Performing three tests on the sidelines can detect concussions with 100 percent accuracy
Athletes in contact sports such as football are especially prone to head injuries, but a fall while playing just about any kind of sport could potentially result in a minor brain injury such as a concussion. If players are not properly screened for concussions and sidelined when injuries are detected, a minor concussion could lead to serious and permanent brain injuries. There have been some notable cases where coaches and staff were held liable for athletes’ injuries after failing to adequately warn about the dangers of playing concussed and take adequate steps to prevent concussed athletes from harming themselves.
The difficulty is that many athletes tend to underreport their symptoms because they do not want to be sidelined. This can be true of pro players, college and high school athletes, or even children. The good news is that performing a simple, 1-minute vision test on the sidelines can detect concussions with a high degree of reliability.
The test, which is known as the King-Devick test, requires players to read a series of numbers from index cards or a tablet computer at the beginning of the season. The coach or trainer will time them and use this as a baseline for normal cognitive function. After a suspected head injury, the player will again read the numbers. If the athlete earns a slower time, this would be considered grounds for further medical evaluation.
A study conducted on football, soccer, and lacrosse players at the University of Florida found that the King-Devick test was 79 percent effective in detecting first-time concussions. When performed in conjunction with the Standardized Assessment of Concussion and Balance Error Scoring System tests, the detection rate went up to 100 percent. With these simple tools at hand, there should be no excuse for putting a concussed player in danger.
Unfortunately, not all athletes will have access to these diagnostics tests on the field. In the event of a concussion leading to a traumatic brain injury, it is important to realize that you may be facing significant medical expenses down the line. If the injury was caused by the negligence or recklessness of any other party, it is in your best interests to pursue compensation through a brain injury lawsuit. With help from an expert brain injury attorney such as Fernando D. Vargas, you can get the help you need to secure evidence and formulate arguments that will help hold responsible parties liable for their actions and ensure that you or your injured loved one receive ample compensation to cover present and future medical expenses.
