football may be safer alternatives for reducing head impacts and concussion risk for youth football athletes under age 14 .
Healthcare providers have a critical role to play in protecting West Virginia ’ s youth from concussions and brain trauma by identifying athletes at greater risk for concussion , talking to all athletes about strategies to lower the chance of concussions and concussion safety , and discussing lower-risk , non-contact sports options . Providers can also take advantage of free online training courses developed specifically for clinicians , school health providers such as school nurses , and other health professionals by the CDC and the American Academy of Pediatrics . 9 The CDC ’ s Heads Up program provides additional , extensive information to help providers recognize , respond to , and minimize the risk of concussions or other serious brain injury in children and teens .
References
1 . www . wvutoday-archive . wvu . edu / n / 2010 / 06 / 28 / experts-saychris-henry-s-brain-was-damaged-by-the-game . html
2 . www . mayoclinic . org / diseases-conditions / chronic-traumaticencephalopathy / symptoms-causes / syc-20370921 #
3 . Mez , Clinicopathological Evaluation of Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy in Players of American Football , JAMA ( 2017 ) doi : 10.1001 / jama . 2017.8334
4 . www . cdc . gov / mmwr / volumes / 68 / wr / mm6810a2 . htm
5 . www . times-news . com / sports / local _ sports / wvu-doctors-chrishenry-had-chronic-brain-injury / article _ e1a9feb2-cf38-5279- a9f3-a1650769f25e . html
6 . www . bu . edu / cte / about / frequently-asked-questions /#
7 . www . nytimes . com / interactive / 2019 / 11 / 08 / sports / fallingfootball-participation-in-america . html
8 . www . washingtonpost . com / sports / study-shows-playingfootball-before-age-12-can-lead-to-mood-and-behaviorissues / 2017 / 09 / 18 / 1b3ebc1c-9cac-11e7-8ea1-ed975285475e _ story . html
9 . www . cdc . gov / headsup / providers / training / index . html
AUTHOR
Mathew Marshall
West Virginia Medical Journal • June 2021 • 19