Impact study helps manage concussions

MOBILE, Ala. (WALA) - The high school football season is about to start. While it's an exciting time for the students, it can be a concerning time for parents. An estimated 300,000 sports-related traumatic brain injuries occur in the United States each year.

There's a study that started at the NFL level, impact concussion testing. Now it's here locally in the Mobile area. It's going to be extremely helpful. As many of you know, one of our own, Timothy Robinson suffered a severe head injury last year during a football game and is still recovering. His mother has even joined the efforts to help make a difference.

Robinson has been trying hard to get back to 100 percent after a devastating tackle last October.

"The dominoes were in place that Tim received exceptional care immediately. The medical care and guidelines were there. If he were at a different game at a different place on a different day that might not be the case," Kurt Freund, the Sports Medicine Athletic Supervisor at Providence Hospital said.

"Everything that is going on with Tim has caused me to push for a better situation in the Mobile County Public School System as well as the state of Alabama for other students who may have injuries of any type," Robinson's mother, Evelyn McGhee said.

McGhee has joined the push for concussion awareness. Neurosurgeon Dr. Juan Ronderos said he's trying to protect children and student athletes with the impact concussion testing program.

"Baseline testing that establishes a skill level without any sort of injury. Then after an injury we can asses how far you are from your baseline, how far are you from where you should be. At that time if there is a suspected concussion or suspected head injury then they're retested. Based on the results of the retest, it gives us an idea as to how much dysfunction is in the brain," Dr. Ronderos said.

From that point they can make a decision on how long to sit the player out or whether he needs further medical attention. The pilot program has already been implemented at UMS Wright and Blount High School and supporters hope to have it regionally.

"Trying to make parents and players even more aware of what concussion and head injuries can do. We're excited because the community is responding extremely well," Dr. Ronderos added.

The kick off for the impact concussion awareness event will be held this Friday at 6:30 p.m. at Blount High School building C room 116. That's right before the Blount & LeFlore football game. They also plan to drum up awareness about the need for athletic trainers and physicians at every sports game and practice.