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SportsConcussions.org's
latest concussion news:
Concussion sidelines Vikings' QB Brett Favre for Tuesday night's game against the Eagles

Boxing champ Micky Ward subject of the movie "The Fighter" pledges brain to BU

NFL sees 21% increase in reported concussions over last season

German researchers find 10-20% of boxers have persistent impairment from brain trauma

American Academy of Neurology: Concussed athletes should see a specialist before returning to play

theconcussionblog
Mayo Clinic Hockey Summit recommendations include ban on all hits to the head at all levels

Army identifies blood protein marker which may help identify brain injuries including concussions

 
What becomes of athletes who suffer concussions when young?


Scott Laker

Ask Dr. Scott Laker:
Seattle Sports Concussion Program

How many concussions can my son have before he needs to change sports?

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NFL toughens stance on concussions, acknowledging long-term risks and life-changing potential
 

Recently released NFL helmet-impact test results should not be applied to collegiate, high school or youth helmets

NFL considers changes to camps and practices to limit concussions; concerned about sub-concussive hits

NCAA makes 3-man wedge illegal this year hoping to reduce concussions, same as NFL

Tennessee tightens concussion policies for coming school year

Study suggests athletes may need even more time after concussion to fully heal

NJ female teen athlete suffered 15 concussions now struggles daily

DC MLS star Namoff suspends career due to lingering symptoms from concussion suffered Sept 09

MLB All-Star players choosing reinforced helmets to reduce head injuries

Neuroplasticity: can our brains grow, change, and heal themselves at any age?

Emergency room visits for kids with head injuries increased 43% in the last five years

LaPorta passes neuropsychological test but doctors don't allow him to return to play

Indians LaPorta shows no sign of concussion after on-field collision and CT scan

High school softball adds concussion rule

Pro soccer player Twellman ends season due to symptoms from concussion suffered 2 years ago

Former Bengals receiver who died of unrelated causes showed signs of trauma-related brain damage at age 26

Pirates players collide leaving second baseman unconscious; out for series with concussion

Study shows most parents unaware of their local school's concussion policies

Six-yr-old sustains concussion attempting flip off diving board

Quebec bans bodychecking in youth hockey and reduces concussions significantly

Pro hockey player suffers post-concussion syndrome, symptoms originally confused with flu

Canadian amateur football association implements concussion rules to protect all amateur players

Neck muscle strength plays a role in concussion prevention

ESPN's  Preston Plevetes' concussion story, former La Salle football player

Zackery Lystedt inspired WA State's concussion law, the Lystedt Law

Eagles wide receiver felt pressured by asst coach to return after concussion last season

Concussion Basics
 

Air Force Academy basketball player plaqued by headaches since Nov. concussion, hopes new medication helps

Are headguards the answer for soccer players?  Some athletes and coaches in ME believe so


Head U Concussions

Raise 7 for Matthew


feature story...

Like many of us, Dylan Mello’s family arranged their daily schedules around soccer and hockey games, depending on the season. As the years went by and Dylan’s talents became more evident, thoughts of scholarships and collegiate sports were never far away. But in the middle of his sophomore year, something started to happen that would sideline him for his entire senior year. He didn’t know that his first concussion, suffered during a hockey game in February 2008, would be the start of a future he couldn’t have imagined.


No stranger to injuries, Dylan had suffered his share- a broken hand here, a sprained shoulder there, but none of that prepared him for the suffering brought on by a series of concussions over the course of ten months.

During a soccer game the following June, Dylan suffered his second head injury from an unlikely but devastating source, an arm cast worn by one of his opponents. Banned from play in many leagues, but not in Rhode Island, Dylan was hit so hard he knew instantly he was in trouble. The following eight weeks were a nightmare according to his mother Donna, who said, “We were not sure he would ever recover.” He was dazed, dizzy, had short-term memory problems, migraines, and a variety of other symptoms that even precluded him from holding a summer job. All he could do was rest and wonder when he would recover.

Thankfully, that day came and he was finally cleared to return to play by his family physician. But back on the soccer field six months later he took his third blow to the head from an errant ball during practice, and the nightmare began again. The symptoms returned, this time with a vengeance. Alarmed, Donna took him to see a concussion specialist in Boston, where Dylan was instructed to stop all physical activity, and to limit his cognitive stresses as much as possible, which translated into no video games, texting, or TV. This was not fun.

Today, almost two years after his first concussion, Dylan is still struggling. Although he used to take AP classes, that workload is now out of the question. He has missed nearly all of his soccer college showcases, limiting, if not dashing all hopes for a spot on a college team. Even though he spends a lot of time filling out college applications, he informed his parents a few weeks ago that he may need to take a year off to allow his brain to fully heal. His family and friends are devastated.

For now, Dylan, the star athlete, stays quiet. Except when it comes to concussions. He and his family have become strong advocates for concussion education, and are working tirelessly on two fronts. One, to prohibit anyone wearing an arm cast from participating in any youth soccer game statewide, and two, for Rhode Island to adopt tougher concussion laws such as the Lystedt Law recently passed in WA state.

Donna Mello recently said, “It’s a shame that as a parent, you learn about concussions after your child has been injured. It is absolutely heartbreaking to watch your child suffer like Dylan has. We wish we had known more about this, and perhaps he could have been spared.” This is so true, for so many. (Photo: Louis Walker)

 
 

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