At every level of football, from youth teams to the NFL, concerns are mounting about how skull-rattling hits affect the health and safety of players. At Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center, researchers are studying the impact of concussions and they are coming up with some answers.
Owen Covington, a reporter with the Triad Business Journal, takes a closer look at this research project.
“The idea is to use the findings of the study to assist those who design football equipment as well as researchers and doctors as they work to prevent, identify and treat head injuries,” says Covington.
About 150 children between ages 8 and 12 who play football will be enrolled, with sensors placed inside their helmets to measure head impacts during practices and games during a full season.
In addition, those participating will have cognitive testing and imaging of their heads conducted before and after the season to examine brain activity, with additional testing and imaging conducted if a player experiences a concussion.
The Business Report on 88.5 WFDD is a partnership with the Triad Business Journal. Owen Covington's story and more breaking business is at Triad.Bizjournals.com.
Justin Catanoso is director of the Journalism program at Wake Forest University and a regular contributor to 88.5 WFDD.
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