What Happens When We Pay Attention to Concussions?

Concussion awareness has skyrocketed. And as we’re learning, it’s a good thing.

More school athletic departments are making players sit out following head injuries. More parents are seeking immediate medical treatment when their child suffers a head injury. And more lawsuits are targeting sports organizations at all levels – organizations that in the past, downplayed the serious nature of head injuries. And then there’s the media, where the number of concussion-related stories is growing exponentially.

Healing Concussions: The Rx of Rest

There’s recently been some debate among medical experts about the issue of rest following concussions in young people. On the one hand, most doctors recommend one or two days of rest at home, followed by a gradual returning to school and physical activity. Other doctors have been recommending longer periods of inactivity.

Suiting Up: Concussion Law Suits Are Going to High School

The jury is still out on what this might mean for high school football. But here’s the back story: On the heels of concussion lawsuits filed against the NFL and NCAA, this month, the same attorney who filed the NCAA class-action law suit has filed a class action suit against the Illinois High School Association (IHSA). And according to a CNN report, the attorney isn’t stopping with one state. He plans to sue every state high school athletic association in the country.

Can You Be a Game-changer for San Antonio’s Young Athletes? Absolutely!

It’s pretty much their nature – team sports and injuries go together. But the rise in concussion awareness is making us all more vigilant about the broader issue of sports safety.

Over the last few years, there have been numerous studies and research on sports-related head injuries in young athletes. The findings have led to big changes in schools and local sports initiatives. Safety is increasingly becoming a priority – and a popular one at that.

Concussion Media Hype – It’s a Good Thing

A few weeks ago, CBS News aired a story that focused on the “unjustified fear of concussions.”

In the report, it was noted that there has been a decline in the number of kids playing sports. Blame was laid squarely on the shoulders of the media for too much hype over concussions. The report went so far as saying concussion hype is doing more harm than good by keeping kids out of sports.

Do Some Positions in Football Hold Higher Risk of Concussion?

The short answer is yes; there is a connection between the position a football player holds and concussion. But there’s more to the story. There is a connection between college football players and concussions – period. The study showed there is only a one in seven chance that college football players will report concussion symptoms.

Beating the Boredom – How to Help Your Child Recover from Concussion

As I’ve written in previous posts, concussions are among the most common injuries to children. In fact, the number of emergency room visits for sports related head injuries in young people has increased by 62 percent in the last decade.

So how can parents help their children recover after a concussion?

The Eyes Have It: The Future of Tracking Concussions

Did you know that serious blows to the head happen every eight seconds? Even though they happen all the time, brain injuries are invisible to the naked eye. Or at least, they have been. But there’s some interesting news on

Is Football Worth it?

That’s a good question. You may have asked it yourself after reading the September 29, 2014, Time Magazine cover story, “He Died Playing This Game: Is Football Worth it?”

The article described the tragic death of a 16 year-old boy who died after suffering a traumatic brain injury while playing football last year. The story also cited the recent NFL court filing in which it was predicted that nearly one third of former players will develop dementia, Alzheimer’s disease or other debilitating neurologic disorders. Combine that with the violent criminal behavior exhibited by some professional athletes of late, and the NFL’s woeful response and you’re left with the same question. Is football worth it?

Early Retirement: UT Football Star Retires Due to Concussions

The University of Texas football fans got some bad news last week. During a press conference, Coach Strong revealed that quarterback David Ash had made the decision to retire from football. The reason? Multiple concussions.

Ash has repeatedly suffered head injuries. The most recent was during the season opening game against North Texas. But his problems with head injuries began long before that. In fact, concussion kept him out of play for most of last year’s games. According to Coach Strong, Ash had recently consulted with the UT medical staff, and all concurred that retirement from football would be the best option.