifest itself with a multitude of symptoms, including headache, loss of consciousness, concentration and memory disturbances, dizziness, nausea/vomiting and confusion.

"What symptoms a person experiences depends on how the brain moves within the skull as a result of the injury," said Coates. "Everyone is different and how a person responds after brain trauma is variable. Symptoms can last for a few hours or several months." Coates said very young children are the most at risk for brain trauma because they have less protection.

"Young children are more dependent on caregivers to keep them safe and don't have as many ways of protecting themselves from falls and accidents as adults and older children," said Coats.

Falls are the leading cause of traumatic brain injury in the country, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Also, nearly half of the traumatic brain injuries in children are from a fall.

"Parents need to watch their children carefully, especially around stairs and at the playground. Make sure your child isn't doing something that isn't age appropriate," said Coates. "Following safety guidelines for car seats is important for keeping kids safe as well."

Traumatic brain injuries and concussions shouldn't be taken lightly. Timely recognition and appropriate response are vital. Any child who has had a concussion should be seen by a physician within 24 hours and have a complete neurological exam.

"Even one concussion can have long-term effects, including learning difficulties and other issues that impact quality of life," said Coates.

Though all kids are susceptible to concussions, special attention does need to be given to kids participating in sports. According to Coates, it's imperative that coaches, supervisors and parents are all on the same page when it comes to brain injuries.

"Any child who has a head injury, even if it seems minor, should immediately be taken out of the event. Symptoms can happen immediately or even days after the injury, so don't take any chances. A child's brain function is more important than the next play," said Coates. "No one is immune to head injuries. Just because someone has had head trauma before and didn't have any apparent issues doesn't mean the next hit won't cause substantial injury and long-term effects."

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• Article

Neurodegenerative causes of death among retired National Football League players

1. Everett J. Lehman, MS, 
2. Misty J. Hein, PhD, 
3. Sherry L. Baron, MD and
4. Christine M. Gersic

+Author Affiliations

1. From the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, Division of Surveillance, Hazard Evaluations and Field Studies, Cincinnati, OH.

1. Correspondence & reprint requests to Mr. Lehman: elehman@cdc.gov

View Complete Disclosures

ABSTRACT

Objective: To analyze neurodegenerative causes of death, specifically Alzheimer disease (AD), Parkinson disease, and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), among a cohort of professional football players.

Methods: This was a cohort mortality study of 3,439 National Football League players with at least 5 pension-credited playing seasons from 1959 to 1988. Vital status was ascertained through 2007. For analysis purposes, players were placed into 2 strata based on characteristics of position played: nonspeed players (linemen) and speed players (all other positions except punter/kicker). External comparisons with the US population used standardized mortality ratios (SMRs); internal comparisons between speed and nonspeed player positions used standardized rate ratios (SRRs).

Results: Overall player mortality compared with that of the US population was reduced (SMR 0.53, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.48–0.59). Neurodegenerative mortality was increased using both underlying cause of death rate files (SMR 2.83, 95% CI 1.36–5.21) and multiple cause of death (MCOD) rate files (SMR 3.26, 95% CI 1.90–5.22). Of the neurodegenerative causes, results were elevated (using MCOD rates) for both ALS (SMR 4.31, 95% CI 1.73–8.87) and AD (SMR 3.86, 95% CI 1.55–7.95). In internal analysis (using MCOD rates), higher neurodegenerative mortality was observed among players in speed positions compared with players in nonspeed positions (SRR 3.29, 95% CI 0.92–11.7).

Conclusions: The neurodegenerative mortality of this cohort is 3 times higher than that of the general US population; that for 2 of the major neurodegenerative subcategories, AD and ALS, is 4 times higher. These results are consistent with recent studies that suggest an increased risk of neurodegenerative disease among football players.

• Received April 24, 2012.
• Accepted July 9, 2012.

• Copyright © 2012 by AAN Enterprises, Inc.

