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>> COMING UP NEXT ON INSIGHTS ON PBS HAWAI'I, ARE THE EFFECTS OF CONCUSSIONS THREATENING
KIDS' PARTICIPATION IN SPORTS. ¶
¶ >>MALIA: ALOHA AND WELCOME INSIGHTS ON PBS
HAWAI'I. I'M MALIA MATTOCH. OVER THE PAST TWO SCHOOL YEARS, THERE WERE MORE THAN 900
CONCUSSIONSES REPORTED BY STUDENT ATHLETES IN HAWAI'I. PRIMARILY FROM PLAYING FOOTBALL
AND GIRL'S SOCCER. OUR PLAYERS BEING INCOURAGED TO PLAY ROUGHER, IS THE SAFETY EQUIPMENT NOT
STRONG ENOUGH OR ARE WE JUST MORE AWARE OF THE DANGER OF CONCUSSIONS? OUR PARENTS PUSHING
THEIR STUDENT ATHLETES TOO HARD? WE INVITE TO YOU JOIN OUR CONVERSATION BY CALLING, E‑MAILING
OR TWEETING YOUR QUESTIONS AND COMMENTS. NOW, TO OUR PANEL. MIANO IS THE HEAD FOOTBALL COACH
AT KAISER HIGH SCHOOL. RICH MIANO SUSTAINED MULTIPLE CONCUSSIONS DURING LONG CAREER PLAYING
FOOTBALL IN HIGH SCHOOL, COLLEGE AND HIGHEST LEVEL THE NATIONAL FOOTBALL LEAGUE. ROSS OSHIRO
IS THE CODIRECTOR OF THE HAWAI'I CONCUSSIONS AWARENESS AN MANAGEMENT PROGRAM WHICH MONITORS
ALL OF HAWAII'S STUDENTS FROM KINDERGARTEN THROUGH 12TH GRADE. JANELLE NOMURA IS A FORMER
COLLEGE AND HIGH SCHOOL BASKETBALL PLAYER WHO SUSTAINED 8 CONCUSSIONS WHILE PLAYING.
JANELLE IS NOW A BASKETBALL COACH AT MID‑PACIFIC INSTITUTE AND AWE STUDENT AT THE UNIVERSITY
OF HAWAI'I AT MANOA. DR. RACHEL COEL IS THE MEDICAL DIRECTOR AT THE QUEEN'S CENTER FOR
SPORTS MEDICINE. DR. COEL ALSO SERVES AS THE STAFF PHYSICIAN FOR ALL TEAMS AT HAWAI'I
PACIFIC UNIVERSITY. THANK YOU ALL FOR BEING HERE. LET'S START DR. COEL WITH YOU. WHAT
IS A CONCUSSIONS AND WHY IS THIS TOUCH A HOT TOPIC RIGHT NOW.
>> I LIKE IT, BROKE IT DOWN INTO SIMPLE TERMS. CONCUSSIONS THOUGHT OF TRANSIENT OR TEMPORARY
IRINJURY TO THE BRAIN. TRULY IS AN INJURY TO THE BRAIN THAT WHEN IT OCCURS, IT CAN DISRUPT
THE NORMAL FUNCTION. BRAIN. TO MY PARENTS WHO ARE YOUNGER, I'LL OFTEN EXPLAIN IT LIKE
A COMPUTER THAT'S A DESK TOP. UNPLUG IT AND HAS TO REBOOT. IT'S A TEMPORARY PROBLEM. AND
DURING THAT TIME, THAT COMPUTER IS LOST ITS FUNCTION JUST LIKE YOUR BRAIN HAS LOST ITS
FUNCTION. HOPE WOULD BE THAT IT REGAINS FULL FUNCTION. I THINK WHY THIS IS AN SUCH AN IMPORTANT
TOPIC AND HOT TOPIC, WE DON'T KNOW A LOT ABOUT IT. WE KEEP SEEING CASES OF IT. LEARNING MORE
AS WE GO. WE REALLY DON'T KNOW A LOT. THAT'S WHERE IT'S BECOME SUCH AN IMPORTANT QUESTION.
WE KNOW THERE'S MORE RESEARCH THAT NEEDS TO BE DONE SO WE CAN GATHER THOSE ANSWERS AND
PROTECT OURSELVES. >>MALIA: JANELLE, YOU HAD EXPERIENCE WITH
THIS QUITE RECENTLY. HOW DID CONCUSSION CHANGE YOUR LIFE?
>> BASICALLY, I THINK IF CHANGED MY LIFE BECAUSE THIS WAS MY LAST CONCUSSIONS AND I HAD NO
CHOICE IN THE DECISION. SO THE U.H. TEAM DOCTOR JUST SAID, THIS IS ENDING CAREER FOR YOUR
SAFETY. SO AFTER THAT, IT WAS MORE OF A TYPE OF DANGEROUS SITUATION WHERE I THOUGHT BEFORE,
IT WAS JUST ANOTHER CONCUSSION. IT'S OKAY. FIVE WEEKS LATER, I'LL BE PLAYING, NOW, IT'S
LIKE AFTER THIS CONCUSSION, WE DON'T KNOW WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN TO YOU. RACKING UP
THE CONCUSSIONS. SERIOUS PROBLEMS MIGHT OCCUR THEREAFTER. AFTER THAT, I WAS THINKING, SOMETHING
SERIOUS MIGHT HAPPEN. IT'S NOT JUST A BROKEN WRIST. IT'S BRAIN EFFECT IT'S AND IF I CAN'T
THINK NORMALLY, THAT ACTUALLY REALLY SCARED ME.
