OT: Concussions Are A Headache For NHL

[DewsSox79]

Fennelly: Concussions are headache for NHL | TBO.com

 

[DewsSox79]

with all the scientific research, this shit has become pretty damn serious. I remember back in the 90's...you got a concussion you were right back at it with exception to eric lindros of course.

 

[DMelt36]

I always have the same thought whenever I read a story about concussions, whether it's NHL or NFL.

I don't think there's an alarmingly higher number of concussions being suffered now, as opposed to the past. I think it's just that we're now more aware of when they happen and how damaging they are.

And the further down the rabbit hole you go, the more terrifying it gets. While I fully understand the concern for professional players and their concussion issues, I think it's even more terrifying at high school/small college levels where they don't have the resources to correctly diagnose these injuries and they're throwing kids back onto the field/ice to play with a scrambled brain.

 

[DewsSox79]

I always have the same thought whenever I read a story about concussions, whether it's NHL or NFL.

I don't think there's an alarmingly higher number of concussions being suffered now, as opposed to the past. I think it's just that we're now more aware of when they happen and how damaging they are.

And the further down the rabbit hole you go, the more terrifying it gets. While I fully understand the concern for professional players and their concussion issues, I think it's even more terrifying at high school/small college levels where they don't have the resources to correctly diagnose these injuries and they're throwing kids back onto the field/ice to play with a scrambled brain.

agreed.

 

[Everyday I'm Byfuglien]

Weak article, but hey- it's from Tampa.

Quote from that article:

How do you not worry about any NHL player with concussions on the rise this season? Yes, maybe it's because diagnosis and awareness of concussions have come a long way. Or maybe it's that hockey is a fast, fierce game with huge guys flying around a confined space at 30 miles per hour.

On the rise this season? No.

In December when a bunch of big names were going down with concussions, there was a lot of talk that concussions this year were way up. They are not.

Two things contributed to that misconception.

1- Big name superstars were diagnosed with concussions, drawing more attention.
2- These big name superstars were all out at the same time (Late November through December)

Crosby, Pronger, Giroux, Letang, Skinner

Those are big names and they're only part of the list.

Without question, December 2011 was the peak of the concussion hysteria. Multiple writers were wondering if it was an epidemic if they weren't already flat out declaring it one. During this time when these big names were sidelined and every day there was news of a new player being out with a concussion- how many players were out with concussions?

On December 16, 2011- 35 (and that includes the big names I mentioned above)

35 players out with concussions at the peak of the "concussion epidemic"

Source: Concussions are Ruining the NHL







December 3, 2010:

NHL concussion rate unchanged

Dr. Ruben Echemendia, the NHL's neuropsychologist, said Friday that 33 concussions had been reported as of Dec. 1 — the exact same number as a year ago. However, he was quick to note that it doesn't necessarily mean the rule change has been ineffective.


Concussions through December during the past 3 years:
Dec 1, 2009- 33
Dec 1, 2010- 33
Dec 16, 2011- 35

And that is with an enormously increased awareness of concussions and their symptoms since Crosby went down with one in January of 2010 not to mention all the awareness the NFL has brought to it. Concussions are front and center now more than ever.

Finally, look at the total number of players active in the NHL. A conservative estimate at any time is about 730.

Of those 730 players, on December 16, 2011 (the height of the "concussion epidemic"), what percentage of players were sidelined by concussions?

4.7%

Is there an increase in concussions in the last 3 years? No

Is 4.7% a percentage that indicates an epidemic No



That said, brain trauma is obviously very serious and this "epidemic" nonsense does have a positive in that it draws attention to an issue that absolutely does need attention and advanced study (which it is clearly receiving).

 

[Captain Iago]

I always have the same thought whenever I read a story about concussions, whether it's NHL or NFL.

I don't think there's an alarmingly higher number of concussions being suffered now, as opposed to the past. I think it's just that we're now more aware of when they happen and how damaging they are.

And the further down the rabbit hole you go, the more terrifying it gets. While I fully understand the concern for professional players and their concussion issues, I think it's even more terrifying at high school/small college levels where they don't have the resources to correctly diagnose these injuries and they're throwing kids back onto the field/ice to play with a scrambled brain.

I agree and there are a lot of variables to the amateur levels that enter the equation. They wear different equipment and then you have psycho kids out there "learning" how to hit correctly and "learning" how to take a hit.

 

[Gustavus Adolphus]

For those that don't know, I'm pretty big into football refereeing. The IHSA has recently instituted a policy where every high school football team must provide a licensed medical practitioner at every game. Not a trainer, but a doctor (now there are some trainers who have a license to do those sorts of things - I don't know much about that). Anyways, I, as an official am well within my rights to take a player off the field if they exhibit signs of a concussion. No questions asked. And that player can not return to the field without the clearance of the LMP.

Which is why I quote this part....

