Sports-Related Brain Injuries On The Rise
An increase in the number of sports related traumatic brain injuries has many neurological surgeons and families of athletes concerned with the quality of protective gear.
The Brain Injury Resource Center estimates 300,000 traumatic brain injuries a year are sports-related with concussions being the most common. The American Association of Neurological Surgeons declared traumatic brain injuries to be the leading cause of death from sports-related injuries. According to the Association, from 2008 to 2009 the number of traumatic brain injuries in baseball and softball increased by more than a third, from 26,964 to 38,394. Cycling and football top the list with the highest number of brain injuries.
Dr. Jeff Cone, a Texas neurologist, said equipment is safer now than it was a decade ago, but there is still room for improvement in the design of equipment and prevention of traumatic brain injuries.