>>MALIA: ARE YOU SEEING A LOT OF THIS IN TERMS OF STATEWIDE DIFFERENT SCHOOLS, THIS ISSUE
BECOMING IN THE CENTER OF PEOPLE'S MINDS? >> I THINK IT IS, IT'S IN MEDIA PARENTS, COACHES,
EVERYBODY INVOLVED IS AWARE OF THE CONCUSSIONS. AND I THINK WE'RE GETTING BETTER AT KNOWING
THE SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS OF CONCUSSIONS, BUT LIKE JANELLE IS TALKING ABOUT, IT'S THE AFTER
EFFECTS OF WHAT HAPPENS TO THE STUDENT AFTER THE CONCUSSIONS AND BECAUSE PARENTS FORGET
BECAUSE IF NOT, VISIBLE, YOU LOOK FINE ON THE OUTSIDE. ON THE INSIDE, IT'S STILL RECOVERING.
AND IT CAN TAKE WEEKS, MONTHS FOR THEM TO RECOVER. AND THE YOUNGER THE CHILD IS, THE
LONGER THEY TAKE TO RECOVER. >>MALIA: WOULD YOU SAY, RICH, THERE'S BEEN
A HUGE CHANGE IN CONSCIOUSNESS ON THIS ISSUE SINCE YOU WERE PLAYING IN HIGH SCHOOL AND
COLLEGE AND EVEN IN THE NFL. >> I'M NOT SURE WHEN I WAS PLAYING AT HIGH
SCHOOL OR COLLEGE OR THE NFL IN THE EIGHTIES AND 90'S, THAT THIS WAS EVEN A TOPIC AND WHEN
I WAS FIRST APPROACHED WITH THE NFL CONCUSSION LAWSUIT, MY WIFE IMMEDIATELY SAID, WE'VE NEVER
SUED ANYBODY. AFTER THINKING ABOUT THIS, IT WASN'T A MATTER OF SUING ESPECIALLY FOR MONEY
GRABBER. IT WAS MORE OF AN EDUCATIONAL GRAB BECAUSE WE KNEW THE IMPORTANCE OF CONCUSSIONS
AND IN ORDER TO GET THAT OUT THERE, THIS ENVELOPE CONCUSSION LAWSUIT I THINK HAS DONE MORE FOR
THE EDUCATION, FROM POP WARNER TO AYSO TO BASKETBALL, TO ALL SPORTS, EVEN SKATEBOARDERS
AN RECREATIONAL ATHLETES THAN ANYTHING COULD HAVE POSSIBLY DONE. I'M VERY PLEASED WITH
WHERE THE LAWSUIT WENT IN TERMS OF EDUCATION A.M. STAND POINT.
>>MALIA: YOU'RE REFERRING TO THE WHAT IS 765ER MILLION DOLLARS. PEOPLE WHO AREN'T FAMILIAR
WITH THAT, TELL PEOPLE HOW THE LAWSUIT CAME ABOUT.
>> IT CAME ABOUT BECAUSE I THINK ATTORNEYS REALIZED NOT ONLY THE IMPORTANCE BUT THE POTENTIAL
WINDFALL IN TERMS OF MONEY. THEY WERE ORIGINALLY TALKING ABOUT A 2 TO $4 BILLION SETTLEMENT
WHICH WOULD HAVE AT UNIVERSAL HEALTH COVERAGE FOR THE 18,000 FORMER NFL PLAYERS WALKING
THE STREETS. SO OBVIOUSLY, THEY DIDN'T GET THE AMOUNT OF MONEY OR THE AMOUNT OF COVERAGE
THEY WOULD HAVE GOT, BUT I THINK IN THE END, EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITY AS WELL AS TAKING
THAT MONEY TO THE PLAYERS WHO HAVE SEVERE COGNITIVE FORGETS AND I THINK ‑‑ EFFECTS
THAT'S BEEN FANTASTIC. THAT'S WHERE THE MONEY SHOULD GO.
