Collisions. Headers. Goalpost run-ins. Soccer athletes and fans can't help but wonder which elements contribute most to the frequency of concussions in the sport, particularly among young girls. Researchers have been collecting data in helmeted sports for many years using accelerometers embedded in head gear, but non-helmeted sports have presented obvious challenges. Impact data has provided some of the most critical science in the concussion field. As a result, the forces that players sustain in various contact sports are well-documented and found, in some cases, to be alarming. The latest addition to the data bank was the inclusion of an impact study on 7-and 8-year-old football players and the adult-sized forces they incurred during practices. Now the focus is turning to other sports, including soccer. A new study by researchers at Wayne State University, published in the Journal of the American College of Sports Medicine offers insight into head acceleration in girls' youth soccer (U14) during game play. HITS The Head Impact Telemetry System (HITS) used to measure the force impacts, was utilized in this study. Small accelerometers typically mounted inside helmets, transmit data wirelessly to researchers on the sideline. In this case, soccer headbands with the padding removed were outfitted with the instrumentation. Impacts over 10g, or 10x the force of gravity, were recorded and analyzed at a later time alongside corresponding video footage to determine the nature of the hit. For reference, a sneeze might be 3g, a fighter pilot might "pull" 9g during maneuvers, and high school football players regularly sustain hits ranging from 60-100g and higher, many without reporting concussion symptoms. A total of 24 girls participated in the study, conducted during scrimmages on grass fields. Scrimmages lasted 30 to 65 minutes each. None of the players suffered a concussion during the research. Results There were 47 header impacts and 20 non-header impacts observed during the study. Non-header impacts included collisions with another player, player falls, collisions with goalposts, and unintended collisions with the ball. Researchers found: - majority of non-header impacts (40%) were player-to-player collisions - most headers impacted the front of the head; the peak linear acceleration (force) recorded was 4.5g- greatest header force occurred on the right side of the head and was measured at 62.9g - most head impacts players sustained in one scrimmage was four - side headers resulted in greater forces than back headers - player collisions resulted in the highest number of nonheader impacts and had a maximum force of 56.7g - impacts from player falls measured a maximum force of 23.7g - a goalpost collision measured a maximum of 27.1g Researchers hypothesized that non-header impacts would exceed those from heading the ball, but that was not what the case. Many of the players experienced multiple impacts in a single scrimmage, the cumulative effects of such impacts within a short time frame are unknown. Conclusions Concussions can occur in any sport and amending equipment and making rule changes to decrease the frequency and severity of the injury depends on science. Soccer has emerged as the leading cause of sport-related concussions for young girls and researchers are working to unravel the reasons why. Hypotheses range from less neck strength, to hormonal differences to better reporting by females. Source: Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise: June 2012 - Volume 44 - Issue 6 - p 1102–1108 doi: 10.1249/MSS.0b013e3182444d7d Applied Sciences Questions/comments? contact Jean Rickerson at jean@SportsConcussions.org

NFL Hall of Famer "Iron Mike" Webster's life ended in 2002 when he suffered a heart attack at age 50. Four Super Bowl rings, nine Pro Bowls, and voted to the NFL's all-time team in 2000, the driven, ultra-competitive Steelers' center drifted into a life of drug use, homelessness, and enormous suffering after retiring in 1988. In 2005, his son Garrett told ESPN that the only way his father could get to sleep was to taser himself into unconsciousness. Former teammates and friends offered assistance over the years but it wasn't enough. After Webster's death, forensic neuropathologist Dr. Bennet Omalu was determined to find neurological reasons for his cognitive decline. Seventeen years in the NFL at a time when safety precautions and concussion awareness were both minimal had resulted in thousands of impacts to his head. Though his brain looked normal at autopsy, Omalu pressed on until he found the abnormalities that we now call Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy, or CTE. CTE and Alzheimer's CTE and Alzheimer's are both “neurodegenerative diseases.” That is, they are brain diseases that result in the progressive destruction of brain cells, eventually leading to cognitive, behavioral, and other impairments. Both Alzheimer’s and CTE can only be accurately diagnosed postmortem through a neuropathological examination of the brain and their progression has remained elusive. But clues about how Alzheimer's spreads from neuron to neuron are now emerging. Whether the same process of progression applies to CTE is currently unclear. Photo: Alzheimer's infects from neuron to neuron The inexorable spread of Alzheimer’s disease through the brain leaves dead neurons and forgotten thoughts