EVANSVILLE, IN (WFIE) -
The high school football season kicks off Friday night. Along with the new season, and new players, there is also a new concern about sports related head injuries.
The players at the new North High School football stadium are no doubt anxious to take the field for the first time in game-play, but there is a growing concern over the potential for severe head injuries in sports, most notably, football.
Those 14 News spoke to Friday say they are doing everything they can to ensure player-safety, in order to keep America's game alive and well.
For decades, football's mantra has been bigger, faster, stronger, and as athletes continue to grow, so to does concern over the threat of serious head injury.
"The athlete has continued to get better training," said EVSC Athletics Director Paul Neidig. "They've gotten faster. They've gotten stronger. And the helmet companies, they've really tried to keep up with that. But the fact is, there's no concussion-proof helmet. They can only do things to prevent concussions."
That is why, for three years now, the EVSC has mandated that all of its athletics programs take part in 'baseline testing.'
"We use what's called an ImPACT test, which is a 25 to 30 minute computer-based test that measures visual memory, verbal memory, reaction time," Dr. Andrew Saltzman with Tri-State Orthopedics told 14 News.
ImPACT stands for Immediate Post-concussion Assessment and Cognitive Testing. The baseline neuro-cognitive test results, are used for comparison to the post-injury results, to see if an athlete is ready to get back on the field.
"What we know is that the brain is much more susceptible to injury, if it's not fully recovered from a concussion, and it gets hit again," Dr. Saltzman said.
Some, in professional football, have argued that too many head injury-related rules and regulations will hurt the game. Neidig says the game may change, but his primary concern is for the safety of student-athletes.
"Unfortunately, I've got parents that are still concerned that we're holding their kids out. They want them back on the playing field before doctors have cleared them," Neidig said. "You know, to jeopardize that student-athlete's safety, is something that we're not willing to do."
Dr. Saltzman says 'baseline testing' is not limited to football players. He says the threat of a head injury exists in all sports, and it's a good idea to have the testing done before each season. He also says testing is free through the St. Mary's Concussion Alliance.
Copyright 2012 WFIE. All rights reserved.
For decades, football's mantra has been bigger, faster, stronger, and as athletes continue to grow, so to does concern over the threat of serious head injury.