>>MALIA: LET ME ASK YOU PLAY DEVIL'S ADVOCATE FOR A MOMENT. FOR THOSE PEOPLE OUT THERE WHO
MIGHT SAY, HEY, EVERYONE KNOWS FOOTBALL IS TOUGH SPORT. PROFESSIONAL PLAYERS PAID VERY,
VERY WELL. THEY GET IN THERE AND DO IT T WHY BACK THERE
AND SUE. >> FROM AN EDUCATIONAL STANDPOINT, I ALSO
THINK THAT AS WELL AS PROFESSION AN ATHLETES ARE BEING PAID TODAY, THIS LAWSUIT IS GOING
ALL THE WAY BACK TO THE EARLY DAYS OF THE NATIONAL FOOTBALL LEAGUE AND MORE IMPORTANT,
AS WE TALKED ABOUT, THE CHILDREN AND RECREATION AND OTHER SPORTS AS WELL. SO I THINK PROBABLY
SOME PEOPLE WERE IN IT FOR THE MONEY AND SOMETIMES THAT'S WHAT PEOPLE TALK ABOUT IT BEING LAWYERS
AND ALL OTHER THINGS. I THINK MORE IMPORTANTLY, PEOPLE WERE IN IT
FOR THE RIGHT REASON AND THAT'S IN THERE WAS NO MONEY DISTRIBUTED WHATSOEVER, THIS WOULD
BE A GREAT EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITY AND THE FACT THAT THERE IS MONEY BEING DISTRIBUTED
TO SOME OF THESE PLAYERS THAT HAVE NO PENSIONS, HAVE NO INSURANCE, PAID RELATIVELY LARGE AMOUNT
OF MONEY FOR A FEW YEARS, THEY NEED MEDICAL COVERAGE AND I THINK THAT'S WHAT IT'S FOR.
IT'S DONE A GREAT JOB OF BEING BEING DISTRIBUTED. >>MALIA: THESE CHANGES, EDUCATION COMING UP
BECAUSE OF THINGS LIKE THIS LAWSUIT, ROSS, CAN YOU TELL US A LITTLE BIT, WHAT SORT OF
CHANGES ARE BEING MADE TO TRY TO PROTECT KIDS IN SPORTS?
>> I THINK THIS STARTED PROBABLY BACK IN 2010. THAT'S WHEN THE NATIONAL FEDERATION OF HIGH
SCHOOL ASSOCIATIONS MADE A CHANGE TO THEIR RULES OF THE GAME. THEY STARTED WITH FOOTBALL.
THEY BASICALLY SAID IF ANY ATHLETE SHOWED ANY SIGN OR SYMPTOM OF A CONCUSSION, THEY
ARE TO BE REMOVED FROM THE GAME AND EVALUATED BY THE HEALTH CARE PROFESSIONAL. THAT WENT
FROM FOOTBALL, THAT YEAR TO EVERY SINGLE SPORT. I THINK IT'S JUST GONE DOWN TO POP WARNER
NOW THAT IT'S THE SAME. AYSO HAS RULES NOW. HAYSA, YOUTH, HAWAI'I YOUTH SOCCER ASSOCIATION
ALSO HAS RULES ABOUT THIS. THE AWARENESS ABOUT WHAT TO DO, I THINK, IS THERE FOR ALL THE
THE SPORTS. AND I THINK IT'S JUST GOTTEN BETTER AND BETTER.
THE NATIONAL ATHLETIC TRAINERS ASSOCIATION, THEY HAVE GUIDELINES ON HOW AN ATHLETE SHOULD
BE RETURNED TO PLAY AND THAT, I THINK, IS A BIG PIECE OF AN ATHLETE'S RETURN TO PLAY
FUNCTION, RETURN BACK TO FUNCTION. BECAUSE IF THEY STEP WIDE PROCESS. THEY DON'T GO FROM
BEING HURT RIGHT BACK ON TO THE FIELD. LIKE HOW BACK WHEN RICH PLAYED. THAT'S BASICALLY
WHAT HAPPENED. HE GOT CON CUSS THE, BACK IN THE GAME
(CON CUSSED, BACK IN THE GAME TOMORROW. NOW HAVE A STEP WIDE PROCESS WHICH MIGHT TAKE
YOU A WEAK TO GET BACK TON TO THE FIELD WITHOUT HAVING ANY SYMPTOMS
>>MALIA: LIKE JANELLE, YOU MIGHT NOT GET BACK IN THE SPORT IF IT'S DEEMED TOO DANGEROUS.
HOW DID THAT FEEL WHEN THE PHYSICIAN TOLD YOU THAT.
>> IT WAS HARD. THERE'S NO SUGAR COATING THAT. BUT AGAIN, I THINK I HAD AN OPEN MIND ABOUT
IT. I KNEW THE RISKS. SO OF COURSE, DID I WANT TO PLAY? YES, I DID. BUT CALCULATING
EVERYTHING, LOOKING AT MY FUTURE,ER BACK THEN, I WAS 21. STILL GOT A LONG WAY AHEAD OF ME,
I THINK. SO THINKING ABOUT THAT, MY OPEN MIND KIND OF HELPED ME USE IT. DEFINITELY, THERE'S
BEEN EFFECTS FROM IT. SO IT WAS HARD TO SWALLOW FOR SURE.