in its wake. Researchers at Linköping University in Sweden are the first to show how toxic proteins are transferred from neuron to neuron. Through experiments on stained neurons, the research team – under the leadership of Martin Hallbeck, associate professor of Pathology – has been able to depict the process of neurons being invaded by diseased proteins that are then passed on to nearby cells. “The spread of Alzheimer’s, which can be studied in the brains of diseased patients, always follows the same pattern. But until now how and why this happens has not been understood,” says Hallbeck, who along with his research group has now published their results in The Journal of Neuroscience. The illness starts in the entorhinal cortex – a part of the cerebral cortex, and then spreads to the hippocampus. Both of these areas are important for memory. Gradually, pathological changes take place in more and more areas of the brain, while the patient becomes even sicker. Two proteins have been identified in connection with Alzheimer’s: beta amyloid and tau. Normally tau is found in the axons – the outgrowths that connect between neurons – where it has a stabilising function, while beta amyloid seems to have a role in the synapses where the neurons transfer signal substances to each other. But in Alzheimer’s patients, something happens with these proteins; autopsies reveal abnormal accumulations of both. Why they become abnormal is still unknown, but what is known is that it’s not the large accumulations, or plaques, that damage the neurons. Instead, smaller groups of beta amyloid – called oligomeres – seem to be the toxic form that gradually destroy the neurons and shrink the brain. “We wanted to investigate whether these oligomeres can spread from neuron to neuron, something many researchers tried earlier but didn’t succeed,” Hallbeck says. The study was inaugurated with an experiment on neuron cultures, where researchers injected oligomeres stained with a phosphorescent red substance called TMR using a very thin needle. The next day the neighbouring, connected neurons were also red, which showed that the oligomeres had spread. To test whether a sick neuron can “infect” others, they conducted a round of experiments with mature human neurons stained green and mixed with others that were red after having taken up stained oligomeres. After a day, approximately half of the green cells had been in contact with a few of the red ones. After two more days, the axons had lost their shape and organelles in the cell nucleus had started to leak. “Gradually more and more of the green cells became sick. Those that hadn’t taken up the oligomeres, on the other hand, weren’t affected,” Hallbeck says. The study is a breakthrough in understanding Alzheimer’s and its progress. If a way of stopping the transfer can be found, it could lead to a more effective inhibitor against the disease. Article: Spreading of neurodegenerative pathology via neuron-to-neuron transmission of beta-amyloid by Sangeeta Nath, Lotta Agholme, Firoz Kurudenkandy, Björn Granseth, Jan Marcusson and Martin Hallbeck. The Journal of Neuroscience, 27 June 2012. Photo: Alzheimer's infects from neuron to neuron: Two nerve cells, each about 10 micrometers large, are visible as shadows in this picture. From the beginning only the right one (yellow arrow) contained the toxic, red stained, oligomeric beta-amyloid. When these sick cells make contacts with the healthy, green labeled cells (black arrow), toxic beta-amyloid will spread through the neuronal projections (white arrow). Subsequently, also the green cell will become sick. Credit: Martin Hallbeck Source: The above story is reprinted from materials provided by Linköping University. Questions/comments? contact Jean Rickerson at jean@SportsConcussions.org

SEQUIM, Wash. -- Battle-tested and a little weary from last fall’s high school football season, Travis Anderson, an experienced EMT and paramedic John Riley, understand the nuances of concussions. Athletes who — if they are conscious – say they are ‘fine,’ coaches who may not be sure an athlete needs medical attention, and parents told by ER staff that rest is the prescription for recovery, trying to make sense of the mountain of hospital medical bills. They’ve seen it all, and it’s not easy. First responders like Anderson and Riley from Clallam County Fire District #3 in Sequim, Wash., are a luxury for school districts around the country. Part of a crew made up of paid staff and volunteers, they wait in the corners until given the signal by a coach or referee, or a player goes down and stays there. Like other on-field personnel they can’t see every impact and don’t always know if an athlete is deteriorating on the bench after a big hit. They depend on an educated coaching staff and fellow teammates for their cues. Anderson said,”We’d like to be called sooner rather than later. If there’s any question, especially with a suspected concussion, call us.” Too little care Only about 42 percent of high schools nationally employ athletic trainers, a dismal number in the eyes of many concussion experts who continue to advise against any school district or private organization offering contact sports without proper sideline medical care. Given the budget crises facing many school districts, it is not surprising so few heed this advice. But the challenges in rural areas are even