OPINION | The NFL’s changes after the Tua Tagovailoa disaster are welcome. They also fall short of what’s needed to protect players.
, players who show signs of ataxia—balance and coordination issues that may be caused by brain or nerve damage—cannot return to games, no matter what team doctors or coaches believe about the source of the problem.
I am a neurosurgeon who served as an unaffiliated neurotrauma consultant on the sidelines of NFL games for four football seasons, from 2015-2018. When I was on the sidelines, assessments consisted of components of a physical exam and questions designed to assess mental status; for example, tasks assessing memory, concentration, and the ability to calculate.
The NFL’s interest is, of course, in maintaining their grip on American attention. That grip relies on the compelling drama of its players moving the ball at the peril of life and limb. While NFL Chief Medical Officer Allen Sills and his team has launched a laudable effort to reduce most injuries, ultimately the players are what sells the game, and taking them out only damages it.
Which is to say I fear that some players will only seek improved diagnostics for brain injury after their careers have ended.
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