House Judiciary Committee calls for another hearing to assess football-related brain injuries

“This hearing will give us a chance to assess what improvements have been made and obtain the firsthand testimony of key experts such as Dr. Casson”

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Chairman of the House Judiciary Committee John Conyers has called for another hearing on brain injuries in football to be held on Monday, January 4.

The New York Times reported that the NFL announced major changes to its concussion protocol following the previous hearing on the matter, on October 28, and that it's likely this session will focus on college, high school and youth levels of football. Dr. Ira Casson, the former co-chairman of the NFL's committee on concussions, is one of the primary witnesses expected to testify. Said Conyers, “This hearing will give us a chance to assess what improvements have been made and obtain the firsthand testimony of key experts such as Dr. Casson," who did not testify at the prior hearing.

EXPERTS: ExpertSource can offer several highly qualified experts to comment on this story:

Joseph Manzo, Brain-Pad Inc.

Joe Manzo is President and creator of Brain-Pad, a mouth guard line that is tested and proven to reduce concussions from lower jaw impact. Studies show that over 90% of concussions that result in unconsciousness are from impacts to the jaw. When put into place, Brain-Pad slightly shifts the jaw bone down and forward to stabilize the jaw in place so that upon impact, the jaw bone won’t move up into the skull. When used properly, there is a 40 percent reduction of impact energy to the base of the skull. The mouth guards also provide TMJ protection and open the airways in the throat so athletes can breathe better. Manzo has years of expertise working closely with athletes, doctors and athletic trainers learning about the causes of concussions and creating a mouth guard specifically designed to address these risks. He has worked with athletes at every level and among various sports programs including football, lacrosse, hockey, karate, MMA, and more. Over the past 15 years, Brain-Pad, Inc. has protected over 1.5 million adult & junior athletes, and competitors across the contact sport worlds. Manzo can comment and offer expert insight on concussion causes, risks and prevention, the current measures being taken by the NFL and Congress to address protocols for concussion treatment, and the role of mouth guards when it comes to concussion prevention. He can discuss the measures he believes need to be taken to really address the number of concussions that occur in sports. He can also share success stories from athletes that are loyal to Brain-Pad mouth guards and share some of the results they have experienced.

Dr. Vernon Williams, neurologist, Kerlan-Jobe Orthopaedic Clinic

Dr. Williams is a board-certified neurologist with an interventional and multidisciplinary sub-specialty in Pain Management.

Dr. Williams earned his medical degree in 1992 at the University of Michigan as a member of its prestigious Inteflex accelerated medical program. His neurology residency training at the University of Maryland was followed by a pain fellowship at Johns Hopkins University.

Since 1998, Dr. Williams has directed the Neurology and Pain Management Services with the world-renowned Kerlan-Jobe Orthopaedic Clinic in Los Angeles. He is a consultant to multiple area professional, college, and high school sports teams including the Los Angeles Kings, Galaxy, Lakers, Avengers and Dodgers, the Anaheim Ducks and Angels, as well as Loyola University.

Dr. Williams’ primary areas of expertise include: Sports neurology, concussion, headache, and pain management. He serves on the Pain Section board of the American Academy of Neurology and actively educates physicians, community groups and the lay public through local and national lectures, publications, and as a print and television media consultant.

ExpertSource cannot guarantee the immediate availability of these experts or their familiarity with this specific issue.