RSS 2.0 FeedNovember 25, 2010, Bellmore Life
Girls are more prone to concussions
Expert in concussions speaks to the community.
In response to recent media coverage on athletes and the effects of concussions, The Community Wellness Council of the Bellmores and Merricks hosted a presentation last week on the problem at the Brookside School entitled “Heads Up: concussion in Youth Sports.”
A grant courtesy of county Legislator Dave Denenberg enabled the council to bring in registered physician’s assistant Stephene Morena to speak about the problem.
The presentation began with a short film introduced by council President Emilio Manzo. The video, created by ESPN, was entitled, “Unprotected.”
For those unfamiliar with girls’ lacrosse, it was a shocking expose of the dangers female athletes face every time they play. Unlike their male counterparts, female lacrosse players, except for the goalie, are banned from using helmets.
In the video, Dr. Micky Collins, also an expert in concussions, said that he dreads the spring season at the University of Pittsburgh because of the great number of girls he must treat for head injuries.
Dr. Collins said that male lacrosse players receive far fewer concussions. The difference was striking when, after the film, Mr. Manzo introduced two lacrosse players.
Joe looked similar to a hockey player with his helmet, shoulder pads, elbow pads and gloves. The warrior figure contrasted greatly with the bare vulnerability of the female lacrosse player, Paige.
In the video, Steve Stenersen, president of U.S. Lacrosse, said that girls’ lacrosse is a noncontact sport and the fear is that if helmets and protective gear were permitted, it would turn the game into a contact sport.
Michael Miller, physical therapist at Allied Medical and Rehabilitation, was in the audience and scoffed at the conclusion of officials at U.S. Lacrosse. Mr. Miller said that society would not tell girls not to wear a helmet while riding a bike. “The implications are far reaching,” said Mr. Miller.
Brain bruises
Ms. Morena, an affiliate of Jacobi Medical Center, LIJ/Cohen's Children’s Hospital and Winthrop University Hospital, explained that the brain is surrounded by bone that is only about a half- an-inch thick. It contains billions of neurons that supply the brain with information and transmit signals to the body. The brain is prone to getting bruised, said Ms. Morena, and that leads to swelling.
A concussion is a “trauma-induced alteration in mental status that may or may not involve loss of consciousness,” explained Ms. Morena.
Some of the signs of concussion can be a vacant stare or strange facial expression, confusion, disorientation, slurred or incoherent speech, emotions out of proportion and memory deficits, said Ms. Morena.
The list went on as Ms. Morena delivered some longer-term effect, such as light headedness, poor attention span, sleepiness or sleep disturbance, low-grade headaches and irritability.
According to literature distributed at the presentation, if a concussion is suspected, an action plan should include immediate removal of the athlete from play. A health care professional should be called in to evaluate the condition of the athlete. Parents and guardians need to be notified immediately.
An audience member asked if Ms. Morena supported “ImPact training.” ImPact is an “assessment and cognitive testing computerized concussion evaluation,” as explained in material distributed at the meeting.
Ms. Morena said she had consulted neurologists who agreed that it was a good thing, but should not be preclude a visit to the hospital. In some of its exiting literature, the wellness council requested donations for an ImPact Machine for the Central High School District.
The donations can be sent to: The Community Wellness Council of the Bellmores and Merricks Inc., to the attention of Fran Licausi, executive director, 1260 Meadowbrook Road, Room No. 29, North Merrick, 11566.
Upon leaving the presentation, attendees were given instructions from the council on how to contact the National Collegiate Association. 700 West Washington Street, P.O. Box 6222, Indianapolis, Indiana 46206-6222, to request protective gear for all children.
