Top Youth Sports Story of 2011: New Concussion Safety Laws

Submitted by Brooke de Lench on Mon, 01/02/2012 - 19:23. | comments

Every day at MomsTeam the staff talks about the best and worst youth sports stories of the day. Each year we vow to post a Top Ten list, as do our friends at the Positive Coaching Alliance, with their "Top 10 Responsible Sports Moments," or, select the top youth athlete, as the folks do at Sports Illustrated for Kids.

But we realized that selecting ten stories or one kid to highlightt when there are over 50 million kids playing sports in fifty states just isn't possible. The simple fact is that there are thousands, if not hundreds of thousands, of "responsible moments" and millions of great young athletes whose spirit, desire to excel, and sportsmanship deserve to be recognized.

The top youth sports story of 2011 had to be the passage by twenty states of strong concussion safety laws, says longtime concussion safety advocate, Brooke de Lench.

Use of Graston Technique Helps Heal Muscle Tear and Prevent Re-Injury

The Grafton Technique, says William H. Caddoo, D.C., uses specialized instruments in the treatment of muscle tears, such as a hamstring tear. The non-surgical treatment manipulates the muscle to break up scar tissue, which triggers an inflammatory response that not only aids in healing but helps prevent re-injury.

Neuropsychologist: Important Member of Concussion Care Team

Sports concussion neuropsychologist Rosemarie Scolaro Moser, Ph. D., explains why a neuropsychologist is an important member of the concussion care team.

Return to Class After Concussion: Different For Every Student

When it is okay to return to a full academic school day after concussion is different for every student, says sports neuropsychologist Rosemarie Scolaro Moser, Ph. D. Some may be able to return after only a day or two, while others may need to be progressed more slowly, and, in those cases, it is important to work with a health care professional who understands concussion and academic accommodations who can design a program tailored to the individual student's needs.

Treating Post-Concussion Syndrome: No Cookie Cutter Answers

In the small percentage of cases where a student-athlete's concussion symptoms, such as headache, do not resolve quickly (a condition called post-concussion syndrome), treatment by a team of specialists is recommended, as there are no cookie-cutter answers, says sports concussion neuropsychologist, Rosemarie Scolaro Moser, Ph. D.

Why Cognitive and Physical Rest After Concussion?

Sports concussion neuropsychologist Rosemarie Scolaro Moser, Ph. D.says student-athletes need to get cognitive and physical rest after a concussion in order to reduce the work the injured brain has to do in order to allow it time to heal.

Concussion Evaluation and Management: An Overview

Sports concussion neuropsychologist Rosemarie Scolaro Moser, Ph. D. provides an overview of the concussion evaluation and management process leading, hopefully, to a student-athlete's return to sports:

Ivy League Football: A Trailblazer in Concussion Prevention, Says Penn's Laudano

New rules in place by the Ivy League for the 2011 football season - including a reduction in the number of full-contact practices and drills - were designed to protect student-athletes from subconcussive hits considered a possible cause of long-term brain injury,

Training Program Can Reduce Female ACL Injury Risk, Improve Athletic Performance

Two ACL injury prevention programs significantly reduce injury rates among female athletes while improving athletic performance, says a 2011 study. Experts hope the findings will lead to greater compliance with training and widespread adoption of intervention programs.

Preventing ACL Injuries In Female Athletes: Team Approach Worked

Working collaboratively, a team of physical therapists, strength and conditioning coaches, head coaches, and athletic trainers designed an ACL injury prevention program that has reduced the incidence of non-contact anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injuries among female athletes at the University of Pennsylvania, says the school's head athletic trainer, Eric Laudano, M.H.S., ATC.

Health & Safety