Health Happenings

Concussions: Short-Term Play Lost for Long-Term Gain

Milford's new concussion policy has been in effect for six months. How has it panned out for protection?

More than 62,000 concussions are sustained each year in U.S. high school contact sports and the likelihood of suffering a concussion while playing a contact sport is estimated to be as high as 19 percent for each year of play, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Concussions in high school sports are rising at about a 15 percent (and up to 27 percent) annual rate, according to a study published in 2011 by the American Journal of Sports Medicine. Twelve of the top contact sports were studied, finding football topped the list with the highest rates. Girls soccer was a distant second. Sure, some of this might be in reporting, or due to new Massachusetts regulations, but this is still a shocking rise. …

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Patch Facts

5 Things You Need to Know Today: Aug. 14

Parking will be prevented on Main Street Wednesday through Friday this week.

Our weekday morning column, 5 Things You Need to Know, provides you with information that can help you plan your day and give you some fodder for water cooler conversations. 1. In case you missed the post, a reminder that Main Street will have a temporary parking ban this week, from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Wednesday through Friday. Town parking lots, accessed by side streets, will be the parking alternative. Commuters and through-travelers are encouraged to avoid the street, as traffic is expected to be stopped at times. 2. If you love shopping, and want to help the Milford Youth Center at the same time, you can "Shop for a Cause." Purchase a $5 shopping pass at the Milford Youth Center this week, and Macy's will allow the Youth Center to keep …

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Health Happenings

Concussions: Who is Grading Them and Will the Truth be Told?

Last week a concussion policy was approved which could bench students from any sports for a calendar year. Is this “revolutionary” or over-the-top?

Milford Regional Medical Center had 596 patients with a diagnosis of concussion last year, according to Terri McDonald, director of public relations and marketing. Not all of these concussions came from sports, but this tally is significant. More than 62,000 concussions are sustained each year in U.S. high school contact sports and the likelihood of suffering a concussion while playing a contact sport is estimated to be as high as 19 percent for each year of play, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control (CDC).  A study commissioned by the NFL reported that neurological diseases appear to be higher in those who had football concussions, quoting a rate of 19 times the normal rate for men ages 30 through 49. Although more than 90 …

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Lisa Vasile

9:43 pm on Thursday, February 23, 2012

This case is very timely. http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/02/23/dave-duerson-suicide-exbe_n_1297207.html   more ›

Milford Adopts Tough Concussion Policy

The Milford School Committee voted 6-1 to approve a concussion policy that will prevent student athletes who have a severe concussion from playing sports for a year.

Milford school officials on Thursday adopted a tough new concussion policy that will sideline student athletes for a year if they receive a severe concussion or several milder ones. The policy — which is required to be in place by March 1 under state law — will prevent athletes from playing any school sport if they receive a single severe concussion, two moderate concussions, or three mild concussions in a season. The School Committee's vote was 6-1 in favor, with Robert Lanzetta voting against. The year-long length of the benching is meant to protect students from neurological damage that can result from head injuries, which sometimes doesn't reveal itself for years, said Milford pediatrician Dr. Felix Perriello, who was among a panel …

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Mary MacDonald

11:22 am on Friday, February 17, 2012

http://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2007/09/16/sports/20070916_CONCUSSION_GRAPHIC.html?ref=headinjuries   more ›

Taking Concussions Seriously

The Milford school system is considering a tough new policy on concussions, which could sideline student athletes who sustain the head injuries for up to a year.

Milford school leaders are considering a tough new policy on concussions that would bench student athletes for up to a year if they experience a series of mild concussions, or a single severe concussion. The effort is made to comply with a new state law, which requires school systems in Massachusetts to adopt a policy on identifying and responding to student athlete concussions by March 1. No policy is now in effect, said Superintendent Robert Tremblay, after the School Committee discussed the issue Thursday. Emerging research on concussions has raised additional concern about the cumulative impact of a head injury that can have debilitating effects over time. Although contact sports, such as football, are the most common source of injury…

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