Concussions in the NFL have been a hot topic as of late and rightfully so considering the recent injury sustained by Miami QB Tua Tagovailoa. Besides Tua, there have been many NFL players that have sustained head injuries. The league is acutely aware of the situation and has taken strides in order to minimize the potential after-effects (sequelae) of head trauma. The NFL is an inherently violent sport but as the NFL and NFLPA work to minimize the impact of concussion in football it’s important to look at where the concussion numbers have been trending in the league.
As we look further into the data around concussions, we know that the NFL is making significant efforts to reduce the number overall and potential long-term effects of a concussion. The “protocol” to additional spotters, unaffiliated neurologic consultants, and locker room evaluations has all been shown to be effective at not only identifying concussions, but also reducing the long-term impact. Overall, the key is, when it is safe to allow a player to return to play they can. However, the processes need to be followed in order for this to work well. Tua’s event reminded teams, fans, and the league the importance of following a step-wise and calculated approach to concussion management. In addition, players like Cam Newton also reminded us of that in 2018 following implementation of new concussion protocol standards. And, we have already seen an amended concussion evaluation process in 2022 where if a player exhibits any form of ataxia (disturbance of locomotion or gait after a potential concussive event), they will be removed from the game.
The number of concussions reported on game injury reports by season back to 2016 - The Predictors
Since 2016 we have seen variable numbers in reported concussions. As new protocols emerge it’s very likely that we will see the numbers potentially increase as the definition of a concussive event continues to evolve. There will be an amplified focus on the diagnosis and “spotting” a concussion early – as we know that the after-effects of a potential concussive event are minimized with brain rest. In addition, we know that from NLF summer training camp and the new Guardian cap, the league reported approximately a 10% decrease in camp concussive events. However, we should all be prepared for an increased diagnosis of concussions as well as potentially longer time missed by players.
The number of concussions reported on game injury reports up to week 6 back to 2016 - The Predictors
Over the first 6 weeks this season we have already seen the mean number of concussions rise on the injury report. The previous two years have been significantly lower than prior years and this one alike. This tells us that there aren’t necessarily more but that it was time for a change in the protocol. The old protocol did its job in reduction over the years, but it was time the new rules were put in place. These will hopefully get the NFL one step closer in protecting its most valuable asset-- its players. The new “ataxia” addition will be an important addition as it can be seen by everyone and leaves little to interpretation. That means that instead of 1 spotter you have hundreds of thousands at home and in the stadium.
Over the next few weeks, we will watch this develop in real time. Of course, this is all incumbent upon coaches, medical staff personnel, the league, and players are all working together to make the game as safe as possible. There will have to be a hard line drawn in the sand on what is and isn’t safe for players to avoid potentially severe consequences. We will be closely watching how the diagnosis of a concussion evolves this season – and monitoring the data on how concussions are handled to keep NFL players healthy for the long-term.
