New Study Suggests High School Athletes Suffering Concussions
Return To Field Too Early

An article in Time dated January 21, 2009 highlights the troubling results of a recent study that suggests far too many high school athletes are returning to their respective sport of choice too soon after suffering a concussion. According to the Center for Injury Research and Policy at Nationwide Children’s Hospital in Columbus, Ohio, data relating to studies done of 1,308 concussion incidents occurring between 2005 and 2008 found that more than half of students suffering a concussion returned to organized sports-related activity much earlier than guidelines set by the American Academy of Neurology suggest. Per the standards published by the AAN, if an athlete exhibits symptoms suggestive of a concussion – dizziness, nausea, blurred vision, etc. – for more than 15 minutes after the injury occurs, that individual should be “benched until... symptom-free for a week.” Yet, given the fact that team spirit often gives young athletes “a warrior mentality” and that only 42% of high schools in America can point to employing trainers familiar with how to properly treat concussion victims, caution is oftentimes discarded in favor of a quick return to the field / court. “For these kids,” the article quotes Todd Lipe, head coach at J.H. Rose High School where last September a player died after suffering back-to-back concussions in the span of two days, “their goals in life sometimes revolve around athletics.” Students don’t, as Ryan Williams, a senior at Cibola High School in Albuquerque, New Mexico tells Time, “want to miss out,” but also, along with coaching and medical staffs, often don’t know when it is beneficial to actually remain on the sidelines in the interest of self-preservation. States such as North Carolina and New Jersey are looking to introduce safeguards in the immediate future to help lessen the risk of misdiagnosis and early clearance of students that suffer a concussion, but face potential challenges for funding at a time when the national economy is difficult straits.