Football players more likely to develop neurodegenerative disease, study finds

Football players more likely to develop neurodegenerative disease, study finds(CNN) -- Just hours before the 2012 NFL season kicks off, a new study suggests that professional football players are three times more likely to have neurodegenerative diseases than the general population.

When researchers specifically looked at Alzheimer's disease and ALS -- amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, also known as Lou Gehrig's disease -- that risk increased to four times greater than the rest of us.

The study, published Wednesday in the medical journal Neurology, surveyed nearly 3,500 retired NFL players who were in the league between 1959 and 1988.

The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, a division of the Centers for Disease Control, had been following this group of players since the early '90s, when the NFL asked the institute to evaluate them for their risk of cardiovascular disease.

This time, the authors decided to look at the neurological outcomes of the players by specifically evaluating the autopsies of 334 players.

CNN article here

Helmet guards may help prevent concussions

An interesting story about new helmet covers being used in a high school in Austin, TX. These helmet covers are used to help mitigate concussions in players who are more likely to butt heads.

A high school football team in Austin is taking an extra step to prevent head injuries. Players at Regents private school are some of the first in Texas to wear " Guardian Caps ". That's the name for a padded layer of protection that fits over their helmets.

The Regents football program has about 130 players that will use the Guardian Caps during practices. They cost about $60 a piece, and they weigh just a few ounces.

"The first review was in the form of a question, and it was 'Coach, have you seen these things?' said Regents head coach Beck Brydon. "I agreed with him, like, 'You do look crazy!'"

"It's very awkward-looking and weird, but I think it just gives you a little more cushion with that hit," said senior quarterback Andrew Meynig.

Concussions are notoriously hard to detect. TheAmerican College of Sports Medicine estimates there are 3.8 million concussions a year for athletes from high school to professional levels, and 85-percent of them go undetected.

Scott & White Hospital in Round Rock has the first comprehensive concussion care facility in Central Texas, where a series of brain tests and physical therapy help athletes return to action quickly and safely.

Meantime, Texas public schools under the University Interscholastic League (UIL), with their own set of strict guidelines regarding head injuries, are waiting to see if Guardian Caps are worth the investment.

"If it proves to be the best for students, our public schools will jump out and provide that for our students," said UIL executive director Dr. Charles Breithaupt. "And, if they have to get booster club money to do it, or some corporate sponsor to step in, we're going to provide the best equipment for our students."

The UIL has adopted a concussion protocol from the National Federation of High Schools Association.

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Concussion Videos for Coaches, Students & Parents

From the AAN Sports Neurology Section:

1.     Dr. Anthony Alessi and Backus Hospital are educating local youths on the signs, symptoms and treatments for concussions, which impact so many young athletes:

http://www.backushospital.org

2.     Dr. Marc DiFazio and Shady Grove Pediatric Neurosciences are caring for children and adults with neurologic disorders. See the video about a young athlete’s concussion and treatment:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?

v=OF53WElg7K0&feature=player_
embedded&noredirect=1 or http://www.pedsneurosciences.com/Concussion_Center.html 

Consider showing these educational videos at events where you are capturing the attention of coaches, students, parents, etc.

If your facility is also considering creating a video on concussion, or if you would like more information from Drs. Alessi and DiFazio on creating a video, please let me know. If you have a video to share with the section, please let me know that as well. Thanks.

Recognizing symptoms of concussions is necessary for coaches and parents

USA Football discusses the importance of parents and coaches knowing and recognizing concussions.

The Giants teamed up with USA Football on the Protection Tour on Tuesday at MetLife Stadium for a program designed to educate parents, players and coaches about signs and symptoms of concussions, and the importance of proper equipment and tackling techniques.

"I wanted to come and learn as much as I could," said Angelo Pira, a parent from Westwood who brought his son Dominic, 8, to the event. "My wife and I are worried about concussions. Some of the things I learned were shocking."

During a 25-minute seminar conducted by Dr. Pat Kersey, USA Football’s medical director, he described a concussion as similar to when a yolk shakes within an egg shell, the yolk being the brain and the shell being the skull.

