Skip to content
  • About
  • Contact
  • Contribute
  • Book
  • Careers
  • Podcast
  • Recommended
  • Speaking
  • All
  • Physician
  • Practice
  • Policy
  • Finance
  • Conditions
  • .edu
  • Patient
  • Meds
  • Tech
  • Social
  • Video
    • All
    • Physician
    • Practice
    • Policy
    • Finance
    • Conditions
    • .edu
    • Patient
    • Meds
    • Tech
    • Social
    • Video
    • About
    • Contact
    • Contribute
    • Book
    • Careers
    • Podcast
    • Recommended
    • Speaking

The phenomenon of concussions in professional sport

Brian Goldman, MD
Conditions
January 2, 2012
39 Shares
Share
Tweet
Share

Recently, the Philadelphia Flyers announced that all star defensive stalwart Chris Pronger has been shut down for the rest of the NHL season with what the team has described as “post-concussive syndrome”.  Pronger joins Pittsburgh Penguin superstar Sidney Crosby, teammate and NHL leading scorer Claude Giroux, and Ottawa Senator forward and NHL second leading scorer Milan Michalek out of action due to concussion.  To list every star player currently on the shelf would fill several blogs.  The NHL may well call these an unfortunate coincidence.  I call it the tipping point beyond which the NHL will take effective action to prevent further carnage or will risk losing a multitude of fans – including this die-hard Leaf fan.

Until now, the NHL has exhibited a form of inertia common to organizations seeking to maintain the status quo.  It has used time-honored techniques to accomplish these aims.  These include taking advantage of gaps in scientific knowledge on the causes of sports concussions as well as disagreements between experts as opportunities to play for time.

Case in point:  in a disturbing series of articles and interactive videos published earlier this month, the New York Times documented at the time of his death at age 28 that NHL enforcer Derek Boogaard had evidence of severe CTE (chronic traumatic encephalopathy), a condition that causes emotional lability and cognitive deficits not dissimilar to Alzheimer’s disease.

Clearly, repeated blows to the head are often associated with CTE.  And yet, when asked to respond to the Times series, NHL president Gary Bettman issued a statement saying the findings in Boogaard’s death would not result in additional steps to curb fighting or immediate steps to try and reduce the number and severity of concussions.

To know what took place in a person’s life to determine what may or may not have caused a particular injury is something that’s going to take years for people who have the expertise in this field begin doing,” Bettman was quoted as saying shortly after the articles appeared. “It’s way too premature to begin drawing conclusions.

Don Fehr, executive director of the NHL Players’ Association, said this following publication of the articles in the Times:

The findings released by Boston University to the New York Times regarding CTE found in Derek Boogaard’s brain, and the forthcoming medical journal article, should be seriously considered by everyone associated with the game.  It is certainly important information that we will be discussing with the Players.

In my opinion, the phenomenon of concussions in professional sport in general and the NHL in particular needs ongoing study.  But the need for study does not absolve the NHL and the NHL Players’ Association of the responsibility to take action now.

In a blog, former NHL skilled tough guy Jeremy Roenick blames hits involving elbows, shoulders, hits from behind near the boards, and jumping off the ice at the moment of impact as factors fueling the increase in concussions.  NHL Senior Vice President of Player Safety Brendan Shanahan has his work cut out for him.

There are suggestions that current and former NHL players consider litigation as a way of making the impact of concussions as damaging to the league and NHL teams as it is to players.  Elbow and shoulder pads can be softened immediately to reduce their effect on vulnerable players.  Innovations like the concussion collar conceived by Dr. Joseph Fisher could reduce the impact on the head.

All of the above could help set NHL players and the league on a safer course.

One voice heard across Canada this Saturday could galvanize action.  If this weekend, Don Cherry uses his Coach’s Corner segment on Hockey Night in Canada as a bully pulpit to inspire the NHL and the Players’ Association, it would be one voice too many too ignore.

Your move, Mr. Cherry.

Adapted from a blog post that appeared on White Coat, Black Art.

Brian Goldman is an emergency physician and author of The Night Shift: Real Life In The Heart of The E.R., published by HarperCollins.

Submit a guest post and be heard on social media’s leading physician voice.

Prev

Chronic kidney disease from a patient perspective

January 1, 2012 Kevin 0
…
Next

I told a man that he was dying

January 2, 2012 Kevin 7
…

Tagged as: Neurology, Patients

Post navigation

< Previous Post
Chronic kidney disease from a patient perspective
Next Post >
I told a man that he was dying

More by Brian Goldman, MD

  • a desk with keyboard and ipad with the kevinmd logo

    The House of God brought attention to medical slang

    Brian Goldman, MD
  • a desk with keyboard and ipad with the kevinmd logo

    The human cost of physician burnout is almost unfathomable

    Brian Goldman, MD
  • a desk with keyboard and ipad with the kevinmd logo

    The impact of unnecessary testing and treatment on patients

    Brian Goldman, MD

More in Conditions

  • Lazarus: the dead man brought back to life

    William Lynes, MD
  • The psychoanalytic hammer: lessons in listening and patient-centered care

    Greg Smith, MD
  • 5 essential tips to help men prevent prostate cancer

    Kevin Jones, MD
  • Changing the pediatric care landscape: Integrating behavioral and mental health care

    Hilary M. Bowers, MD
  • Unlocking the secret to successful weight loss: Curiosity is the key

    Franchell Hamilton, MD
  • The teacher who changed my life through reading

    Raymond Abbott
  • Most Popular

  • Past Week

    • The real cause of America’s opioid crisis: Doctors are not to blame

      Richard A. Lawhern, PhD | Meds
    • Healing the damaged nurse-physician dynamic

      Angel J. Mena, MD and Ali Morin, MSN, RN | Policy
    • The struggle to fill emergency medicine residency spots: Exploring the factors behind the unfilled match

      Katrina Gipson, MD, MPH | Physician
    • Breaking the stigma: Addressing the struggles of physicians

      Jean Antonucci, MD | Physician
    • Beyond the disease: the power of empathy in health care

      Nana Dadzie Ghansah, MD | Physician
    • Deaths of despair: an urgent call for a collective response to the crisis in U.S. life expectancy

      Mohammed Umer Waris, MD | Policy
  • Past 6 Months

    • The hidden dangers of the Nebraska Heartbeat Act

      Meghan Sheehan, MD | Policy
    • The real cause of America’s opioid crisis: Doctors are not to blame

      Richard A. Lawhern, PhD | Meds
    • Nobody wants this job. Should physicians stick around?