>>MALIA: CAN YOU TALK ABOUT WHY THIS IS SO SERIOUS? WE DO NEED TO GET INTO CTE CAN YOU
EXPLAIN WHAT CTE. >> CHRONIC TRAUMATIC ENCEPHALOPATHY, BIG LONG
WORD, USED TO BE KNOWN IN THE 20'S AS PUNCH DRUNK AND IT WAS REFERRING TO BOXERS. THEN
IT BECAME KNOWN DIMENTIA REFERRING TO BOXERS. WHAT SEPARATES CTE NOW FROM BACK THEN IS THAT
WE LEARNED THAT THESE EFFECTS DON'T, AREN'T NECESSARILY JUST IN BOXERSES. THAT OTHER SPORTS
AND DOESN'T HAVE TO BE A SPORT. STUDIES EVEN ON THE CIRCUS CLOWN SHOT FROM A CANON SO THAT
WE KNOW THAT IMPACT AND IT DOESN'T EVEN HAVE TO BE TO THE HEAD, IT CAN BE TO THE BODY,
WHIPLASH EFFECT. SO WHAT THE IDEA OF CTE IS THAT WITH REPEATED BLOWS TO THE HEAD OR THE
BODY, THAT CAUSES THE BRAIN TO BASICALLY TWIST OR SHAKE WITHIN THE SKULL, AND IN A SENSE,
CAUSE DAMAGE AND THE DAMAGE MIGHT BE PERMANENT AND THERE IS CATEGORIES OF DAMAGE THAT THEY'RE
STILL TRYING TO CLASSIFY. WHETHER THAT BE THE WAY WE THINK, MEANING COGNITION, OUR EMOTIONS
THE WAY WE MOVE, LIKE OUR MOTOR SKILLS, AND EVEN THINGS LIKE DEPRESSION, SUICIDAL AT.
PAIR KNOW YEAH. A LOT OF ‑‑ PARANOIA. LOOKS AS, BRAIN SPECIMENS AND FOUND CERTAIN
PROTEINS CALLED TAO PROTEINS IN THE BRAIN. AGAIN, WHAT IS INTERESTING ABOUT THAT IS IT
LOOKS SLIGHTLY DIFFERENT THAN WHAT WE WOULD SEE PERHAPS IN ALZHEIMER'S OR PARKINSONS.
I HAVE TO CLASSIFY THAT BY SAYING ON FLIP SIDE TO THAT, THERE'S A SECOND SCHOOL OF THOUGHT
WHICH IS THAT ACTUALLY, CTE ISN'T A TRULY SEPARATE PHENOMENON. IT'S ACTUALLY JUST AN
EARLY MANIFESTATION OF WHAT WE WERE PREDESTINED TO BECOME. MEANING THAT THAT ATHLETE WAS PRONED
TO ALZHEIMER'S BASED ON THEIR GENETICS OR JUST THAT WAS JUST WHO THEY WERE GOING TO
BECOME OR PARKINSONS OR DEPRESSION AND THIS REPEATED HIT TO THE HEAD MAY BE TRIGGERED
THAT AT AN EARLIER AGE. SO THERE'S PROBABLY NO QUESTION THAT IN THE LONG RUN, CONCUSSIONS,
REPEATEDLY OVER TIME MAY HAVE SOME KIND OF EFFECT. WE DON'T KNOW YET WHAT THAT EFFECT
IS. I THINK THAT'S THE CHALLENGE. >>MALIA: THERE MIGHT BE TWO PROFESSIONAL PLAYERS.
BOTH GET SIM LAYER AMOUNT OF CONCUSSIONS. ONE GOES ON TO GET CTE AND SADLY, A LOT OF
TIMES, BASICALLY MEANS ENDING THEIR LIFE. AND THE OTHER ONE WALKING AROUND AND OKAY.
IT MIGHT BE GENETICS PLAY A PART IN IT. IS THAT CORRECT?
>> CORRECT. WE DON'T ACTUALLY KNOW IF THAT'S EVEN TRUE IN THE SENSE. WE DON'T KNOW IF CTE
EXIST. I THINK WE HAVE THAT THEORY. THE PROBLEM OR LIMITATION WE HAVE RIGHT NOW, IT'S A CASE
STUDY MEANING WE HAVE A SELECTION OF ATHLETES, PARTICULAR GROUP, AND WE'RE FOLLOWING THAT
GROUP. BUT WE HAVEN'T DONE WHAT WE CALL IN SCIENCE HIGHEST OR STRONGEST LEVEL OF EVIDENCE,
RANDOMIZED CONTROL TRIAL, WE HAVE A CONTROL GROUP AND A GROUP OF ATHLETES AND WE STUDY
THEM GOING INTO THE FUTURE. SO WE WOULD NEED TO TALK A GROUP OF PLAYERS NOW AND FOLLOW
THEM FOR 50 YEARS. THAT HASN'T BEEN DONE AND THAT'S WHERE OUR LIMITATION RIGHT NOW IS.
>> LONG TIME TO WAIT FOR THAT. >> EXACTLY.
>>MALIA: RICH I WAS THINKING OF YOU AS I WAS READING ABOUT THIS. I WAS WONDERING IF I HAD
HAD A NUMBER OF CONCUSSIONS IN PROFESSIONAL FOOTBALL AND YOU'RE SEEING FORMER PEERS WHOSE
LIVES ARE ENDING VERY POORLY WITH THIS. DO YOU WORRY, DO YOU LOOK AT SORT OF ANY CHANGES
IN HOW YOU'RE FEELING AND WONDER OR DOES IT NOT ENTER YOUR CONSCIOUSNESS ON THAT LEVEL.
>> PETER KING CALLED AM I FROM SPORTS ILLUSTRATED TALKING ABOUT ANDRE WATERS AS WELL AS DAVE
DOORSON. BOTH 50 YEARS OLD AND BOTH KILLED THEMSELVES COMMITTED SUICIDE AT THAT TIME.
