High School Football Tied to Brain Changes
Small study suggests that blows to the head in a typical season might alter brain
Young athletes should also be educated about the possible injuries they could experience, Stevens added. "Kids, teens and young adults engaging in sports should be aware that this may not be completely benign and that there are some risks involved," he said.
Having an athletic trainer on the field who's qualified to diagnose concussion can also help protect players, according to Whitlow. "This is someone who goes to every game, gets to know the players and is keeping an eye out for anything that looks like an injury," he said.
The study was expected to be presented on Monday at the annual meeting of the Radiological Society of North America in Chicago. Findings from the study were also published in a recent issue of the Journal of Neurotrauma.