The Eagles’ handling of concussions raises serious questions
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The Philadelphia Eagles permitted Stewart Bradley to re-enter a game Sunday less than four minutes after suffering a concussion because their sideline exam did not reveal a concussion and no one from the medical staff saw the hit.
As a New York Times article points out, this raises a grave concern: If the NFL’s doctors and trainers initially misdiagnosed Bradley’s concussion, how many concussions go unnoticed at the high school level?
Only 42% of high schools in the United States have access to a certified trainer during games or practices, according to the National Athletic Trainers’ Assn.
The newspaper added that research suggests that 10% to 50% of high school football players will sustain a concussion each season, and as many as 75% of those injuries go unreported and unnoticed.
The seriousness of child concussions was stressed Monday after the University of Pennsylvania’s Owen Thomas committed suicide and a study of his brain tissue showed he died with the same progressive brain disease found in more than 20 NFL players.
Thomas never had a reported concussion.
-- Melissa Rohlin