I'M 51 NOW. BUT I I WAS 50 AT AS WELL. I KNEW BOTH OF THEM AND IT WAS, SO IT REALLY KIND
OF HIT HOME IN TERMS OF WHAT SEEMED TO BE GREAT PROFESSIONAL CAREERS, MADE LOTS OF MONEY,
SEEMED TO BE LIVING THE LIFE THAT THEY WANTED TO LIVE, ALL OF A SUDDEN, LIKE JUNIOR SEAO
TOOK A TURN FOR THE WORSE. WHEN IN THE GREAT THING ABOUT THIS LAWSUIT IS, I'LL BE MEDICALLY
MONITORED FOR THE NEXT, REST OF MY LIFE. IF ANY OF THESE SIGNS OF DIMENTIA OR ALZHEIMER'S
OR ANY OF THE OTHER THINGS ASSOCIATED WITH TRAUMATIC HITS, I WILL BE HOPEFULLY MEDICALLY
CARED AS WELL AS COMPENSATED FOR MY FAMILY. SO BUT YEAH, I DO WORRY. I THINK THAT WHO
KNOWS WHEN THAT TIME IS GOING TO COME AND I'M AT THAT AGE NOW WHERE LIKE DOC SAID, WILL
IT BE A NATURAL THING OR WILL IT BE BECAUSE OF I HAD 700 TACKLES AND I PLAYED FOOTBALL
FOR 25 YEARS AND MULTIPLE HITS TO THE HEAD AND THAT WILL BE HOPEFULLY I'LL LIVE A LONG
HEALTHY LIFE BECAUSE I'M TRYING TO BE A CENTARIAN. >> YOU DON'T HAVE A LAWSUIT YOU'RE INVOLVED
WITH. DO YOU WORRY ABOUT LONG TERM EFFECTS OF CONCUSSION OR DO YOU FEEL LIKE THE DOCTOR,
PULLING OUT OF PLAY THAT YOU'RE GOING ALL RIGHT?
>> I DEFINITELY WORRY. AND COINCIDENTALLY, JUNIOR SEAU INCIDENT THAT HAPPENED, RELATIVELY
CLOSE TO MY LAST CONCUSSION, SO THAT WAS REALLY ON MY MIND. AND LIKE I SAID,LY AN OPEN MIND.
I WAS THINKING ABOUT THE FUTURE, NOT JUST RIGHT NOW, THE FUTURE. AND YEAH, IT DID SCARE
ME AND I THINK THE HELP I'M GETTING NOW IS FANTASTIC. IF I DIDN'T HAVE SUPPORT SYSTEM
OR PEOPLE TO TALK TO OR DOCTORS TO SEE ON A REGULAR BASIS. I DON'T KNOW WHERE I WOULD
BE RIGHT NOW. >> WHAT IS THE THERAPY FOR CONCUSSION? WHAT
SORT OF TREATMENT IS THERE? SERIES OF CT'S OR ANY GOING BACK?
>> THAT'S THE CHALLENGE. ONCE WE SEE THOSE SIGNS, REALLY, YOU CAN PUT PEOPLE ON MEDICATIONS
FOR ALZHEIMER'S, PARKINSONS BUT WE DON'T HAVE THE CTE MEDICATION. WE DON'T HAVE CTE THERAPY
FOR THAT. WE HAVE CERTAIN THERAPIES TO HELP, IF YOU HAVE LASTING SYMPTOMS OR SIGNS FROM
YOUR CONCUSSION. MEANING FOR EXAMPLE, IF YOU HAVE BALANCE PROBLEMS OR YOU HAVE VISION PROBLEMS,
WE HAVE THINGS LIKE VESTIBULAR PHYSICAL THERAPY THAT MAY HELP YOU REGAIN SOME OF THAT BALANCE
OR SOME OF THOSE VISION LOSSES THAT YOU'RE EXPERIENCING. BUT WE DON'T HAVE THE MAGIC
PILL WHICH IS WHAT WE WOULD LOVE TO LOOK FOR. >> WE'RE STARTING TO GET QUESTIONS. THIS ONE
IS INTERESTING. ACTUALLY GOES TO A PROGRAM THAT WAS ON PBS. QUOTE FROM THAT. FROM SUSAN
ON MOLOKAI. RESPONSE TO TONIGHT'S TOPIC F. IT TAKES ONLY 10% OF MOTHERS CONCERNED, ABOUT
THEIR CHILDREN FROM PLAYING, I HOPE IT HAPPENS AND THAT THE WARRIOR SPIRIT, MY QUESTION IS
ARE THERE ORGANIZATIONS LIKE MADD FOR TRAUMATIC BRAIN SPORT INJURY. IF 10% OF MOTHERS IN THE
UNITED STATES FEEL THAT FOOTBALL IS TOO DANGEROUS, THAT COULD BE SORT OF THE END OF FOOTBALL.
SORT OF A QUOTE THAT IS THROWN AROUND BY UNNAMED NFL MEMBER. ANY THOUGHTS ON THAT?
