Another NFL Vet, Philadelphia Eagles Kevin Turner, Has Lou Gehrig’s Disease

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Posted on 24th August 2010 by gjohnson in Uncategorized

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Here’s another man’s life that’s about to be ruined as his reward for a career in pro-football: that of former Philadelphia Eagles fullback Kevin Turner. 

Turner, who retired from pro football when he was 31 in 2000, has been diagnosed as having ALS, so-called Lou Gehrig’s  disease.

http://www.myfoxphilly.com/dpp/sports/nfl/eagles/Kevin_Turner_ALS_Lou_Gehrigs_Disease_082310

Turner left football because of problems he had with his spinal column.  When Turner retired his doctors told him that he had the spinal column of a 65-year-old — at age 31!

But now Turner faces another health issue, the problem that the National Football League has been called on the carpet to address: permanent brain injury and disease that players sustain from repeated concussions.  

In terms of developing ALS, Turner has a lot of company. He is the 14th former National Football League player found to have ALS since 1960,  according to The Boston Globe, which is a higher rate than the disease occurs in most men.

Retired NFL players have also been developing Alzheimer’s disease and other forms of dementia at far higher rates than the general population. There is research going on right now on the issue, studies that include autopsies being performed on the bodies of ex-NFL players.

In light of a recent study, I wonder if  Turner was diagnosed correctly. Research released last week found that athletes that have been diagnosed as having Lou Gehrig’s disease, including Lou Gehrig, may actually have had a condition that is very similar to that malady but is in fact different. 

http://www.subtlebraininjury.com/blog/2010/08/study-links-brain-injury-to-condition-that-apes-lou-gehrigs-disease.html?preview=true&preview_id=521&preview_nonce=567261fa9a

In any event, Turner has serious brain-related problems, whether they are actually Lou Gehrig’s disease or something similar.

NFL Officials Discuss Ways To Get Players To Admit To Having Concussions

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Posted on 3rd June 2010 by gjohnson in Uncategorized

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Pro football players have been their own worse  enemy regarding concussions, since their macho culture is to downplay head injuries, in part because they want to stay off the bench and keep their gigs.

But at a conference Wednesday, the new co-chairmen of the National Football League’s head, neck and spine medical committee said they are looking for ways to change that attitude, so players are honest and report head injuries.  http://www.nytimes.com/aponline/2010/06/02/sports/AP-FBN-NFL-Concussions.html?_r=1&ref=sports

Dr. Richard Ellenborgen and Dr. Hunt Batjer, the committee chairmen, were at a conference on brain injury held in  Washington by Johns Hopkins Universiry. Representatives of all the NFL teams were present.

The committee is kicking around the idea of offering players financial  incentives to report concussions, according to Ellenborgen. The NFL is also considering guaranteeing that players won’t lose their place in their teams’ lineups or rosters if they have to sit out some games due to a concussion.

The other idea being tossed around is putting a transmitter in each players’ helmet, to track every blow — small or big — that players sustain.

There are other options beyond those, such as trimming off-season practice time, making helmets safer and teaching players not to tackle headfirst.

But the bottom line at the conference was this: New studies are needed on football and brain injury.      

  

NFL Commissioner Goodell Asks 44 Governors To Pass Youth Concussion Laws

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Posted on 24th May 2010 by gjohnson in Uncategorized

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National Football League Commissioner Roger Goodell last week sent letters to the governors of 44 states imploring them to pass laws, like the one in Washington state, that protect young student athletes who suffer concussions. http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5hvOCfeO2dM98z2jlCj7eqv0lDfUwD9FSM7OO2

Goodell’s letter, according to the Associated Press, was expected to be mentioned by Dr. Richard Ellenborgen during a concussion forum that Congressman John Conyers, D-Mich., is holding today, Monday, in Manhattan.

The NFL put its head in the sand for many years in terms of acknowledging the long-term impact of brain injury. Now, the league and Goodell are actively promoting the institution of proper guidelines for those who suffer concussions while playing sports.

“The NFL has taken a much more aggressive approach in recent years in identifying and treating concussions among our own players,” Goodell wrote in his letter. “We have implemented an awareness campaign to make certain that everyone in the league, including players and coaches, is better equipped to identify concussion symptoms. Our primary rule is: The medical staffs determine when a player is ready to return, not the coach nor the player himself.”

http://www.nfl.com/news/story?id=09000d5d81847223&template=with-video-with-comments&confirm=true

The NFL is urging the 44 states without student-brain injury guides to use the Lystedt Law in Washington as their model. That legislation is named after Zackery Lystedt, a high school player who went back into a game in 2008 after sustaineing a concussion, and then had to be hospitalized and nearly died.   

Dr. Ellenborgen was Lystedt’s surgeon. The NFL’s Head, Neck and Spine Committee is chaired by Dr. Ellenborgen and Dr. Hunt Batjer, who testified at today’s hearing.

 ”The Center for Disease Control estimates that there may be as many as 3.8 million sports and recreation-related concussions in the United States each year,” Goodell wrote in his letter. “These injuries are sustained by both boys and girls in numerous contact sports.”

He continued, “Given our experience at the professional level, we believe a similar approach is appropriate when dealing with concussions in all youth sports. That is why the NFL and its clubs urge you to support legislation that would better protect your state’s young athletes by mandating a more formal and aggressive approach to treatment of concussions.”

The Lystedt law’s has three major components: Athletes, parents and coaches must be educated about the dangers of concussions each year; if a young athlete is suspected of having a concussion, he/she must be removed from a game or practice and not be permitted to return to play; and a licensed health care professional must clear the young athlete to return to play in the subsequent days or weeks.

“We would urge that similar legislation be adopted in your state,” Goodell wrote. “We believe that sports and political leaders can help raise awareness of these dangerous injuries and better ensure that they are treated in the proper and most effective way. Young athletes, as well as parents, coaches and school officials in your state, will thank you for taking a stand on this important issue.”