And the further down the rabbit hole you go, the more terrifying it gets. While I fully understand the concern for professional players and their concussion issues, I think it's even more terrifying at high school/small college levels where they don't have the resources to correctly diagnose these injuries and they're throwing kids back onto the field/ice to play with a scrambled brain.

About a year ago I attended a clinic where a college official was going over mechanics but he made a special mention about concussions. He said he was talking with a player before the game and he asked what position the kid played. The kid responded that he was a wedge buster. Anybody who plays football knows what this kid has to do to keep his scholarship. This ref asked him how many concussions he has had. The answer was 5.

The referee was Bill Lemmonier, Big 10 official.

This is a serious matter at the lowest of levels. My girlfriend works in insurance and she has told me about how much higher premiums have gotten for youth football/hockey leagues. Which means costs of playing those sports are going to go up. I don't think it is hyperbole to say that youth football, and like DMelt mentions, high school and small college football might just become a thing of the past.

EDIT: Obviously the same could be said for the costs of youth hockey leagues.

 

[DMelt36]

For those that don't know, I'm pretty big into football refereeing. The IHSA has recently instituted a policy where every high school football team must provide a licensed medical practitioner at every game. Not a trainer, but a doctor (now there are some trainers who have a license to do those sorts of things - I don't know much about that). Anyways, I, as an official am well within my rights to take a player off the field if they exhibit signs of a concussion. No questions asked. And that player can not return to the field without the clearance of the LMP.

Which is why I quote this part....


About a year ago I attended a clinic where a college official was going over mechanics but he made a special mention about concussions. He said he was talking with a player before the game and he asked what position the kid played. The kid responded that he was a wedge buster. Anybody who plays football knows what this kid has to do to keep his scholarship. This ref asked him how many concussions he has had. The answer was 5.

The referee was Bill Lemmonier, Big 10 official.

This is a serious matter at the lowest of levels. My girlfriend works in insurance and she has told me about how much higher premiums have gotten for youth football/hockey leagues. Which means costs of playing those sports are going to go up. I don't think it is hyperbole to say that youth football, and like DMelt mentions, high school and small college football might just become a thing of the past.

EDIT: Obviously the same could be said for the costs of youth hockey leagues.

Forgot all about this thread.

I sincerely hope that what you say never comes true. But, I could see it happening.

I don't want to see football be taken away from kids. It's the ultimate team sport and I, for one, believe that the time I spent playing this game taught me an incredible amount more than anything I learned in the classroom. Had tons of fun doing it, too. I don't want to believe that opportunity won't be there for my kids/grand kids.

But it's plausible. It wouldn't surprise me to see a parent-backed group crusade against the sport and get some sort of national mandate against it, somehow, under the "won't someone think of the children" argument. I'll disagree with that, and I'll fight it do the death.

The key is education (which is almost always the answer) on head injuries. It's probably time to not allow any average guy walking the street to be a coach. Don't just have background checks, make their be some sort of licensing procedure for youth/high school coaches. Concussion training MUST be mandatory in that education, too. It's so easy to ruin a kid for life at the age of 10 with one bad coach's decision to return a player to the field. That licensing program may ruin football in certain areas, particularly low-income ones. But that may be the only solution, ultimately.

Anyone remember a study they ran in Sports Illustrated about concussions awhile back? They followed a small high school in Indiana (Lafayette Central Catholic, I believe) and did brain scans throughout the season on the athletes. I can't remember exact details, but I think they determined that over the course of the season, the players' brain neurons were not firing as frequently or as often as they were before the season. Essentially, playing football was making them dumber. It's not just a stereotype, it's a fact. I believe their brains returned to normal once the season ended. But that study certainly raised my eyebrow when I read it.

 

[Gustavus Adolphus]

I don't want to see football be taken away from kids. It's the ultimate team sport and I, for one, believe that the time I spent playing this game taught me an incredible amount more than anything I learned in the classroom. Had tons of fun doing it, too. I don't want to believe that opportunity won't be there for my kids/grand kids.

But it's plausible. It wouldn't surprise me to see a parent-backed group crusade against the sport and get some sort of national mandate against it, somehow, under the "won't someone think of the children" argument. I'll disagree with that, and I'll fight it do the death.

I don't have kids, but if were to, I would have a hard time letting a son of mine play football. I understand you can't protect children from everything, but the research is starting to come out about these head injuries and I've seen first hand how some of the coaches in youth leagues now, and at the freshman/sophomore level coach, and I just shake my head.

 

[Gustavus Adolphus]

I don't think it is hyperbole to say that youth football, and like DMelt mentions, high school and small college football might just become a thing of the past.

I sincerely hope that what you say never comes true. But, I could see it happening.

Just to clarify, it's not hyperbole to me. This was just something that I heard Lemmonnier say at the clinic, and knowing how much insurance rates have gone up for these leagues.

I'm not saying, and I hope I'm wrong, it's happening tomorrow or even the next 5-10 years, but I can see it coming down to that.

Put it this way: St. Rita will never not have a football team, Reavis High School could easily drop it.