>> REAL QUICKLY. THAT METRIC IS EXACTLY CORRECT BECAUSE THERE ARE 10.1 MILLION FOOTBALL PLAYERS
LAST YEAR. THERE ARE ONLY 9.1 MILLION THIS YEAR. PLAYED ORGANIZED TACKLE FOOTBALL. SO
YOU'VE LOST 10%. SO I WOULD IMAGINE THAT IT'S PROBABLY MORE, BECAUSE LEGAL DENIAL, BOOK
THAT CAME OUT AS WELL AS ALL OF THIS INFORMATION THAT'S COMING OUT. NHL IS GOING TO ANNOUNCE
A LA LAWSUIT SHORTLY WITH BIG NAME PLAYERS, HOCKEY LEAGUE. NATIONAL HOCKEY LEAGUE. NOT
WELL KNOWN IN HAWAI'I, BUT THAT'S GOING TO BE ANOTHER HUGE LAWSUIT AS WELL. AND ANOTHER
VIOLENT GAME THAT IS GOING TO BRING ATTENTION TO THIS. EVERYBODY, YOU REFERRED BACK TO THE
MONEY. IT'S REALLY NOT I DON'T THINK ABOUT THE MONEY. I REALLY THINK IT'S ABOUT THE MEDICAL
COVERAGE OF THESE PLAYERS THAT SACRIFICED FOR THE PLAYERS THAT ARE MAKING SUCH GREAT
MONEY TODAY. >> YOU'RE ON THE FRONT LINES IN TERMS OF SCHOOLS.
YOU SEE SORT OF THAT SPECTRUM. ARE WE SEEING PEOPLE LEAVE FOOTBALL?
>> HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL, I DON'T THINK THE NUMBERS ARE DROPPING SIGNIFICANTLY. CERTAIN
AREAS, I THINK IT'S A NATURAL DECREASE BECAUSE OF THE POPULATION IN THE AREA.
>>MALIA: MEANING? >> SMALLER OLDER KIDS, KIDS ARE GROWN UP.
I DEFINITELY THINK THERE IS A DECREASE IN THE POP WARNER. I THINK THERE IS SO MANY MORE
AVENUES FOR THESE KIDS TO PARTICIPATE IN WITH FLAG, I‑9 THE, THEY'RE ALL OVER THE PLACE.
THEY'RE ALL YEAR‑ROUND. SO THERE'S OTHER OPTIONS FOR PARENTS TO CHOOSE
FROM. >> LIKE ROSS WAS SAYING, FLAG FOOTBALL IS
THE FASTEST GROWING YOUTH SPORT. EXACTLY CORRECT. >> PEOPLE HAVING THEIR CHILDREN PLAY FLAG
FOOTBALL, DOESN'T THAT LEAD TO TACKLE. >> IT'S A TRANSITION TO THAT POINT. BUT THESE
KIDS ARE EARN WILLING THE FUNDAMENTALS, LEARNING HOW TO RUN, CATCH, LEARNING THE ROUTES, LEARNING
TO LOVE THE SPORT AND I THINK THAT'S IMPORTANT THING THAT THAT HE DEVELOP AT AN RECALL I
ABLE. AS THEY GET ‑‑ EARLY AGE. AS THEY GET OLDER, THEY CAN MAKE THE CHOICE WHETHER
I WANT TO GO AND PLAY CONTACT FOOTBALL. THEN AGAIN, IT BECOMES A COACHING OF HOW WELL THEY'RE
TAUGHT ON HOW TO TACKLE, HOW TO KEEP THEIR HEAD UP, HOW TO PROTECT THEMSELVES FROM THE
HIT. I THINK PART OF THAT HAS CHANGED THE GAME THE WAY, ESPECIALLY THIS YEAR, WITH CHANGES
NFL AND COLLEGE AND HIGH SCHOOL WITH THE HEAD HELMET TO HELMET HITS. THAT'S CHANGED THE
GAME. I THINK IT'S GOING TO CHANGE THE GAME EVEN MORE UNTIL EVERYBODY MAKES THE CORRECT
TACKLE TECHNIQUES. I THINK THAT'S WHERE IT'S GOING TO START FROM. THE REFEREES NEED TO
MAKE THE CALL. THE COACHES NEED TO MAKE THE PROPER ADJUSTMENTS AND LEARNING HOW TO TACKLE
CORRECTLY. THEN ATHLETIC TRAINERS NEED TO DO THEIR JOB WHEN THESE KIDS GET HURT.
>>MALIA: SEEMS LIKE A LEARNING CURVE. ADJUSTMENT TO THE NEW RULES. SEEN A FEW GAMES WHERE THE
HITTERS SAID THE PLAYER WAS TRYING TO NOT, FOLLOW THE SAME RULE AND ENDED UP BEING ANOTHER
KIND OF COLLISION OR AWKWARD OR PENALTY. I THINK DOC CAN SPEAK ABOUT IN TERM ITS OF
YOUNG PERSON'S BRAIN DEVELOPMENT IN TERMS OF WHEN SHOULD YOU ACTUALLY PUT ON A HELM
MET AND TACKLE. I PROBABLY RECEIVED SOME BACKLASH IN TERMS OF I THINK THAT IT SHOULDN'T BE 'TIL
HIGH SCHOOL. THE POP WARNERS, FLAG FOOTBALL TEACHES ALL THE FUNDAMENTALS OF GAME. YOU
CAN LEARN HOW TO TACKLE. IS IT NECESSARY FOR A YOUNG PERSON TO BE HITTING EACH OTHER IN
THE HEAD? I PERSONALLY DON'T THINK SO. I'M A PARENT AND I WOULDN'T LET MY SON PLAY UNTIL
HIGH SCHOOL. A LOT OF GOOD THINGS ARE HAPPENING. IT'S SOCCER, I MEAN, HITTING THE BALL IN TERMS,
THAT'S PROBABLY WHERE YOU'RE GETTING MORE CONCUSSIONS THAN FOOTBALL BECAUSE OF THE AMOUNT
OF SOCCER PLAYERS. BUT FOOTBALL IS OBVIOUSLY IN TERMS OF EDUCATIONAL FRONT.
