Researchers Studying NFL Concussions To Treat Younger Players
A study of concussions in the National Football League may one day make football safer for high school and college players.
For many years, concussions weren't taken very seriously in sports, they were considered just part of the game in football -- even a badge of courage. Now, concussions are taken much more seriously, WBAL-TV 11 News Health Alert reporter Donna Hamilton reported.
No one ever called football a gentle game and nowhere is that more true than in the NFL. Dr. Andrew Tucker from the University of Maryland Medical Center is part of a national study looking at all aspects of concussions in the NFL -- including how they occur and to whom they occur, the symptoms and complications.
"The training staff for all 32 teams contribute to a massive data base, and in that data base, 700 concussions over the last half dozen years or so," Tucker said.
In the NFL, about 45 percent of players with concussions return during the same game. But that's different now for younger players -- for an important reason.
"The younger brain [and] the high school-aged brain handles injury differently than a more mature brain," certified athletic trainer Mark Bayer said.
Ask high school player Brain Hayhurst, he had two concussions fairly close together.
"All I remember about the Western Tech concussion was [that] I hit the guy and not much else. Next, dizziness and bad headache," Hayhurst said.
Hayhurst said he had trouble with dizziness for six months. Tucker is hoping their research will help make helmets safer.
"Since our research has shown that most concussions occur as a result of blow to the side of the head, helmets have changed more protection from side blows," Tucker said.
Tucker said the helmets can reduce the risk of concussion, but nothing will completely remove the risk.
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