Chronic traumatic encephalopathy and sports-related concussions

Parent Cafe
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<p>[Bears</a>’ Duerson dies of self-inflicted gunshot wound; brain to be studied - Chicago Breaking Sports](<a href=“Chicago Sports News, Schedules & Scores - Chicago Tribune”>Chicago Sports News, Schedules & Scores - Chicago Tribune)</p>

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<p>I was definitely a tomboy growing up, but girls really didn’t have many choices when it came to high-risk contact sports. Had I had boys instead of girls, I’m guessing my Texas upbringing would have impelled me to push them into football; in fact, I probably would have gone so far as to expect it and not give my sons an option (thank God I had girls!). However, after reading this article today about Duerson’s suicide and his request to have his brain studied for CET, I am becoming more and more skeptical of any competitive sport that is high risk for concussions. One could argue which sports are riskier (football because of the contact on every play; soccer because of headers and no head protection; hockey because of boarding, etc.). </p>

<p>A couple of years ago I started a thread about issues I was having with one of my brothers who is 13 years older than me. He has accused me of some stuff that was way, way off (meaning, things that never happened) and through an email he sent to me, displayed hostility that was almost borderline histrionic. Last year when I was visiting a couple of my aunts, I told them about what happened (they were curious as to why I have minimal contact with him and I told them it was by my choice now, due to his accusations against me). At the time, one of my aunts very clearly said, “Something’s happened to him; he’s gone off the deep end.” And while I thought at the time it was kind of harsh to put it that way (my aunts are not the kind to make this kind of remark about someone), after reading about this brain injury, I’m wondering if it applies to my brother. He played state championship level high school football and D1 football in what used to be the Southwest Conference. He also played baseball in high school and college (pitched), but from reading the article, I’m assuming most of these injuries originate from football careers and not necessarily baseball (although if he was a pitcher, he would have been at higher risk for being hit in the head by a hit ball). There were too many years between us for me to remember any injuries he might have sustained (although I know he’s had to have rotator cuff surgery in the last ten years). </p>

<p>So if you have a kid who has been or is in a high risk, contact sport such as football, how do you deal with the knowledge we have now of these risks? Although this discussion cannot be simplified to just football, I’m just using it as an example, as I’m sure parents here can provide stories of concussions their kids got in other activities. But football does seem to be the major contributor here.</p>

<p>If you look up this condition on Wikipedia, it also gives a couple of examples of this brain injury that was sustained and diagnosed at the collegiate level and tells the story of a football player at UPenn who committed suicide and upon his autopsy, showed signs of chronic traumatic encephalopathy at age 21. Supposedly signs can appear within months of the onset of disease, or decades later.</p>

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<p>As a medical professional trained in the recognition and management of concussions, I do find this topic VERY serious but at this time I do not believe it is cause for banning of certain sports. Yes football and hockey place these athletes at risk of serious injury or death and that is unfortunate. But concussions can arise from just about any activity and people do not want to recognize that. </p>

<p>Athletics have come a long way in just the last 5 years with regards to concussions, but it is clear there is still a LONG way to go. This is a fight myself and many of my colleagues will fight day and night.</p>

<p>The most important aspect of the entire thing is educating those involved and having a clear understanding of the risks involved. CTE is a rather recent discovery and I would guess others have died of it before, but it’s likelihood is still very unknown. Unfortunately, this is a disease that is only diagnosed during an autopsy.</p>

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<p>hops_scout - would you go so far as to say that parents need to sign a waiver for their sons to play football, acknowledging they know the risk they’re putting their kids at? How many parents do you think really are aware of the consequences of this condition? I can’t even tell you how many he-man type dads who I know tell their sons to just tough it out and not complain or the coach will bench you. As an aside, the first house we owned backed up to a village park where junior football league kids had practices almost every night during the late summer/early fall, so I know what I’m talking about. Literally, I could be in my kitchen fixing dinner with the window open and hear some of these conversations among dads who were living vicariously through their elementary-aged sons.</p>

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<p>teriwitt, I understand completely where you’re coming from. And I agree with you! My experience has been that high schools do require the kids to sign an acknowledgement of the risks of playing football; not sure about parents. I believe the NFHS has suggested or required that parents sign a form acknowledging the risk of concussion. That is being required in all sports for some schools and I believe you will continue to see more of it very soon. </p>

<p>What people fail to recognize and acknowledge is that football is not the only sport with a “concussion issue.” In fact, I’ll be interested if anybody can name the biggest culprit in female sports… Answer in the morning…</p>

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<p>^Gymnastics?</p>

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<p>Gymnastics? (I see I was posting while mathmom posted!)</p>

<p>Teri, there may be other reasons in your brother’s case (although I don’t discount your theory). Rotator cuff surgery sometimes leaves chronic pain. Chronic pain can result in pain meds, which can lead to self medication when the pain does not subside. If this is the case, the self-medicator may appear okay in many ways … but those who know the person best know that something is just not right. There are other reasons, as well. I guess I am just saying that your theory is good, but there are others, as well.</p>

<p>I have to admit that I was secretly pleased that my S did not want to play any contact sports. My brother had to go to the hospital once due to a head-on tackle … he was okay, but I never forgot how awful we all felt as we waited to find out the prognosis.</p>

<p>My father in law played football in college many years ago. His helmet was a leather head cover. He now has Parkinsons … probably just a coincidence, but I do wonder.</p>

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<p>kelsmom - there are studies that link Parkinsons to repeated head injuries. Muhammad Ali is one example.</p>

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<p>Biggest culprit for women… cheerleading.</p>

