Sports medicine stats: Decrease in head impacts by limiting full-contact practices
Dr. David Geier is an orthopedic surgeon and sports medicine specialist in Charleston, South Carolina and Charlotte, North Carolina. He helps athletes and active people feel and perform their best, regardless of age, injuries and medical history. He has been featured in major media publications and shows over 2,500 times throughout his career.
In 2014, the Michigan High School Athletic Association limited high school football teams to no more than 2 collision practice days in any week. Researchers measured the head impacts to football players at one Michigan high school over the course of a season, before and after the rule change. A total of 15,398 impacts (592 impacts per player per season) were captured before the rule change and 8269 impacts (345 impacts per player per season) after the change. They found an average 42% decline in impact exposure occurred across all players. The largest reduction occurred among linemen. The magnitude of the impacts remained essentially unchanged between the years.
Through the stories of a dozen athletes whose injuries and recovery advanced the field (including Joan Benoit, Michael Jordan, Brandi Chastain, and Tommy John), Dr. Geier explains how sports medicine makes sports safer for the pros, amateurs, student-athletes, and weekend warriors alike.
change. A total of 15,398 impacts (592 impacts per player per season) were captured before the rule change and 8269 impacts (345 impacts per player per season) after the change. They found an average 42% decline in impact exposure occurred across all players. The largest reduction occurred among linemen. The magnitude of the impacts remained essentially unchanged between the years.