Concussions are a top concern

The crowd cheers after a hard hit on the football field.
But the stands go silent if the player is slow to get up after the tackle.
According to Lee Miller from RehabXcel Physical Therapy and Sports Medicine, concussions are one of the main concerns that they look for during a football game.
Miller spends Friday nights on the sidelines of the Eunice High football games, ready to assist the medical professionals as thet help any injured player.
“If we suspect a concussion, we have to pull them from competition,” Miller said. “There is no more play at that point.”
Miller said each athlete takes a cognitive test prior to each season and receives a baseline score.
After a concussion, the player has to be cleared to return to play by a physician after an exam and they retake the test.
“We have one of the best concussion programs in the state here in St. Landry Parish,” Eunice High athletic director Paul Trosclair said. “Every player will take the pre-test next Wednesday to get their baseline score.
“All of our coaches have been through training,” he said. “If we have any doubt, they are checked by a trainer.
“We believe in safety first – so if there is any doubt a player has to be removed from the game.”
A Grade 1 concussion is mild; Grade 2 is moderate; and Grade 3 is severe.
Grade 1 concussion does not result in a loss of consciousness. People who sustain grade 1 concussions may be confused or dazed for a short time (less than 15 minutes) after the injury, but recover completely within 20 minutes.
A Grade 2 concussion does not result in a loss of consciousness, but symptoms (e.g., confusion) last longer than 20 minutes.
People who sustain grade 2 concussions may not remember the injury (called post-traumatic amnesia).
A Grade 3 concussion is the most severe type. A person who sustains a grade 3 concussion loses consciousness (usually for a brief period of time) and often does not remember what occurred just before or just after the injury.
“It used to be how many fingers do you see,” Trosclair said of the sideline test. “Players played through concussions.
“While you can’t eliminate them all, I think the game is a lot safer now.”
Miller said he hasn’t seen many concussions at EHS.
“Concussions are a top priority and in the spotlight at all levels of footbal from little kids up to the NFL,” he said.
“It can’t be overlooked any more,” Miller said. “Back in the day, some coaches may have patted them on the back and return them to the game.
“We are concerned about the long-term issues about a concussion,” he said.
“The medical professional has the final word no matter how much the coach is jumping up and down saying ‘we have to have him in the game.’
“The coaches respect the decision made to pull a player with a suspected concussion.”
Miller said equipment and better tackling training has improved over the last 10 years and the game is safer but still not without risks.
“You can’t prevent everything but proper tackling is very important,” Trosclair said. “Spearing - hitting with the head down is very closely watched by the officials.
“Football is a contact sport so everything can’t be stopped,” he continued. “But what you after is the most important thing to a player’s recovery.”
Concussions are a very personal issue to Trosclair as his son Trenon suffered three in 12 months playing football at Southeastern Louisiana University and was forced to quit playing, and transferred to tbecome a member of the LSU Eunice baseball team.
“Everybody agreed the best thing was for him to give up football,” the coach said. “I much as we both love football, I wanted to see him be healthy.
“We want to see all of our guys stay healthy,” Trosclair said of his athletes.
“As long as they still have symtoms and their baseline score doesn’t come down to where it was before - they won’t be back on the field.
“It is really taken out of the coach’s hands which is for the best,” Trosclair said. “Players want to play and coaches want them back on the field so it is good to have a third party who doesn’t have a stake in the game and has the expertise to determine the severity of the concussion.”