greater. Long distances separate football fields from hospitals and fire stations can serve several high schools. Resources are simply too lean. Many sports-related concussions “Our fire department provides sideline staff for high school football games, and as many junior varsity games as we can. We consider it part of our community service effort and quite frankly, we feel strongly about protecting our student-athletes and their futures,” said District #3’s Fire Chief, Steve Vogel. His first responders have been on the sidelines at Sequim School District's games since 1982. Chief Vogel’s staff has a long history dealing with sports concussions. Former Sequim football player Adrien Gault suffered a catastrophic brain injury during a game in 2006 and was airlifted to a Seattle trauma center where doctors gave him a four-percent chance of survival. He continues to work through his recovery. This past fall, a Sequim student suffered a brain aneurysm during a Friday afternoon PE class and died a few days later. That same Friday there were six significant concussions on the football field a few hundred yards away, said a well-informed source, turning the field into a war zone. Fire District #3 was there for it all. “There were more concussions during that one game than I’ve seen in my entire career, including my time as a running back in high school,” said Anderson. “It was a rarity.” Neither he nor Riley, who played tight end in high school remember suffering concussions during their football careers. They believe they’re seeing so many due to increased awareness trickling down from the NFL. Anderson said, “I think the attention on the concussion issue in the NFL is having an affect on all levels of the game, all the way down to the youngest players.” Emergency Medical Services for Children (EMSC) Guidelines and training for first responders come in the form of online education modules and concussion-related drills practiced several times a year. Soon-to-be-released state protocols developed by emergency room physicians, critical care nurses, EMTs, and others who make up the state committee of the federal Emergency Medical Services for Children program include a sports-concussion guide for first responders. Upon distribution, this document will provide a handy reference for those who attend youth and high school athletic events. “The Emergency Medical Services for Children (EMSC) program works to ensure proper pediatric care is available on ambulances and in hospital emergency departments nationwide,” said Ian Weston, Co-Director of the EMSC program headquartered in suburban Wash. D.C. “Emergency care providers are integral in ensuring our children get the right care when it counts.” When to call 911 Concussion symptoms can be subtle and may not appear right away, leaving room for mistakes to be made if athletes are not properly monitored when a concussion is suspected. The following are symptoms that require a call for emergency evaluation: •headaches that worsen •seizures •neck pain •very drowsy, can't be awakened •repeated vomiting •increasing confusion or irritability •weakness, numbness in arms and legs •unable to recognize people/places, less responsive than usual For more information see Should we call 911?, signs and symptoms Photo: (L) John Riley (firefighter/paramedic); (R) Travis Anderson (firefighter/EMT) Questions/comments? contact Jean Rickerson at jean@SportsConcussions.org

Coy Wire was a team captain for the Buffalo Bills (2002-2007) and the Atlanta Falcons (2008-2011) during his nine years in the NFL. An All-American Honors athlete at Stanford University, Coy was the first player to lead the Cardinal in both rushing and tackles. He was a recipient of the NFL’s Ed Block Courage Award. Q: What would you tell athletes about concussions? The NFL is in a state of evolution and recent changes will only make it safer for younger athletes. The league and the NFLPA (National Football League Players’ Association) have made huge strides to address the concussion issue, while maintaining the excitement of the game for both fans and players. It’s important that all athletes remember that you only get one brain and as we learn more about the long-term and adverse effects of contact sports and repetitive head injury, we know that smaller hits over the course of a career- even a high school career- can accumulate. Learn to recognize the symptoms of head trauma. You can have headaches or you might be slightly dizzy …these are all bearable and many athletes mask these symptoms by taking a Tylenol and then they go out and play again. But a concussion is not an ankle or shoulder injury…later in life you can have surgery on that ankle or have knee replacement surgery but you only get one brain. You can’t get a brain replacement. If you mask head trauma you can be risking increased problems in the future for Alzheimer’s or dementia. Head trauma has to be looked at very differently. Yes, in a way it’s a body part like a shoulder, but your brain must be treated very differently. You can ice and elevate an ankle but can’t do that with your brain. Real damage may show up later in life …and it’s not just football, it can happen in any sport. We used to look at toughness and playing through injuries as a badge of honor. That you were tough both mentally and physically and that continuing to play while hurt brought you