Kersey then outlined a series of indicators parents and coaches should be looking for when it comes to concussions. Headaches, nausea, memory problems and blurry vision all are common signs, but the biggest sign is if the kids are not feeling like themselves.

"A lot of the signs of concussions are not visible," Kersey said. "So I think parents should really trust their instinct if they notice their child is not acting like themselves.

"Physically they can be fine, they can move arms and legs and can jump and run, but if they’re emotionally different or their personality changes, they should be checked out. That’s why it’s important to educate parents."

Kersey’s words hit home for Pira when he recalled that Dominic came home from wrestling practice a few years ago, and was not acting like himself.

"It made me think back that maybe he had a concussion," said Pira, who volunteers as a Westwoodfootball youth coach.

The statistics for concussion rates in youth sports are alarming. It’s estimated that anywhere from 1.6 million to 3.8 million kids suffer concussions every year. Once athletes suffers a concussion, they become three to six times more likely to suffer another.

In 2011, the National Federation of State High School Associations reported that 15 percent of all sports-related injuries are concussions. Sports and recreational activities contribute to about 21 percent of all traumatic brain injuries among American children.

"The numbers are quite staggering, and that’s the number of reported cases," said David Egazarian ofOradell, who brought his son Steven, 7, to the event. "Think of all the unreported cases. It’s important to be aware of all the information about concussions."

And it’s not just limited to football. Soccer, basketball, baseball, lacrosse and cheerleading also have high rates of concussions. Soccer has the highest rate worldwide and football is the highest in the U.S.

And it’s not just sports. Kids can suffer concussions anywhere from falling off their bikes to falling out of bed.
"The thing I learned was that I thought you got a concussion [only] when you blacked out, but that’s not the case," said Kim Mehandzic of Westwood, who brought her son Nik, 8, to the event.
"I think it’s important to know that concussions do heal if they’re treated properly. So I would let my son keep playing sports. They learn valuable life lessons through team sports. Parents have to trust their instincts."
Read more here

Texas House bill creating rules for school football helmets advances

By Anna M. Tinsley

AUSTIN -- In Texas, where high school football is king, some lawmakers say it's time for Texans to use their heads when it comes to protecting students' heads.

Texas House members gave early approval Tuesday to a measure that will retire public school football helmets after they're 16 years old and make sure that helmets 10 years or older are reconditioned every two years. "This is to prevent severe and long-term effects of concussions," said state Rep. Eddie Lucio III, D-Brownsville, who carried a football helmet with him during the bill discussion. "There's a lot of danger out there. This is basic minimum standards, like putting your seat belt on."

The measure still needs final approval from the House, which could come as soon as today. It would require school districts to keep records on how old helmets are and when they are repaired. Supporters say as many as 67,000 high school students suffer concussions from playing football each year.

Some heal quickly, while others take months to recover, Lucio said. "The biggest problem isn't the first concussion but the second one," he said. Many helmets used by Texas high schoolers are several years old because new ones can cost as much as $300 or more.


Read more at the link.

Concussion Infographics- Anatomy of mild traumatic brain injury

A picture is worth...

Concussion in Pictures

Source.

Concussions may be on rise in high schoolers: study

Concussions may be on rise in high schoolers: study

NEW YORK Sun Feb 27, 2011 8:27pm EST
NEW YORK (Reuters Life!) - High school athletes are four times more likely to suffer a concussion today than they were about a decade ago, with football players leading the pack, according to a study.

What was more, concussions appeared to be an issue not only in sports long thought of as high impact, but also those thought of as low impact, with some high school athletes suffering from two or more concussions.

In 25 public schools from 1997 to 2008, and six different sports each for girls and boys, there were about five concussions for every 10,000 times high school athletes were on the field, the research -- published in the American Journal of Sports Medicine -- found.

That's up from slightly over one per 10,000 times on the field in 1997.

Read the rest of the article here.