Football season reflection

As our football season draws to a close this year, I am reflecting back to how things went and what needs improvement from a sports medicine standpoint.  Certainly, this season was not without its glitches.  The majority of the high school/ middle season went well, but I am I afraid the officials lack of attention towards illegal helmet contact was still a major issue.  There were many times this season that I found myself instructing our players to keep their heads up and avoid head hunting after hitting an opponent in an illegal manner.  Surprisingly, with one varsity game remaining, I have not seen a single illegal helmet contact called against us.

That is not to say that I didn't see it called all year.  In one game, the same kid from the opposing team was called twice in the same drive for illegal helmet contact.  Both calls were warranted and correct, but I wonder if they were penalized appropriately.  Certainly, if the student athlete had hit anybody in the same manner a third time, I would have been screaming for his disqualification.  There is no reason why that should happen repetitively by the same person.  A second identical penalty should carry with it a stiffer penalty for a disregard for safety.

The next issue that I saw with this season involved parent understanding of the rules regarding return to play after a TBI.  The rule was released in Ohio back in January by the Ohio High School Athletic Association, and yet, the majority of the public has no idea it exists.  In Ohio, everybody must agree for a kid to be eligible to return to play.  This includes the physician, parents, athletic director, coach, and the athletic trainer (where applicable).  If one of those parties says no, the student-athlete is not eligible to RTP.  It was a large issue early in the season with one parent that they wanted their son back in the game, but he had skipped many days in the RTP protocol and I was holding him out.  This caused some friction early on, but fortunately, he was able to play in the first game and only missed scrimmages.  However, I am sure the issue will rise again and I have not addressed it for the last time.

Also, there is the issue of the youth leagues.  Fortunately, it appears that in Ohio, the state legislature is moving forward with the law and it will include the protection of kids younger than middle school.  However, there is still a very serious lack of education about what a TBI is in this age group and how it is recognized.  The incident I ran into earlier this year certainly explains a lot about the lack of education at this level.  It needs to be addressed and quickly.  I plan on working more with the hospital that I work for in order to increase our course offerings and try to get the word out to more people.

Finally, the legislation that I referred to looks like it is bound for passage soon.  The latest arguments are over who should be included as a medical provider capable of making RTP decisions for student athletes.  While the bill hasn't been updated online to reflect the changes, it is my understanding the DCs have been added to the list that already includes MD, DO, and ATC.  I have also heard that the PTs and RNs have been told a flat no to this point.  While I am not crazy about the DCs being added, and I admit I am not fully aware of what their qualifications are, I hope that the bill stands the way it is currently written.  I know far too many PTs who want no part in the RTP decision after TBI and question the OPTA for their stance on the bill.  I am forced to agree with the individual PTs.

An interesting partnership reported

One of the recent articles that a Google News search produced for me described an interesting partnership between a highly reputable companies.  The timepiece manufacturer, Timex, and the Korey Stringer Institute (known for researching and education of the athletic population on the dangers of heat illness) recently joined forces.  I was intrigued that Timex would have the inside knowledge of the research that is occurring at KSI and would be able to design products that would aid in the detection of problems while exercising.  It would be my hope that somehow, they would be able to find a way to monitor body core temperature reliably and be able to transmit the data to a watch or even an iPod.  I realize that the only methods of measuring temperature reliably at the moment are with a rectal thermometer or with a disposable, ingestible thermometer.  It would be my hope that with this merger and using some creative engineering, that these two would be able to develop a practical, reliable, and inexpensive method of monitoring body core temperature.  That is something I would pay for VERY quickly.