Show 1011: Sports and Concussions

Sports are a great way for kids to get physical activity and learn teamwork. But how vulnerable are kids’ brains when they play sports?

In many popular sports such as football, soccer or lacrosse, players may collide with each other or with the ball. How could a bump on the head affect the brain? Learn what a concussion is and how it is diagnosed. We’ll also explore the possible consequences.

What could be done to prevent concussions? We’ll discuss the best ways to treat a head injury to minimize long-lasting damage.

This Week’s Guests:

Alan Finkel, MD, FAAN, FAHS, is co-founder and partner of the Carolina Headache Institute. He is also President and CEO of The Carolina Headache Foundation and a contractor for the Defense and Veterans Brain Injury Centers in Fort Bragg, NC. Dr. Finkel is chair of the Post-traumatic Headache Section of the American Headache Society. The photo is of Dr. Finkel.
His website is http://www.chi09.com/

Kevin Guskiewicz, PhD, ATC, is Kenan Distinguished Professor in the department of Exercise and Sport Science at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. He is also Co-Director of the Matthew Gfeller Sport-Related Traumatic Brain Injury Research Center and Director of the Center for the Study of Retired Athletes. He has served on NCAAÕs Concussion Committee, NFLÕs Head, Neck, and Spine Committee, and NFLPAÕs Mackey-White Committee and was awarded a MacArthur Fellowship in 2011.