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Health & Fitness

Concussion in Youth Sports Discussion

A prominent local physician discussed concussions in youth sports at Wayland High School.

“I don’t have kids, but if I did I would certainly let them play sports, including collision sports.  The benefits of these activities far outweigh the potential hazards,” said Dr. William Meehan, director of the Sports Concussion Clinic at Children's Hospital Boston during a talk at the Wayland High School auditorium on Wednesday, June 12.

 

Dr. Meehan spoke to a group of parents and representatives from several youth sports organizations, both from inside and outside of Wayland, about the risks of concussions in youth sports, and while he emphasized the seriousness of concussions, he also eased the fears of many in the audience by pointing to scientific evidence showing that children who sustain one or two concussions generally will have no long-term side effects.

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Dr. Meehan also explained that baseline concussion testing is important for kids age 11 and older.   He indicated that the purpose of baseline testing is to see how a child scores in areas such as verbal memory, visual memory, processing speed and reaction time.  Should the child suffer an injury that is believed to be a concussion, the same test can be re-administered to determine if a concussion was sustained and, if so, when it is safe to return to the field of play.

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According to Shawn Fennelly, president of Wayland Weston Youth Football, all participants in the football and cheer program go through baseline testing starting at age 10.  “It has been very helpful if a parent needs to determine what is and what is not a concussion,” he said.  Fennelly also pointed to the organization’s strict adherence to a “when in doubt, take him out” policy if a player is injured.

 

Dr. Meehan agreed that it is critical to take a child out of the activity immediately if a possible concussion is incurred. The child should seek medical attention immediately, perhaps from a sideline athletic trainer who has education in diagnosing concussion symptoms. He also advised that any child who suffers a blow to the head in any sport – or even in everyday life – should see a doctor.

 

 

Dr. Meehan can be reached at The Micheli Center for Sports Injury Prevention in Waltham at 781-373-2760 or www.themichelicenter.com.

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