One "little-explored cause of concussions is the field beneath the feet of the millions of athletes who play football, lacrosse, soccer and other sports," according to Ken Belson of the N.Y. TIMES. A new report compiled by the Concussion Legacy Foundation "called attention to the link between head injuries and poorly maintained fields, especially the growing number of those made of synthetic turf." The foundation "urged groundskeepers, athletic directors and sports associations to treat their fields as seriously as other protective sports equipment." The report, called the Role of Synthetic Turf in Concussion, "is based on more than a dozen academic studies." It cites research that shows that 15.5% of concussions in high school sports "occur when players hit their head on a playing surface." Another study found that 10% of concussions sustained by high school and college football players "came after players hit their head on a field." In the NFL, "about one in seven concussions occurs when a player’s head strikes a synthetic or grass field." The percentages "may appear small, but they amount to thousands of head injuries a year." While far more concussions "still occur from helmet-to-helmet hits and other collisions, the authors note that keeping fields from becoming too hard can prevent head injuries." A vast majority of playing fields nationwide "are still natural grass, and they too can become dangerously hard, particularly in cold weather." Synthetic fields, however, "pose a different challenge." The number of synthetic fields "has grown to more than 12,000 nationally, and about 1,500 fields were installed this year." But routine maintenance "is required to ensure the field does not get too hard." Despite the increase in synthetic fields, "precise data on how they are maintained is spotty" (N.Y. TIMES, 12/30).
HEAD OF THE CLASS: Bruins President Cam Neely said the the education level of concussions in sports at every level "has changed dramatically" in recent years. Neely: "There's so much more information how to identify it properly, or better. ... The players have done a good job. You're seeing less and less of these blindside hits, boarding or hits from behind. The players' safety department has done a really good job of educating the players before each season -- here's what we're looking for and here's what you need to avoid" (ESPN.com, 12/29).
