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Star Quarterback’s Concussion Puts Brain Injury Discussion in the National Spotlight

On Thursday, September 29th, Miami Dolphins star quarterback Tua Tagovailoa was carted off the field with an apparent concussion. Four days earlier, he appeared to be concussed and stumbled several times. He was taken out of the game but returned to lead his team to victory

“The old days of ‘Shake it off and get back in the game’ are long gone; a deep understanding of potential life-changing injury must be priority one.”

Star Quarterback’s Concussion Puts Brain Injury Discussion in the National Spotlight

On Thursday, September 29th, Miami Dolphins star quarterback Tua Tagovailoa was carted off the field with an apparent concussion. Four days earlier, he appeared to be concussed and stumbled several times. He was taken out of the game but returned to lead his team to victory

“The old days of ‘Shake it off and get back in the game’ are long gone; a deep understanding of potential life-changing injury must be priority one.”

Since then, Dolphins doctors have been roundly criticized for not following concussion protocol and allowing him to play on Thursday. They had been downplaying the first incident, calling it a back injury; after the second game, Head Coach Mike McDaniel said, “The best news… is that he didn’t have anything more serious than a concussion.”

What the coach didn’t understand is that concussion is a very serious head injury. When left undiagnosed, as was the case after the previous game, the effects can be ten times worse. If a second concussion occurs, a career can be cut short and the player can experience lifelong cognitive issues.

The Dolphins’ mishandling to Tagovailoa’s injuries has been met with anger among players throughout the NFL and social media in general.  This is in part to the increased awareness of the impact of head injury and trauma, as well as the need for proper diagnosis as early as possible. Now, there is virtually unanimous agreement: Following concussion protocol shouldn’t be recommended – it needs to be demanded!

It should be noted that NFL game day protocols include unaffiliated neurotrauma consultants and athletic trainers who remain on the sidelines. If they notice signs of concussion, they are required to contact the team physician. When a player is diagnosed with a concussion, they are not allowed to return to the game.

Several days later, the NFL Players Association concluded that the neurotrauma consultant for Thursday’s game failed to do their job and was fired.

Steven Threet is a former quarterback for the University of Michigan and Arizona State University. He is also on the Brain Injury Alliance of Arizona’s Advisory Council.  He retired from football after receiving his tenth concussion; it was against UCLA and his second diagnosed one of the season. “Looking back, concussions weren’t widely discussed in 2010. On my last play, there wasn’t even a flag thrown. Today, with the changed rules, UCLA would have been called for targeting.”

He saw both hits on Tagovailoa and offers a unique insight. “It was scary to see him get hit, but what stands out for me were the effects,” he says. “In the first game, he shook his head to clear the cobwebs, then stumbled. These were clear signs that he shouldn’t have returned in the second half.”

Threet points out that in the next game, when he got hit, his hands went into what’s known as a “fencing response position,” gnarled up and raised over his head. “It was a nationally televised game, and everybody saw it. Although it wasn’t a good sign for his brain health, it did make millions of viewers aware of the signs and danger of concussion, especially if it’s the second one.”

The 33-year-old believes awareness is the key to understanding this injury. “When you separate your shoulder, you’re not able to lift, but with brain injury, it’s often hard to differentiate between a concussion and a headache. Also, with an injured shoulder or ankle, you can play at 80% capacity, but with a brain injury, you have to be at 100%.”

Another factor to consider, says Threet, is the mindset of athletes on all levels of competition, especially professional. As an advocate for legislation supporting awareness and diagnosis of brain injury, he speaks to many NFL players. While they’re receptive, many don’t have a dimmer switch. “Truth is, you’re more likely to get injured when you’re holding back. It’s extremely competitive and you have to go out and play without hesitation. It’s a real dilemma.”

Carrie Collins-Fadell the chair-elect of the United States Brain Injury Alliance Board of Directors, supports his desire to increase awareness and establish protocols that are effective. “Timely diagnosis of athletes on all levels of competition are key, especially with students in high school. We applaud efforts to coordinate support between team doctors, school officials, and parents when a young athlete has a suspected head injury.

“The old days of ‘Shake it off and get back in the game’ are long gone; a deep understanding of potential life-changing injury must be priority one.”

Fadell says that across the country Brain Injury Alliances continue to work with schools and communities to bring this situation to light. The better informed they are about prevention and how to get a proper diagnosis as soon as possible is the key to a quick, healthy recovery. She also points out that there is more at stake than the health of athletes. “It’s not just athletes watching the mishandling of Tua  Tagovailoa’s injury unfold,” said Fadell.  “Each year thousands of individuals sustain a concussion from a fall or car accident. Just because the injury does not occur on live television or with fans watching does not mean it should not be taken seriously.

Threet believes exposure from these NFL games will go a long way to understanding brain injury and trauma. “When Tom Brady tore his ACL in 2008, it increased interest in knee injuries. Now, with Tua, people everywhere are talking about concussions and brain injury and protocol.

“It’s a small silver lining, but proof that leading a long, healthy life is more important than football – just ask any player who has had a brain injury or trauma.”

ABOUT BRAIN INJURY ALLIANCE OF ARIZONA

The Brain Injury Alliance of Arizona (BIAAZ) is the only statewide nonprofit organization dedicated to improving the lives of adults and children with all types of brain injuries through prevention, advocacy, awareness and education. BIAAZ also houses the Arizona Brain Health Resource Center, a collection of educational information and neuro-specific resources for brain injury survivors, caregivers, family members and professionals.

What began in 1983 as a grassroots effort has grown into a strong statewide presence, providing valuable life-long resources and community support for individuals with all types of brain trauma at no charge.

The Brain Injury Alliance of Arizona:

  • Works with Congressional Brain Injury Task Force
  • Houses Arizona Brain Health Resource Center
  • Hosts Statewide Opioid Use Disorder & Cognitive Impairment Workgroup
  • Has Statewide Opioid Use Disorder & Cognitive Impairment Response team with peer support, training, and family wraparound services
  • Facilitates Brain Health Advisory Council
  • Manages statewide Neuro Info-Line: 888-500-9165

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