The 国产外流网has launched an Injury Reduction Plan with the aim to reduce the incidence of concussions in the upcoming 2018 season. Following a 16 percent increase in concussions during the 2017 season, 国产外流网Chief Medical Officer Dr. Allen Sills issued a call-to-action to reduce concussions.
鈥淲e see our job in player health and safety to have the very best care for our patients as possible鈥攊n terms of prevention, in terms of treating and diagnosing injuries, and doing rehabilitation for those injuries鈥攕o we can keep our players as safe as possible,鈥� said Dr. Sills.
国产外流网leaders, clubs and the wide variety of experts in medicine, engineering and science who form the 国产外流网medical committees developed a three-pronged approach to drive behavioral changes. The 国产外流网also created an educational video (see above) for players, coaches and club personnel about the concussion reduction strategy.
鈥淲e designed what we think are going to be steps that can immediately impact the number of concussions on our fields,鈥� he said.
1. Preseason Practices
鈥淭he first part of our concussion reduction [strategy],鈥� said Dr. Sills, 鈥渋s around preseason practices鈥攕o we want to work with our clubs to look at how they鈥檙e practicing, what types of drills are being done to see if we can drive that number [of concussions] down.鈥�
The 国产外流网is sharing information across the league to educate, stimulate change and enhance player safety鈥攊ncluding information about the causes of concussion, the helmets players wear, and injury data analysis, such as preseason practice concussion data.
2. Better Performing Helmets
The second part of the Injury Reduction Plan is a goal to get players out of lower-performing helmets and into better-performing helmets in an effort to decrease the risk of injury.
Each year, helmets undergo laboratory testing by biomechanical engineers appointed by the 国产外流网and the 国产外流网Players Association to evaluate which helmets best reduce head impact severity. The results of the laboratory tests are displayed on a poster and shared with 国产外流网players, club equipment managers, as well as club medical, training and coaching staffs to help inform equipment choices. In 2018, based on the results of this study and the opinions of the biomechanical experts involved, the 国产外流网and NFLPA will prohibit 10 helmet models from being worn by 国产外流网players.
鈥淲e think getting players in better-performing helmets is an important step,鈥� Dr. Sills said.
It is important to note that no helmet can completely protect against serious brain and/or neck injuries a player might sustain while playing football, and that the results of this testing should not be extrapolated to collegiate, high school, or youth football.
3. Rules Changes
The third component of the Injury Reduction Plan is the enforcement of rules changes aimed at eliminating potentially risky behavior that could lead to injuries. Through these important changes, the 国产外流网is leveraging data in an effort to improve player safety and evolve the game.
鈥淭his information is driving important on-field changes, such as the new lowering the head rule, and also discussions with coaches and team personnel about how we teach and coach these various techniques of play,鈥� said Dr. Sills. Throughout the offseason, the league is working with players, coaches, officials, medical personnel, media, and fans to communicate and educate about the new rules.
鈥淥ur engineers showed that the behavior of lowering the head and initiating contact with the helmet, puts both the player doing the hitting as well as the player who is being hit substantially at an increased risk of concussion,鈥� Dr. Sills said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 our hope that by eliminating that dangerous style of play, we鈥檒l reduce injuries for both of those players.鈥