Today's New York Times reports on the tragic death of Owen Thomas, 21, the University of Pennsylvania football player whose suicide has revealed that he suffered from CTE (chronic traumatic encephalopathy) brought on by a series of head injuries during his childhood years.
The Huffington Post quotes Owen Thomas' mother in their story, where she recalls Owen first began playing football at the age of 9 or 10 - and that she doesn't remember Owen suffering any serious head injury, or concussion.
Doctors believe that Owen Thomas' tragic suicide may be the result of CTE altering his brain function -- and that Owen's CTE may be the result of his head receiving cumulative repetitive blows, causing serious brain injury over time.
Owen's brain injuries may well have begun during his early school years on the field, culminating on the college football field. So what about children playing football?
American Association of Pediatrics Just Issued New Guidelines for Kids Playing Sports and Their Risk of Head Injury
Concussions and brain injuries resulting while children are playing school sports are extremely serious events: less than a month ago, new guidelines for head injuries in kids were issued by the American Association of Pediatrics -- targeting sports-related concussions. The complete study, "Emergency Department Visits for Concussion in Young Child Athletes," appears in Pediatrics magazine (available online).
- Children or adolescents who sustain a concussion should always be evaluated by a physician and receive medical clearance before returning to play.
- After a concussion, all athletes should be restricted from physical activity until they are asymptomatic at rest and with exertion.
- Physical and cognitive exertion, such as homework, playing video games, using a computer or watching TV may worsen symptoms.
- Symptoms of a concussion usually resolve in 7 to 10 days, but some athletes may take weeks or months to fully recover.
- Neuropsychological testing can provide objective data to athletes and their families, but testing is just one step in the complete management of a sport-related concussion.
- There is no evidence proving the safety or efficacy of any medication in the treatment of a concussion.
- Retirement from contact sports should be considered for an athlete who has sustained multiple concussions, or who has suffered post-concussive symptoms for more than three months.
How can you tell if your child-athlete has suffered a concussion? Look for one or more of the following:
- Confusion
- Amnesia
- Headache
- Dizziness
- Ringing in the ears
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Slurred speech
- Fatigue
- Memory or concentration problems
- Sensitivity to light and noise
- Sleep disturbances
- Irritability
- Depression
Is your child safe playing football? You decide. But be careful, if you choose to let your kid play on the school football team.
By on September 21, 2010 11:47 AM
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