NFL Week 1 Injury Report: Concussions

There is a developing trend among contact sports, in particular those involving head to head, head to shoulder, or even head to leg contact that is an ever present phenomenon and is one that should not being taken lightly. Concussions were at the forefront of the NFL Week 1 injury report, noting that four players (Eagles QB Kevin Kolb and LB Stewart Bradley, Panthers QB Matt Moore and Giants TE Kevin Boss) were properly assessed, treated and diagnosed for head related injuries sustained within the normal scope of play during Sunday's opening weekend. While co-chairman of the NFL's Brain, Head and Neck Medical Committee claimed that, "he did not see the four concussions sustained by players in the first weekend as a trend,” one has to believe that the physical nature of the game, in conjunction with the size, speed, quickness and unrelenting play displayed by NFL players should raise red flags in the Exercise and Sport Science community. The so called "anti-concussion" helmet that Riddell developed roughly five years ago has been used widely throughout the league and rules preventing players from leading the with head (helmet as weapon), attacking defenseless receivers or illegally contacting someone else’s helmet/facemask are all in place, but when does it become less about the equipment and rules and more about the injuries condescend to violent contact sports like football. With that being said I guess the ultimate debate lies in the transition point between the recognition of symptoms, subsequent testing and diagnosis. On Sunday Eagles LB Stewart Bradley returned to the field of play after Bradley, “banged his head on a teammate's leg, struggled to get up, took a couple steps and fell helmet-first onto the ground." Bradley not only re-entered the game, but it was not until being re-evaluated in the locker room at halftime that he was deemed unable to perform. So here's my question, where do we draw the line between a player "saying" he is okay (after taking a severe shot to the head), the coach wanting the player to return to play, their teammates own desires to see them return to play and the medical professionals opinion on how to ultimately make an overriding decision? As Dr. Adam Shunk states, "Some (players) are very responsible with their own health and others are going back to play because it determines their salaries and bonuses," he said. "But athletes generally are aware now that they have to think about whether they should return to play or not." While these comments are reassuring, I feel that until athletic trainers, team doctors and other licensed medical professionals can conduct their work within the scope of their profession and truly make the tough decision to sideline a player, the politics and mindset/mentality involved in football will override that of the team physician. I feel that the ultimate goal is to preserve the safety and integrity of these athletes and to prevent conditions like Second Impact Syndrome or other traumatic brain injury from decrementing the livelihood of these players now and into the future. For more information on Second Impact Syndrome visit: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2672291/