the respect of your peers. But we need to change the culture now, and that starts with you. You need to believe that it’s OK to miss a game or a week or longer. If you do have to sit out, it means you were playing hard and you took one for the team. You shouldn’t feel ashamed. And if you care about your friends and your teammates, keep them from harm.https:// If you see a friend of yours doing something to hurt themselves, like playing with a concussion, step up and help them. You’re doing them a huge injustice by allowing them to continue to play. You are your brother’s keeper. Become a hero in their life and help them realize what they probably know deep down inside anyway. Someday they’ll look back and know what you did for them, and they’ll respect you more, later in their lives. Be a leader and help change the game. Help create a new norm. Coy Wire is the author of Change Your Mind; 10 Unconventional Secrets to Retrain Your Brain; March 2012. He is an inspirational speaker and mind coach. For more information contact him at https://www.coywire.com/

As the on-ice passion of the NHL playoff games intensifies so do the penalties, particularly for vicious hits to the head. Saturday's games resulted in three separate incidents that will highlight the league's commitment to cracking down on illegal hits that may, and often do, cause concussions. Brendan Shanahan, Senior Vice President, Player Safety and Operations held hearings on two of the three violations Sunday afternoon. The third is scheduled for Monday. The hits are reviewed on video and the suspensions are explained in great detail by Shanahan on the NHL network (see videos below). Shanahan suspended New York Rangers forward Carl Hagelin for an illegal hit that forced opponent Daniel Alfredsson's head into the glass. Alfredsson, the Senators captain, left the game for evaluation and his status for the rest of the playoffs is uncertain. On Monday the team announced he had suffered a concussion on the play. This is Hagelin's first major penalty. The Wall Street Journal reports that disciplinary action against Hagelin may increase if Alfredsson, who has a history of concussions, is unable to return to the series. A one-game suspension was also issued Sunday for Ottawa Senators defenseman Matt Carkner for continuing to pummel an "unwilling opponent," Rangers forward Brian Boyle, who was knocked to the ice after Carkner delivered two powerful blows to his head. Carkner continued to hit Boyle as he lay on the ice. Boyle did not return the punches. Carkner was classified as an "aggressor" under NHL rules and was assessed a minor penalty for instigating, a major penalty for fighting and a game misconduct. Blackhawks forward Andrew Shaw is scheduled for a hearing on Monday for a shoulder-to-head hit on Coyotes goalie Mike Smith that left him down on the ice writhing in pain. Shaw earned a charging major and game misconduct on the play. Smith remained in the game. Last Thursday, Vancouver Canucks forward Byron Bitz was suspended for two games for a vicious hit to the head on Los Angeles Kings forward Kyle Clifford the night before. Clifford's head was shoved into the glass causing him to miss at least one game. In addition to the suspension Bitz was assessed a major penalty for boarding and a game misconduct the night of the game. Carl Hagelin/ Daniel Alfredsson Matt Carkner/ Brian Boyle Byron Bitz/ Kyle Clifford Source: NHL Network Questions/comments? Contact Jean Rickerson at jean@SportsConcussions.org

Researchers at Nationwide Children's Hospital in Columbus, Ohio, found that of the 14,635 high-school sports injuries reported during the 2008-2010 school year, 13% were concussions. The majority of them were uncomplicated, in fact, 40% of the students who suffered concussions saw their symptoms disappear within three days. Most returned to play within three weeks, but a significant number -- about 25% -- returned to play the same day they were injured, a situation many state concussion laws are designed to address. "This improper practice was widespread," noted researchers Mallika Marar, Natalie McIlvain, Sarah Fields and R. Dawn Comstock, who found it in 12 of the 20 sports they studied. "This clearly violates the consensus statement on sports-related concussion, which recommends that no adolescent athlete who sustains a concussion should return to play on the day of the injury,"reported WPTV.com. Other findings included: Most common symptoms: headache (94.2%), dizziness (75.6%) and difficulty concentrating (54.8%) More than one: Eleven percent had suffered concussions before, highest rate of recurrence was boys' wrestling (20%) Most by number: football (47%) followed by girls' soccer (8.2%) Most common practices/games: games; exception was cheerleading, participants were 10x more likely to be hurt during practice Most by gender: boys; although concussions in girls' sports represented a higher number of overall injuries Most common occurrence: athlete-to-athlete contact; girls were more likely to suffer a concussion from striking the ground or being struck by another players' piece of equipment such as a hockey stick The study was published in the January edition of the American Journal of Sports Medicine. Source: Study: High school athletes return from concussion too soon -- WPTV.com Questions/comments? Contact Jean Rickerson at Jean@SportsConcussions.org

KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- The National Operating Committee on Standards for Athletic Equipment (NOCSAE) issued a warning to athletes and parents of athletes to thoroughly understand the extent of protection provided by – or not provided by – athletic equipment worn while playing sports. This warning follows claims made by several companies that products such as head bands, supplements or mouth guards reduce the incident of concussion. NOCSAE issued the warning at the onset of its summer meeting held this year in Kansas City. NOCSAE is an independent organization with the dual purpose of setting standards for the performance of athletic equipment and funding research necessary to advance the science of sports. Through NOCSAE's independent process, physicians, academic researchers, coaches, trainers and manufacturers come together to establish standards based on accepted science and reliable data. "Parents, athletes and coaches are becoming more informed about concussions, and this increased awareness is vitally important to advancing athlete safety. But it also creates a demand for quick solutions. Unfortunately there are quick solutions offered for sale which have neither scientific nor medical support that validate their claims to prevent or reduce concussions," said Mike Oliver, NOCSAE executive director. "Any device or supplement promoted as being able to prevent, diagnose or cure a concussion must be supported by scientific data and peer-reviewed research. Currently there is no definitive scientific research linking mouth guards, head bands, supplements or other specialty products to a reduction in concussion risk or severity. For companies to suggest otherwise misleads athletes, parents and coaches into a dangerous false sense of protection against concussion. NOCSAE warns athletes and parents of athletes to get the facts about sports equipment and concussion protection and not rely solely on marketing and promotional materials when making equipment decisions." NOCSAE does not maintain any standards for such products, and, therefore, no such products can be claimed as meeting the NOCSAE standards. While protective equipment certified to the NOCSAE standard play an incredibly important role in protecting athletes on the field of play, they should be not the primary approach to protecting against concussion. Learning to avoid unnecessary head impacts, reporting concussion symptoms to a coach or parent and following trained medical management decisions about when a concussed athlete can return to play are far more likely to prevent a concussion or reduce the chance of chronic problems that may be related to untreated concussions. For more information, please visit www.nocsae.org. About NOCSAE NOCSAE, the Nhttps:// Operating Committee on Standards for Athletic Equipment, is an independent and nonprofit standard-setting body with the sole mission to enhance athletic safety through scientific research and the creation of performance standards for protective equipment. Formed in 1969, NOCSAE is a leading force in the effort to improve athletic equipment and, as a result, reduce injuries. NOCSAE efforts include the development of performance and test standards for football helmets and facemasks, baseball and softball batters and catchers helmets, baseballs and softballs, ice hockey helmets, soccer shin guards, lacrosse helmets and facemasks and polo helmets. NOCSAE is comprised of representatives from a number of groups which have an interest in athletic equipment – including manufacturers, reconditioners, athletic trainers, coaches, equipment managers, sports medicine and consumer organizations. These diverse interests have joined forces in an attempt to arrive at a common goal of reducing sports-related injuries. NOCSAE is a nonprofit, charitable organization supported by individuals and organizations with an interest in athletics. SOURCE: National Operhttps://ommittee on Standards for Athletic Equipment (NOCSAE) Questions/comments? contact Jean Rickerson at jean@SportsConcussions.org Back to top RELATED LINKShttps://www.nocsae.org Source: PR Newswire (https://s.tt/1ezQW)

COLUMBUS, Ohio – There is no magic test to determine when an athlete is ready to get back into the game after they have suffered a head injury. Researchers have started using an interactive video game, a tool many athletes are already using in rehabilitation, to test balance for concussion assessment and management. The reliability of the video game for assessing athletes’ concussions has not been confirmed, but a study by a sports medicine researcher from The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center may provide insight to the use of the Nintendo’s Wii Fit for concussion management. Team athletic trainers often determine whether an athlete has a concussion based on their physical examination, cognitive ability, self-report of symptoms and balance. "Student athletes love it because we have incorporated fun into their rehabilitation and concussion assessment," said Tamerah Hunt, director of research at the OSU’s Sports Medicine Concussion Program. “For many school districts, it is an affordable option and can be portable, making it convenient for sideline testing and travel with the team for away games.” Researchers from Ohio State and the University of Maryland are conducting baseline testing