Concussion News and Research

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New research: Retired NFL players more likely to misuse painkillers

Retired NFL players use painkillers at a much higher rate than the rest of us, according to new research conducted by investigators at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis.

28 Jan 2011

BrainScope sponsors 'B-Ahead U.K. Trial' to assess traumatic brain injury

BrainScope Company, today announced its sponsorship of a multi-center, observational clinical study, the "B-Ahead U.K. Trial", utilizing its technology in development to aid in the assessment of traumatic brain injury and its milder forms in emergency departments in the United Kingdom.

27 Jan 2011

CJSM highlights emerging issues in sport medicine

Should electrocardiograms be included in cardiovascular screening of athletes? What's the current status of research into long-term effects of concussions? These and other hot topics are the focus of the January Clinical Journal of Sport Medicine, a special issue on "Emerging Issues in Sport Medicine."

14 Jan 2011

95.6% of WTC survivors report posttraumatic stress symptoms

Nearly 10 years after the greatest human-made disaster in U.S. history-- the destruction of the World Trade Center (WTC) towers -- there has been little research documenting the attacks' consequences among those most directly affected -- the survivors who escaped the World Trade Center towers.

10 Jan 2011

Combat-related PTSD associated with longer-term physical, emotional and cognitive symptoms

Combat-related post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms appear to be associated with longer-term physical (headache, tinnitus), emotional (irritability) and cognitive (diminished concentration or memory) symptoms, according to a report in the January issue of Archives of General Psychiatry, one of the JAMA/Archives journals. Conversely, concussion/mild traumatic brain injuries (MTBI) do not appear to have long-term negative effects on troops.

4 Jan 2011

Researchers receive $100,000 NFL grant to study tissue engineering for spinal injuries

Researchers from Cornell University and Weill Cornell Medical College have been awarded $100,000 by NFL Charities, the charitable foundation of the National Football League owners, to research tissue engineering for spinal injuries.

22 Dec 2010

New study says boxers are at substantial risk for acute injuries to head, heart, and skeleton

Boxers are at substantial risk for acute injuries to the head, heart, and skeleton. Subacute consequences after being knocked out include persistent symptoms such as headaches, impaired hearing, nausea, unstable gait, and forgetfulness.

13 Dec 2010

Repeated cerebral trauma in boxing career may result in boxer's dementia

Up to 20% of professional boxers develop neuropsychiatric sequelae. But which acute complications and which late sequelae can boxers expect throughout the course of their career? These are the questions studied by Hans Förstl from the Technical University Munich and his co-authors in the current issue of Deutsches Ärzteblatt International (Dtsch Arztebl Int 2010; 107[47]: 835-9).

10 Dec 2010

AANS injury prevention tips during winter holiday season

During the winter holiday season there are many warnings in the news about preventing house fires caused by Christmas trees and faulty electrical wiring. There are also warnings about too much merriment leading to alcohol-related motor vehicle accidents. A lesser known fact is the risk of head injury related to hanging and taking down Christmas decorations.

4 Dec 2010

National study examines management of sport-related concussions in high school athletes

Each academic year, an estimated 136,000 sports-related concussions occur among high school athletes in the United States. A new study conducted by researchers at the Sports Concussion Clinic at Children's Hospital Boston and the Center for Injury Research and Policy of The Research Institute at Nationwide Children's Hospital examined concussions in high school athletes during the 2008-2009 school year.

1 Dec 2010

New comprehensive program effective in reducing neurological injuries among rugby players: Report

A comprehensive program combining education and rule enforcement has been effective in reducing the high rate of brain and spinal cord injuries among rugby players, reports the November issue of Neurosurgery, official journal of the Congress of Neurological Surgeons.

18 Nov 2010

Neuropsychologist advices soldiers struggling with mild traumatic brain injury

For soldiers who have suffered a head injury, it can be frustrating when problems linger after returning home. Because there may be no physical signs of injury, issues like memory complaints or sleep disturbances that follow mild traumatic brain injury can be underestimated or overlooked by veterans and their families.

12 Nov 2010

New Chicago Sports Concussion Clinic at Rush University provides proper diagnosis for athletes

Concussions, like any injury, need proper assessment and time to heal. Some may brush off an injury to the head, but an injury to the brain may be severe with possible long-term consequences. Athletes or individuals who suffer a bump or blow to the head now can see a physician for assessment within 24 to 48 hours at the new Chicago Sports Concussion Clinic at Rush University Medical Center.

29 Oct 2010

NFL players with concussions now stay away from the game longer

NFL players with concussions now stay away from the game significantly longer than they did in the late 1990s and early 2000s, according to research in Sports Health (owned by American Orthopaedic Society for Sports Medicine and published by SAGE). The mean days lost with concussion increased from 1.92 days during 1996-2001 to 4.73 days during 2002-2007.

13 Oct 2010

Study suggests athletes suffer a form of injury that is difficult to diagnose

A study by researchers at Purdue University suggests that some high school football players suffer undiagnosed changes in brain function and continue playing even though they are impaired.

8 Oct 2010

Top experts to discuss concussion-related issues at Ice Hockey summit

On Oct. 19-20, 2010, Mayo Clinic's Sports Medicine Center will host "Ice Hockey Summit: Action on Concussion." The summit will bring together top scientists, trainers, coaches, officials and manufacturers from across the United States, Canada and Europe to discuss concussion-related issues, including the science of concussions, impact on children, and sporting world response.

7 Oct 2010

Congress considers setting standards to reduce football concussions

NPR: "A college player who recently committed suicide had a degenerative brain disease normally linked to much older players. It's prompting a new round of questions about safety in the dangerous game that Americans love. ... [Chronic traumatic encephalopathy] is the football concussion 'disease of the moment.' In the past couple of years, Boston University's Center for the Study of Traumatic Encephalopathy has revealed that many deceased NFL players had CTE. The symptoms include depression, erratic behavior and, ultimately, dementia" (Goldman, 9/23).

24 Sep 2010

Parents and coaches should be mindful of risks of concussions

With the recent deaths of football players top of mind, parents and coaches should always be mindful of the risks of concussions. Kim Gorgens, assistant professor and neuropsychologist at the University of Denver (DU), says that the average football player receives 103 Gs when hit during a game. Most concussions deliver 95 Gs to the human body upon impact.

24 Sep 2010

New guidance on making complex decisions about injured athlete's return to play

When is it appropriate for an injured athlete to return to competition? A new three-step framework provides team physicians and other sport medicine clinicians with guidance on making complex decisions about return to play, reported in the September Clinical Journal of Sport Medicine.

13 Sep 2010

Emergency department visits for concussions in young athletes on the rise

A new study from Hasbro Children's Hospital finds visits to emergency departments for concussions that occurred during organized team sports have increased dramatically over a 10-year period, and appear to be highest in ice hockey and football. The number of sports-related concussions is highest in high school-aged athletes, but the number in younger athletes is significant and rising.

31 Aug 2010