Concussion denial: in mixed marital art (or UFC) fighting like bike helmet debate?

[Aromig]

I know that concussions cause cumulative damage. I also know that concussions still occur with helmets. However my previous comment about football helmets was related to the fact that some helmets are better than others and new versions are being developed all the time. We're not going to get rid of football in high schools. It's just not going to happen. I'm happy that our community schools have invested in the most modern helmets that are better than the old helmets. Because let's face it - there would be kids out there playing that sport even if they couldn't get a helmet.

Concussions are going to happen in any sport. I've actually read somewhere (I couldn't find it quickly) that more kids in soccer suffer concussions than in football. Am I going to tell my kids they can't play soccer and basketball (their chosen sports)? No. I believe that the positive outcomes that are certain to occur in those two sports outweigh the potential harm. Is that a different equation with football? Probably. I take risks when I ride my bike too. Am I going to quit riding bikes? Nope. I'm just going to be as prepared as I can be. Am I going to be educated about it and keep an eye out for symptoms? Yes. Am I grateful that the schools are now providing more training to trainers, coaches, officials to recognize symptoms? Yes. And I have talked to our physician about it - after the scare I mentioned above where my son was hit in the head in a basketball game (not football). I was also grateful that the schools had taken the risk seriously and that ALL athletes are required to do the prior screening (not just football).

With respect to the kids admitting that they don't feel well -- there are some symptoms that kids can't mask (pupil reactions, etc.) I've seen many a kid removed from the game by officials even when the kids insisted they felt fine and could stay in the game. I'm glad that the IHSAA (Indiana High School Athletic Association) has vested its officials with the capacity to make those calls because let's face it, there are kids/parents/coaches who might not make the right call. Some researchers at Indiana University are testing a goggles like device that scans eye activity that will take out the subjective testing to immediately detect concussions. I'm excited that we'll likely see this technology on the sidelines of a lot of sports in the next year or so removing the human part of the screening all together (then again, it will still take someone noticing that someone took a hit to the head in order to decide to screen them).

There's still a lot of work to do. Concussions are serious. I'm glad I live in the times I do where the risks are being taken seriously, many people are doing research and developing new knowledge and products. It was a lot different 40 years ago.

[salsabike]

Well said, Aromig.

[shootingstar]

You're lucky Aromig to have some mechanisms being worked on in your area and parental support.

When my partner, as a volunteer parent, was coaching his son's soccer team, he made a decision not to have the boys head the soccer ball. (Hit the oncoming ball with your head instead of kicking it.) He's glad he did it. This was ...28 yrs. ago or more. In watching my teen nephews' soccer games, they don't head the ball. The top Canadian medical research organization on brain injuiries and sport (hockey, football, etc.) is in Toronto. Some of the professional Canadian players who died, donated their brain for research.

[Aromig]

I don't know about other countries, but I think all places in the US are going to start getting similar support very soon. There are enough big lawsuits out there about concussions that sports organizations are on notice that ignorance is no longer bliss.

I'm trying to find the time to go see the movie "concussion."

My youngest is a goalie - and he's been hit in the face by the ball a few times, but by far (I think in my uneducated opinion) headers are pretty dangerous - it's not necessarily the ball but when its up in the air more than one person will try to head the ball and then they end up hitting heads. It also makes me super nervous when my goalie kid dives after the ball with all the legs/feet still trying to kick it. yes, there are times they're supposed to clear the goal box but wow, its scary.