Letters: To lessen brain injuries, put focus on prevention
As doctors who treat and study traumatic brain injury in children and youths, we know firsthand that these injuries can prevent children from reaching their full potential. Our research shows childhood concussion is most common between the ages of 11 and 15 years. Therefore, we applaud the suggestion that youth sports curtail excessive contact ("The hits keep coming," Nov. 10).
As doctors who treat and study traumatic brain injury in children and youths, we know firsthand that these injuries can prevent children from reaching their full potential. Our research shows childhood concussion is most common between the ages of 11 and 15 years. Therefore, we applaud the suggestion that youth sports curtail excessive contact ("The hits keep coming," Nov. 10).
We propose that youth sports programs focus on honing agility, eye-hand coordination, and general conditioning - the skills that should be developed in the 6- to 14-year-old age range to become competitive in high school and college - and delay deliberate hitting in contact/collision sports until later in adolescence. Adolescent athletes are better equipped cognitively to learn proper techniques that do not expose themselves or others to unnecessary dangerous contact. Think flag football and no-check hockey and lacrosse for junior athletes, and only allow "safe hits" for our high school teams.
When concussions do occur, athletes must be removed from play and not returned until cleared by a medical professional familiar with concussion management. Children require longer recovery times and a more conservative treatment approach than adults.
There remain many unanswered questions regarding concussion in youths that require resources and attention. But the science is clear - our current approach of treating and rehabilitating injured athletes is not sufficient. Priority must be placed on prevention.
Dr. Matthew Grady
Dr. Flaura Winston
Children's Hospital of Philadelphia