Sunday, September 18, 2016
Donors’ gift to benefit Detroit PAL youth football program over five years
Former Detroit Lions offensive linemen Robert Sims Jr. and Dominic Raiola have been on the receiving end of countless collisions and jarring contact on the playing field. Now the two are demonstrating it’s better to give than receive. The two recently gave a $100,000 gift to Beaumont Health’s concussion awareness program to benefit youth playing football in the Detroit Police Athletic League.
Beaumont’s neuroscience team will provide concussion awareness and education to Detroit PAL football and cheer participants, ages 6-14, for five years. This will include education for coaches and trainers, too. All players ages 11-14 will participate in a baseline concussion screening program.
“Football-related concussions are very real to me and Dominic. A lot of people don’t know they can be dangerous for kids, too. It can be overlooked. After hearing about Beaumont’s Concussion Health Awareness and Management Program and meeting with them, I was impressed,” said Sims, also a member of Detroit PAL’s board of directors. “I saw an opportunity to enhance the PAL football program. I want it to be the best in the country. We’re hopeful our gift will create greater awareness among players, parents and coaches - resulting in fewer concussions.”
A concussion is a brain injury. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, a concussion is caused by a bump, blow or jolt to the head that affects the normal function of the brain.
“A concussion is an invisible injury that disrupts the way the brain works by affecting a person’s mental stamina and normal thought process. After an athlete is concussed, his brain must work harder to complete simple tasks. It also causes memory problems and confusion,” explained Rebbeca Grysiewicz, D.O., medical director, Beaumont Concussion Clinic in Royal Oak. “Common symptoms also include: headache, nausea, dizziness, blurry vision and a sensitivity to light/noise.”
As more research findings are published on sports-related concussions, there is great public interest in education and awareness at all levels of the game: youth to professional.
“All concussions are serious because they involve an injury to the brain,” said Dr. Grysiewicz. “Returning athletes to the field too soon can result in serious cognitive issues and in some cases, death. Younger athletes, children and teens are at a much greater risk for concussion because their brains are still developing.”
Repeated concussions can cause extensive and permanent brain damage, including chronic traumatic encephalopathy, or CTE, a degenerative condition similar to Alzheimer’s disease.
A University of Pittsburgh study cited youth football players, ages 8-12, were concussed at a rate three to four times higher during games than older players - high school and college.
Football accounts for 47 percent of all sports-related concussions in high schools.
“Youth football is our largest program, with 3,500 participants, and we look forward to working with Beaumont’s concussion awareness team,” said Dewayne Jones, director of athletics, Detroit PAL. “We can’t thank Rob and Dominic enough for helping us strengthen our organization’s concussion awareness.”
Beaumont’s Concussion Health Awareness and Management Program, or CHAMP, is a community-based program made possible by philanthropic funding and offered to student athletes at no charge.
“Mr. Sims and Raiola’s gift to Beaumont will impact thousands of youths at Detroit PAL. We’re most grateful for their generosity,” said Margaret Cooney Casey, senior vice president and chief development officer, Beaumont Health. “Their support will allow our concussion experts to increase awareness efforts across Detroit through our partnership with PAL.”
The CHAMP team uses ImPACT, a computerized brain injury measurement tool for determining an athlete’s baseline measurement at the beginning of each season. It identifies subtle changes in brain function, evaluates post-injury condition and tracks recovery. This is the same tool used by the NFL, MLB and NHL.
ImPACT testing detects improvement in cognitive function, including a key indicator: reaction time.
“An essential measurement, reaction time, determines whether an athlete is ready to return to his sport. Recognition and proper management of a concussion as soon as it occurs can help prevent further injury,” Grysiewicz said.
Rest is still the best medicine.
“Concussive rehabilitation consists primarily of complete rest, including an appropriate amount of time away from school and athletic activities,” said Dr. Grysiewicz. “In effect, this gives the brain a chance to recover.”