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<p>hops_scout - Correct me if I’m wrong, but do they actually spell out the specific risks, such as chronic traumatic encephalopathy. I think most parents, when thinking of their son playing football, worry about broken bones, dislocated shoulders, knees that go out… all injuries that, for the most part, can be completely rehabilitated. Do they convey to the parents and/or student that playing specific sports can have consequences down the line, decades down the line? Kind of like when you go in for any medical procedure… they make you sign a release that specifies almost any possible risks. I’m surprised many people don’t walk out at that point, but at least they’re making an informed decision.</p>

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<p>In my sport it seems like people don’t get hurt very often, but when they do it can be very bad-- concussions especially. I did eventually quit because of concussions. I had one particularly bad fall where I was in the hospital because of brain bleeding, and I remember at the time the ER docs told my mom that at my age it wasn’t that big of a deal and that it happened all the time, and every doctor I’ve mentioned that to since then has freaked out about it. We only had to sign a liability waiver, and with regards to danger all anyone ever says is, “well, it’s safer than football!”</p>

<p>teriwtt: Don’t you know many people who seem to carry an “oh, but that would never happen to ME!” attitude? I sure do, and it’s not just the kids.</p>

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<p>We have a friend whose S had his first concussion at age 12 in soccer. He went on to have about a dozen total before his ivy college stopped allowing him to play soccer. He has a lot of issues from post-concussion syndrome now as a young man. :frowning: :frowning: :frowning: They were trying to help him finish his degree and get a job, but haven’t heard from his mom in quite a few years since he was no longer allowed to play due to having so many concussions. They allowed him to stay with the team as “manager,” but no longer play. His dad was one of the coaches for him through HS & both of his sisters also played soccer. His dad now coaches the HS soccer team as well. He was a really bright, very focused kid and his mom says he has been having a lot of “issues,” but didn’t get very specific.</p>

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<p>Check out the work Dr Daniel Amen is doing on NFL retirees. I attended a seminar with him and he talked about the brain damage most are suffering from. He pointed out that it was not just bratty behavior that resulted in a 50% chance that 3yrs after retirement they were broke divorced or both. He has had great success treating them. He said flat out that the NFL has not told the truth about the danger. </p>

<p>I know several kids who have suffered from concussions due to fball or soccer. How many are too many??</p>

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<p>My son lost two classmates (2 different schools) to football injury deaths. It was very traumatic and sad.</p>

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<p>I would also say cheerleading for the girls. I’m curious as to the correct answer.</p>

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<p>My guess for girls is basketball.</p>

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<p>The warning label required to be on a football helmet says something like this:

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<p>The form I remember having to sign said something like that as well. I doubt it specifically addressed CTE because it has only been within the last 10 years or so that CTE has even been discovered! I will look to see if I can find a copy of those forms online today…</p>

<p>Everything I have found points to cheerleading as being a major culprit. I would guess cheerleading and girls soccer as being the top two girls sports…</p>

<p>I wish I could link to it and even mentioning the name may get me in trouble, but google “The Concussion Blog.” There’s a lot of great information on there!</p>

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<p>My guess for girls would be soccer or hockey but probably because I know several girls who played both sports who suffered multiple concussions.</p>

<p>I seem to remember reading about that study being done on previous professional football players when Chris Henry fell out of the back of a pickup truck a couple years ago and died, after some bizarre and abusive behavior.</p>

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<p>Teriwtt, here’s a link to an article that might interest you:
[Football</a> and the Concussion Crisis : The New Yorker](<a href=“Does Football Have a Future? | The New Yorker”>Does Football Have a Future? | The New Yorker)</p>

<p>Chris Nowinski, mentioned in your linked article, is a hero. No one has been more vocal about CTE than he. Here’s a link to a transcript of a interview he had with Dave Davies on NPR’s Fresh Air:
[Chris</a> Nowinski: Brain Injuries Haunt Football Players Years Later : NPR](<a href=“http://www.npr.org/templates/transcript/transcript.php?storyId=133053436]Chris”>Chris Nowinski: Brain Injuries Haunt Football Players Years Later : NPR)</p>

<p>Apparently the greatest risk is from repetitive head hits and/or concussions. For football players, HS practices can be especially dangerous and the time when the deleterious effects begin to accumulate.</p>

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<p>I’m guessing cheerleading for girls.</p>

<p>My son played HS football in 9th grade. He is not a fast runner and was quite small at that point in time so decided to not return for 10th grade. Even that year I remember several games where players where taken off in ambulances. I was very relieved he decided not to continue.</p>

<p>Our town had flag football for the younger kids. A number of kids he started flag football with had parents who didn’t like the “namby pamby” flag football so put their young kids on what was called “outlaw” football teams that had all the tackling. One kid he played with was a really good looking kid. My son remembers him just sitting stuffing his face in HS trying to keep heavy for football. He ended up huge. We used to wonder if there were steroids involved. He did play for college but not after that. Last time I saw a picture of him I was shocked - no neck and just huge.</p>

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<p>We have a friend whose S was “encouraged” by HS to be as heavy as possible for football. This was also encouraged by his college. He was happy when he was allowed to lose weight after all the football & slimmed down to a very attractive young man who is relieved he no longer has to try to maintain a particular weight. I don’t know if he ever suffered any concussions.</p>

<p>My nephew was a football player & we & his folks were VERY relieved that he has opted not to play any more. He never had a concussion, but he was very light and short, so he was a speedy receiver who learned to run out of bounds quickly.</p>

<p>It is very troubling that knowing what we do, players are still supposed to go out there & try to knock each other down (& out). Where’s the “sport”? Makes you wonder about us as a society.</p>

<p>Cheerleading, soccer, gymnastics–yea, it’s nice that people can be acrobatic, but can they do it with less danger of permanent brain injury? Shouldn’t rules & expectations be adjusted, changed, modified?</p>