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If you have been watching any of the Philadelphia Flyers in the Stanley Cup finals recently, you probably noticed the hard hits that are so common with the sport of hockey. But the hitting isn’t all fun and games, and can lead to serious concussions and brain injuries. What makes matters worse is when players ignore the signs of concussions and continue to play, a Canadian study revealed.
The study, which is said to be the most expansive concussion research ever done in professional hockey, found that 27 percent of NHL hockey players who continued to play despite having signs of a concussions and did not receive a medical examination during the game ended up missing more than 10 days of play.
Ultimately, the study found that players who ignore the symptoms and keep playing could likely end up with a more serious brain injury that takes longer to recover from, said the lead author of the study who is a researcher and physician at the University of Calgary’s Faculty of Kinesiology.
One former Philadelphia Flyer who has a history of concussions and was part of the study is Keith Primeau. Primeau was forced to retire after 14 years in the NHL because of post-concussion syndrome. He told reporters that he continued to play after suffering two concussions and then had to miss 73 games the following season. The NHL veteran said he still suffers from headaches daily, a constant reminder of the injury his brain has suffered.
The researchers also pinpointed four signs after a head trauma occurs that should tell players not to go back into the game: headaches, memory problems, fatigue and an abnormal neurological exam.
But what does this mean for the average American? Well, it means that if you think you have suffered a brain injury, whether from an accident, assault or other trauma, it is extremely important to see your physician right away before your condition is made worse.
Additionally, it is sometimes possible to sue responsible parties for their part in the brain injury, which could bring compensation for medical treatment and possibly other damages. Moreover, your time to file a claim against the negligent party may be limited because of state laws, so if you suffered a brain injury, contact a personal injury attorney in your state as soon as you can for some advice.
Source: Global BC, “NHL players who ignore concussion symptoms pay a steep price: U of C study,” Vicki Hall, 4/18/2011.