Seattle Children’s Hospital leading concussion study

Youth football — and some would argue football in general — is at a crossroads. How can the game be safer without sacrificing the parts that make it so popular and fun?

That’s why the NFL is considering things like eliminating kickoffs. Still, some worry the game is in long-term jeopardy as many parents pull their kids from the sport over fears of concussions and head injuries.

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But how much do we really know about concussions and the developing brain? There is virtually no research on concussions at the youth level. There is plenty of research being done in the NFL, NCAA and even in some high schools but nothing at the lowest levels.

“The brain of a middle-school youth is quite different than that of a professional athlete or a collegiate athlete, and injuries to that individual, as a 12-year-old or 15-year-old, might be quite different than those to an older player,” said Dr. Fred Rivara with Seattle Children’s Hospital. He has been studying childhood head injuries for decades and is heading up a new study by the hospital.

“Our idea is to enroll a large group of youth at the beginning of a sports season and collect some baseline information,” he said. “If they’re unfortunate enough to have a concussion, we have that kind of baseline information in which to compare them after they have their concussion and watch their recovery.”

Seattle Children’s Hospital has partnered with the Northwest Junior Football League for this study. Rex Lewandowski is head of the Everett Junior Wildcats.

“They need the research, and they need the documentation,” Lewandowski said.

Tricia Hernandez’ 10-year-old son has played football for four seasons. She said she doesn’t worry about concussions, but she jumped at the chance to help this research project.

“We were the first ones to sign-up for it,” she said. “I answered all the questions on the survey, and I think it’s just awesome that Children’s Hospital is coming together with it.”

Dr. Rivara doesn’t know what his research will find, but he said it’s critical to understanding football and what can be done to make it safer.

“All with a goal of trying to have our youth be active, be participating in physical activity and sports but do the safest thing we can to make sure that they’re not injured, or if they are injured, to get them back as safely as possible to playing again.”

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