for concussion management in collegiate athletes, and will soon do the same among high-school athletes. Recent concussion guidelines suggest postural control is an important part of the assessment process, which makes balance an important piece of information in determining recovery from a head injury. “It’s not the perfect system, but can be considered as an option to provide basic objective information about balance,” said Hunt, whose previous research includes examining concussion recovery patterns among high school students in several states. “It’s another tool to have in our toolkit because determining when an athlete has recovered can be subjective,” Hunt admits. “Athletes are more likely to engage with a video game than to take another boring concussion test or admit they are still hurt,” said Hunt. “We currently base much of our assessment on an athlete telling us about their symptoms. The video game allows us to broadly analyze center of gravity, to help us be more objective.” Athletes participate in three different yoga poses as demonstrated on the Wii Fit game and are given a score which determines how well the athlete maintained center of balance. Baseline testing provides athletic trainers with an idea of how an athlete normally functions. If an athlete suffers a head injury at a later date, the athletic trainer can assess the balance of the athlete compared to their normal ability. According to Hunt, an athletic trainer must obtain the baseline measures to compare the athlete to themselves because everyone performs differently. Preliminary data suggests a moderate correlation to current methods used in concussion assessment, ranging from 0.75-0.82, depending on the stance. “Additional studies need to be performed to determine the long-term reliability of the measures and other factors associated with test scores, such as fatigue,” said Hunt. This is just the beginning of studies using alternative measures of balance assessment like the Wii Fit for concussion management. The National Collegiate Athletic Association concussion guidelines support using the video game as a postural assessment tool. It is not yet approved as a medical device by the Food and Drug Administration. Source: Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center -- May 2012 Questions/comments? contact Jean Rickerson at jean@SportsConcussions.org

Shepherdstown, W.V. — Senator Jay Rockefeller convened a roundtable discussion at Shepherd University's Wellness Center on Friday with medical experts, sports professionals, coaches, and parents to help raise awareness of many of the causes and impacts of concussions and head injuries in young athletes. He also highlighted problems with the marketing of some sports safety equipment which claim to prevent concussions among athletes. “We all have a responsibility to make sure that kids who play sports are as safe as they can be,” said Rockefeller. “Much of the conversation about concussions has focused on professional athletes, but it affects so many children on the field, court, mat, or track. Last October, I chaired a Senate hearing to help raise awareness about concussions in youth sports, but our job is not done. We need to make sure that everyone in West Virginia knows how to reduce the number of concussions, since they can have long-term consequences for our children’s health. “Playing sports doesn’t just make kids stronger and healthier. It also teaches them important values – hard work, leadership, and the importance of working together. I encourage everyone here today to tell their friends and family about how to better protect student athletes so that we can reduce injuries, increase awareness about some false marketing of sports equipment, and make sure our kids stay healthy.” The roundtable provided an opportunity to discuss the dangers of concussions for young athletes, the steps that parents and coaches should take to protect young athletes from concussions, and the limitations of sports equipment in preventing concussions. The discussion included medical experts from West Virginia to discuss the dangers and frequency of concussions for young athletes, sports officials from the state to explain the steps currently being taken to protect young athletes from concussions on the field, and representatives from the Consumer Product Safety Commission and the Federal Trade Commission to discuss the role of the federal government in creating safety standards for products and investigating marketing claims made by manufacturers. On October 19, Rockefeller, Chairman of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation, held a hearing on concussions and the marketing of sports equipment to increase awareness of both the dangers of concussions for athletes participating in sports at all levels and the misleading marketing claims about concussions made by sports equipment manufacturers. Rockefeller convened the hearing because much of the discussion on concussions had largely focused on the dangers of concussions at the professional level, even though a significant percentage of those suffering concussions are children and high school students participating in sports, especially contact sports like soccer, football, and hockey. Click here to view video of the hearing Source: Senator Jay Rockefeller Questions/comments? contact Jean Rickerson at Jean@SportsConcussions.org