NFL Requires Standard On-Field Concussion Testing
Last week, the NFL made an announcement that beginning this fall season (2011-2012) every team will be required to use the same neurologic test on the field in order to determine if a player has sustained a brain injury during play. This test must be administered before the player is allowed to return to the game. The test, “The NFL Sidelines Concussion Exam” is a group of tests which are used to evaluate concentration, balance and basic thinking skills. The test is also required to be given within a 6-8 minute window in order to correctly and accurately identify if a player has suffered a brain injury.
Every player in the NFL will be tested at the beginning of the season in order to determine a personal baseline. This will allow the coaches, players and training staff to have an idea of how the player should respond to the tests while they are health. If the player is suspected of suffering an injury, the test will be administered and the results will be compared to the baseline test. If the results from the on-field test show a dramatic dropoff in performance, the player will be automatically removed from the game.
Many teams already have some sort of baseline testing in place, however, due to inconsistencies across the many teams in the NFL, some players are returning to play when they shouldn’t be. This new test is designed to be a consistent way of tracking concussions and preventing serious injuries in the future.