This has been a busy week for news about concussions after Commissioner
Goodell announced the NFL’s $30 million donation to NIH to conduct research on
brain injuries. The NFL has set up a
website to provide more details about its efforts on player safety, and that
includes the concussion legislation which has been passed in 37 states,
including South Dakota .
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| http://www.nflevolution.com/ |
We don’t have all the answers right now on the effects of concussions on young athletes, so I applaud the NFL for getting serious about this research. Parents need to know that efforts are being
made at every level to improve equipment quality, and training for youth coaches.
Sports medicine programs around the country, including Sanford in Sioux Falls , are currently researching better ways to identify and treat concussions in young athletes and to educate
parents and coaches about concussion symptoms.
Knowledge really is power when it comes to concussions, so teaching proper technique to youth coaches makes a real difference in preventing injury. Making sure
parents and coaches can spot concussion symptoms and get medical help following an injury makes a
difference as well.
It will take a combination of all of these things to see improvements
that affect player safety. Those efforts
are well underway, and the NFL’s donation is a timely reminder that whether they are beginners or pros, we all play
a part in protecting our athletes.
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