NFL Hosts Concussion Seminar At Johns Hopkins University

The NFL is hosting a league-sponsored seminar at Johns Hopkins University on Wednesday to help educate medical personnel from all 32 teams on the latest findings on concussion research.  Dr. Richard Ellenbogen, an expert in the field of memory and cognitive issues, spoke with Alex Marvez and Jim Miller on Sirius NFL Radio:

"They're going to go over all the data and information concerning the long-term effects of traumatic brain injuries in football players,"

Ellenbogen and Dr. Hunt Batjer have recently been slated as the new co-chairmen of the NFL's head, neck and spine committee, where they hope to emphasize making professional football safer for current athletes, as well as improve the standard of living for players of past eras.  The co-chairmen were recently criticized before a House Judiciary Committee for not focusing more on improving data recovery methods for safety equipment.  

Ellenbogen refuted these claims on Sirius:

"(We) are absolutely on the cutting edge of studying helmet technology. We need to know what kind of helmet technology will prevent concussions, but that's only part of the picture."

"The NFL wants this committee to look at the ‘return to play' (rules) and dissect them carefully. They also want us to go to the best researchers in the world and ask what it is that we need to do that we're not doing to protect the player and make it safer. Sit them out longer? Are there cognitive exercises they can do to heal better? All that (research) is being done at the same time."

As of last fall, players who have suffered a head injury or concussion must receive medical clearance before re-entering a game. The NFL also mandated that each of the 32 teams have a on-site neurologist available for consultations.