About This Blog:
- According to a recent report published in Concussion, a new training program is helping young athletes avoid head and spine-related injuries in high impact sports.
- Football is an aggressive sport that has fueled many national debates due to its long-term, negative health effects.
- In this blog, Dr. Mark Giovanini of NeuroMicroSpine shares information about this new training program for football players.
Researchers from the University of New Hampshire (UNH) are conducting a two-year study on young athletes at risk of developing head, neck, and spine injuries while playing high-impact sports like football and rugby. So far, the university has been able to showcase results from the first year of the study. According to Medical Daily, the research team looked into the effects of helmet-less tackling drills, which is called the HuTTTM intervention program, and their impact on reducing injury.
This may sound dangerous, but it’s actually an innovative technique that is meant to alter tackling behaviors. During the study, 50 football players were divided into two test groups: an intervention group and a control group.
The Intervention Group
During pre-season, football players in the intervention group were tasked with performing tackling drills without their helmets and shoulder pads twice a week. Once the regular football season started, the drills were lessened from twice a week to once a week. In both instances, players had to tackle an upright pad, dummy, or a teammate holding a padded shield for five minutes.
The Control Group
For players in the control group, drills were performed at the same time, rate, and duration, but players had to keep their helmets and shoulder pads on.
The UNH football coaching staff supervised the players while having them wear head-impact sensors behind their right ear(s). These high-tech devices monitored the frequency, location, and acceleration of the head impacts for players in both test groups.
The Results
The results from the study were astounding, to say the least. Players in the intervention group experienced 30 percent fewer head impacts per exposure than the players in the control group. Although more research is needed before the program can be introduced to all athletes nationwide, the drills are showing great promise in reducing the risk of concussions and long-term health complications. The method behind the madness modifies behaviors so players are being more careful and smarter about each hit they make or take. To learn more about the study, visit The Journal of Athletic Training.
For more information on minimally invasive spine surgery or to make an appointment with Dr. Giovanini, please call (850) 934-7545 or visit https://www.neuromicrospine.com/request-appointment.
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The advice and information contained in this article is for educational purposes only and is not intended to replace or counter a physician’s advice or judgment. Please always consult your physician before taking any advice learned here or in any other educational medical material.