      Katie Klingberg, MD | Physician
    • The fight for reproductive health: Why medication abortion matters

      Catherine Hennessey, MD | Physician
    • The vital importance of climate change education in medical schools

      Helen Kim, MD | Policy
    • Resetting the doctor-patient relationship: Navigating the challenges of modern primary care

      Jeffrey H. Millstein, MD | Physician
  • Recent Posts

    • When an MBA degree meets medicine: an eye-opening experience

      Arthur Lazarus, MD, MBA | Physician
    • Why it’s time to question medical traditions [PODCAST]

      The Podcast by KevinMD | Podcast
    • The hidden gems of health care: Unlocking the potential of narrative medicine

      Dr. Najat Fadlallah | Physician
    • The realities of immigrant health care served hot from America’s melting pot

      Stella Cho | Policy
    • The dark side of immortality: What if we could live forever?

      Ketan Desai, MD, PhD | Physician
    • Lazarus: the dead man brought back to life

      William Lynes, MD | Conditions

Subscribe to KevinMD and never miss a story!

Get free updates delivered free to your inbox.


Find jobs at
Careers by KevinMD.com

Search thousands of physician, PA, NP, and CRNA jobs now.

Learn more

View 9 Comments >

Founded in 2004 by Kevin Pho, MD, KevinMD.com is the web’s leading platform where physicians, advanced practitioners, nurses, medical students, and patients share their insight and tell their stories.

Social

  • Like on Facebook
  • Follow on Twitter
  • Connect on Linkedin
  • Subscribe on Youtube
  • Instagram

CME Spotlights

From MedPage Today

Latest News

  • Doc Moms, Mind the Gap -- $3M Earning Difference by Sex
  • Clinical Note Writing App Powered by GPT-4 Set to Debut This Year
  • Helping Patients Get Fit -- One Walk at a Time
  • TB Cases Rebound to Near Pre-Pandemic Levels, CDC Data Show
  • Marginalized Groups May Benefit More From Decreasing Air Pollution

Meeting Coverage

  • Switch to IL-23 Blocker Yields Deep Responses in Recalcitrant Plaque Psoriasis
  • Biomarkers of Response With Enfortumab Vedotin in Advanced Urothelial Cancer
  • At-Home Topical Therapy for Molluscum Contagiosum Gets High Marks
  • Outlook for Itchy Prurigo Nodularis Continues to Improve With IL-31 Antagonist
  • AAAAI President Shares Highlights From the 2023 Meeting
  • Most Popular

  • Past Week

    • The real cause of America’s opioid crisis: Doctors are not to blame

      Richard A. Lawhern, PhD | Meds
    • Healing the damaged nurse-physician dynamic

      Angel J. Mena, MD and Ali Morin, MSN, RN | Policy
    • The struggle to fill emergency medicine residency spots: Exploring the factors behind the unfilled match

      Katrina Gipson, MD, MPH | Physician
    • Breaking the stigma: Addressing the struggles of physicians

      Jean Antonucci, MD | Physician
    • Beyond the disease: the power of empathy in health care

      Nana Dadzie Ghansah, MD | Physician
    • Deaths of despair: an urgent call for a collective response to the crisis in U.S. life expectancy

      Mohammed Umer Waris, MD | Policy
  • Past 6 Months

    • The hidden dangers of the Nebraska Heartbeat Act

      Meghan Sheehan, MD | Policy
    • The real cause of America’s opioid crisis: Doctors are not to blame

      Richard A. Lawhern, PhD | Meds
    • Nobody wants this job. Should physicians stick around?

      Katie Klingberg, MD | Physician
    • The fight for reproductive health: Why medication abortion matters

      Catherine Hennessey, MD | Physician
    • The vital importance of climate change education in medical schools

      Helen Kim, MD | Policy
    • Resetting the doctor-patient relationship: Navigating the challenges of modern primary care

      Jeffrey H. Millstein, MD | Physician
  • Recent Posts

    • When an MBA degree meets medicine: an eye-opening experience

      Arthur Lazarus, MD, MBA | Physician
    • Why it’s time to question medical traditions [PODCAST]

      The Podcast by KevinMD | Podcast
    • The hidden gems of health care: Unlocking the potential of narrative medicine

      Dr. Najat Fadlallah | Physician
    • The realities of immigrant health care served hot from America’s melting pot

      Stella Cho | Policy
    • The dark side of immortality: What if we could live forever?

      Ketan Desai, MD, PhD | Physician
    • Lazarus: the dead man brought back to life

      William Lynes, MD | Conditions

MedPage Today Professional

An Everyday Health Property Medpage Today iMedicalApps
  • Terms of Use | Disclaimer
  • Privacy Policy
  • DMCA Policy
All Content © KevinMD, LLC
Site by Outthink Group

The phenomenon of concussions in professional sport
9 comments

Comments are moderated before they are published. Please read the comment policy.

Loading Comments...