>> ACTUALLY A VERY INTERESTING QUESTION BECAUSE THIS IS ACTUALLY BEING THROWN AROUND IN THE
MEDICAL SOCIETY. IN OUR SPORTS MEDICINE ASSOCIATIONS, THIS IS ONE OF THE BIGGEST CONVERSATIONS WE'RE
NOW HAVING IS RULE CHANGES. WHEN IS THE BRAIN TOO YOUNG TO HIT A BALL. THE AGE, THEORY THERE
IS WHEN DO WE HAVE THE NECK STRENGTH TO SUPPORT HITTING THE BALL IN THE PROPER TECHNIQUE TO
SUSTAIN THAT FORCE, THE BRAIN ISN'T BE AFFECTED. WE THINK PROBABLY AT LEAST 11. MAYBE EVEN
OLDER THAN THAT. SAME GOES FOR FOOTBALL. REALLY, AS WE SAID, PROBABLY THE FUNDAMENTAL SKIMS
ARE THE CRUX OF THE ‑‑ SKILLS ARE THE CRUX OF THE SPORT. IF WE CAN NAIL THOSE DOWN
AT EARLIER ABLE AND TALK ABOUT RULES AT HIGH SCHOOL, NO CONTACT DURING PRACTICE, CONTACT
IS RESERVED FOR GAME, AND REALLY REDUCE THE NUMBER OF IMPACTS THAT WE HAVE, WE'RE TALKING
ABOUT THINGS LIKE ICE HOCKEY, ABOUT CHECKING. REALLY YOUTH SHOULD NOT BE CHECKING AND THAT
REALLY, WE SHOULD RESERVE THAT FOR MAYBE 16 AND ABOVE. I THINK WE'LL SEE THAT IN PROBABY
A LOT OF SPORTS. ONE OF THE HOT TOPICS TOO, IS THE RULE CHANGES.
EVEN ALL THE WAY DOWN TO THE ELEMENTARY AND PUBLICLY LEAGUES, AS WELL AS UP THROUGH HIGH
SCHOOL. >> HAVE YOU HAD ANY PUSH BACK ON RULE CHANGES
AT ALL, ANY PEOPLE WHO THINK THAT IT COULD NEGATIVELY IMPACT THE SPORT, THAT PLAYERS
WON'T BE ASSED, WON'T LEARN HOW TO DO THINGS. ALWAYS THAT GROUP THAT SAYS, IT'S GOING TO
DECREASE MY ATTENDANCE. SOCCER IS A GOOD EXAMPLE OF THAT. POP WARNER IS ANOTHER ONE. BECAUSE
THERE'S SO MANY KIDS THAT PARTICIPATE IN SOCCER FROM FIVE YEARS OLD ALL THE WAY UP TO COLLEGE
AND PROS, WITH SOCCER, THEY START WITH A SMALLER BALL TO BEGIN WITH AND THEN THEY GO ON TO
A BIGGER BALL. BUT IT'S AGAIN, THE EDUCATION TO THESE YOUNG COACHES THAT HITTING, TEACHING
A KID HOW TO HIT THE BALL, ONCE OR TWICE AT PRACTICE, NOT 20 OR 30 TIMES, THAT MULTIPLE
HITTING IS DOING THE DAMAGE TO THESE KIDS. >>
>>MALIA: OF COURSE, THE FUNNY THING IS WE'VE GOT A COMMENT FROM MICHAEL 234 KAALUU HUI.
PEOPLE AREN'T AWARE OF THE FACT IT'S NOT NIECELY CONTACT SPORTS ALONE. SURFING CAN BE DANGEROUS
TOO. SUCKED UNDER THE WAVE ON TWO SEPARATE OCCASIONS AND SUFFERED TRANSIENT A.M. NESIAN.
TALKING ABOUT CHEERLEADERS HAVING CONCUSSIONS. FOOTBALL BY FAR IS THE BIG NUMBER ON THESE
THINGS AND SOCCER. BUT THERE'S ALL SORTS OF STORIES.
