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(Ivanhoe Newswire) -- As many as 300,000 concussions are suffered each year by kids playing sports or involved in recreational activities. But, one doctor says some of those football-related injuries could be prevented as easily as fitting a helmet better.
Lately, more attention has been paid to the causes of concussions on football fields across the county. The symptoms can be minor and include headaches and dizziness, but if they go unchecked and repeated, the results can be dangerous. In severe cases, brain damage, vision loss and even death may be the result. Researchers also know that with each subsequent concussion the result is more devastating. According to the American College of Sports Medicine, 85 percent of concussions go undiagnosed.
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New research suggests some of these concussions can be avoided just be fitting a helmet properly. Eugene Hong, M.D., of Drexel University in Philadelphia, mailed surveys football coaches at 1,200 schools in Pennsylvania and New Jersey. They were asked about demographics, who fits the football helmet, the condition of the kids' helmets, the number of concussions on the team and helmet-fitting techniques. Around 290 surveys were returned and used for analysis.
The good news is 96.5 percent of schools recondition their helmets once a year. Coaches and/or athletic trainers, it seems, do most of the fittings. While some do good jobs, Dr. Hong found many miss fitting the facemask two inches from the nose, making sure the helmet is one inch above the eyebrows, and checking that the chin straps are equal distances apart.
A simple 10-step checklist may make fitting helmets more accurate and safer and help protect young kids as they take to the field. Athletic trainers, coaches, and even parents could do this just as easily, according to Dr. Hong.
This article was reported by Ivanhoe.com, who offers Medical Alerts by e-mail every day of the week. To subscribe, go to: http://www.ivanhoe.com/newsalert/.
SOURCE: Drexel University news release, Aug. 23, 2006
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