Jacob Jardel
Assistant Managing Editor
@JJardel_Writing
One of the running concerns in the world of sports medicine is the treatment of concussions, especially among student athletes.
Throughout the years, doctors have studied the effects of concussions on many former athletes – particularly football players – to see the long-term effects of the injury. The National Football League, for example, has put in numerous efforts to prevent these head injuries.
After news hit of the suicide-related death of former Ohio State player Kosta Karageorge, concussions turned into a more vital concern.
According to the Cameron head athletic trainer, Andrew Batista, Cameron’s lack of football does set the university apart from others regarding the prevalence of concussions.
“We do have occasional issues with basketball, baseball and softball,” he said, “but overall, we are very lucky compared to other universities.”
Regardless, Batista says that Cameron’s athletic program has taken strides in the direction of proper care for Aggie athletes who have sustained concussions. More specifically, the treatment has become more symptom-based.
“What this means is that instead of initial evaluation defining timetables and grades,” Batista said, “it has been determined that symptoms, such as headache, stomachache, trouble focusing, etc., have been added to the evaluation and treatment process. The biggest addition to the treatment process is the incorporation of stress reduction to the treatment process.”
To help identify and treat concussions in student athletes, the Cameron sports teams have a variety of technology at their disposal. Batista said the main program the university uses is the Pearson Concussion Vital Signs, which trainers and team doctors can review.
“This is an online detection testing that uses such tests as the Stroop test, Shifting Attention Test, etc.,” Batista said, “that have been used for years to understand several different parts of the brain functioning.”
Other tests available to study concussions include the Standard Assessment of Concussion and Impact tests to observe brain function. Furthermore, the Balance Error Scoring System test is a universally-available test for balance, kinesthesia and proprioception.
On top of the technology available at CU, the Aggie athletic trainers have access to Anne McClure’s Physical Therapy Solutions in Lawton, which helps with other medical needs. According to Batista, the clinic has been an invaluable resource.
“We have been very lucky to have a good relationship with Anne and her clinic,” he said, “which has cutting edge technology.”
Outside of the technology realm, much of the treatment for concussed Cameron athletes translates into the classroom. Dr. Keith Vitense, faculty athletic adviser, has led the way in advocating proper classroom-based assistance for athletes with concussions.
“Professors in all departments at the school have also been great in allowing for accommodations in this area as well,” Batista said. “The stress of concentrating exams, quizzes, homework or just maintenance studying can actually be grating on a healing brain.”
The main aim for Batista and the other trainers is to help the brain completely rest, even if it means giving up cell phone use, television viewing and other modern technological amenities. Though rough for the athletes, Batista feels this aspect is vital to healing.
“Ideally,” he said, “we have them sleeping and drinking tons of water after we clear life-threatening injury.”
Regardless of whether the healing aid comes from the classroom or from tech, Batista believes the key to the progress the nation has made in concussion treatment comes from understanding the injury, from initial trauma to long-term effects.
“It is due to this that we are better able to deal with the injury and prevent or minimize long-term effects to the student-athlete,” he said, “as well as the short term.”
Furthermore, Batista said that this understanding has brought insight that helps trainers treat players both technologically and psychologically.
“It has helped us [athletic trainers] not lose sleep at night,” he said, “– being able to be reassured that we are doing everything in our power to put the student athlete in a position where they will succeed, and that the entire support system … [is] on-board with the treatment plan and [understands] how serious and long-lasting these injuries can be.”
For Batista, the knowledge available now is only the beginning of where trainers and technology can take treatment.
“I see this understanding only growing,” he said, “[as well as] our ability to minimize the effects of this injury to very safe levels.”