>> BASEBALL IS GOING TO ELIMINATE ANY COLLISIONS AT HOME PLATE. PUREST OF ARE ALWAYS UPSET
ABOUT TAKING THE VIOLENT HITS OUT OF FOOTBALL WHICH HAS BEEN MARKETED FOR YEARS. SAME THING
IN HOCKEY. I WAS AT A GAME IN BOSTON. LITERALLY, THEY ENCOURAGE FIGHTING. THEY LET THEM FIGHT
AND IT GOES TO THE GROUND AND THEN THEY TRY TO BREAK IT UP. BUT THE GUY WAS ON THE ICE
AND GOT HIS HEAD POUNDED INTO THE GROUND AND THAT, HE WAS CARRIED OFF IN A STRETCHER BECAUSE
HE WAS KNOCKED OUT. A LOT OF THIS IS PRECAUTIONARY BECAUSE HE'S PROBABLY NOT PARALYZED. THAT'S
ASSAULT. THIS IS WHAT WE'VE SEEN IN HOCKEY AND BOXING AND ULTIMATE FIGHTING AND ALL OF
THESE OTHER THINGS. IT'S INTERESTING THAT ALL OF THESE SPORTS ARE BECOMING SAFER.
>> INTERESTING SET‑UP BECAUSE THIS ONE STUDY THAT IS I WAS READING, WANTED TO ASK EVERYONE
ABOUT IT, PARTICULARLY JANELLE. FOUND THAT HALF OF HIGH SCHOOL ATHLETES SAY THEY WOULD
LIE ABOUT HEADACHES AND OTHER SYMPTOMS TO AVOID LOSING THEIR SPORT. THAT TO ME IS VERY
INTERESTING BECAUSE YOU CAN CHANGE AS MANY ROOMS AS YOU WANT, BUT YOU CAN'T ‑‑ CHANGE
AS MANY RULES. UNLESS YOU CHANGE THAT MIND SET. RIGHT? CAN YOU GIVE US INSIGHT AS TO
MAYBE WHY A YOUNG ATHLETE MIGHT FEEL THAT WAY.
>> I'M NOT GOING TO DENY MIGHT HAVE LIED ABOUT ONE OR TWO CONCUSSIONS BECAUSE FOR THE SAME
REASON. BECAUSE YOU DON'T WANT TO, LET'S SAY, IT'S FINALS WEEK OR STATE FINALS. WHATEVER,
CHAMPIONSHIP. ILH, BEACH CHAMPIONSHIPS AND THEN YOU MIGHT HAVE SUFFERED A BLOW TO THE
HEAD. BLOW TO THE HEAD. YOU ANOTHER YOU'RE GOING TO BE OUT. DO YOU WANT TO BE OUT FOR
THAT PARTICULAR PERIOD OF TIME? NO. ESPECIALLY IF YOU'RE ONE OF THE LEADING SCORERS OR TEAM
CAPTAINS OR LEADER ON THAT TEAM. I THINK AS A PLAYER, YOU FEEL A RESPONSIBILITY. AT LEAST
I DO. SO FOR THOSE REASONS, I MIGHT HAVE LIED. SO I CAN SEE WHY PLAYERS DO LIE. AND THEN
LATER IN MY CAREER IN COLLEGE WHEN AFTER YOU SAID 2010, WHEN THINGS STARTED COMING UP MORE
ABOUT CONCUSSIONS, THAT'S WHEN I BECAME A LITTLE MORE WORRIED ABOUT IT AND WAS MORE
PRECAUTIOUS ABOUT IT. BUT BEFORE THAT, ABOUT BEFORE ANY EDUCATION, I WASN'T WORRIED ABOUT
ANYTHING. >> WE'VE DONE EDUCATIONAL TALKS AND OUR FIRST
ONE WAS ONE OF MY FORMER ATHLETES, DARNELL ARSENAL. HE SURPRISED ME AT THIS PRESENTATION.
HE BASICALLY TOLD ME, HE HIT CONCUSSIONS FROM ME WHILE I WAS THE ATHLETIC TRAINER AT ST.
LOUIS. AND I'VE HAD DISCUSSIONS WITH OTHER PRO ATHLETES, ROY LOT FOR ONE AND HE BASICALLY
SAID, HE HAD 20 CONCUSSIONS THROUGHOUT HIS CAREER. AND HE HID IT. EVERYBODY AT THAT CONFERENCE,
PROFESSIONAL FOOTBALL PLAYERS, THEY ALL SAID THEY WOULD HAVE HIDED CONCUSSIONS BECAUSE
THEY WANTED TO PLAY. IT WAS THEIR WAY OUT OF WHEREVER THEY COME FROM.
>>MALIA: ECONOMICS ARE INVOLVED TOO. >> ‑‑
>> RIGHT. BIGGEST THING THAT RYAN SAID IS THAT IF HE WAS TO PLAY NOW, HE WOULD CHANGE
THE WAY THAT HE PLAYS. HE WOULD STILL PLAY AS HARD AS HE DID, BUT HE WOULD CHANGE THE
WAY THAT HE HITS. AND HE WAS A HEAVY HITTER FROM BACK THEN.
>> AS A MATTER OF FACT, HE TALKED TO ME AT COOK FIELD ABOUT, BECAUSE I WAS THE SAME POSITION
AS HIM. PICK AND CHOOSE YOUR HITS IN THE NFL BECAUSE YOU ONLY HAVE SO MANY HITS IN YOU.
BUT GOING BACK TO THAT, IT'S REFERRED TO THE C WORD BECAUSE IF YOU'RE A COLLEGE ATHLETE
LIKE JANELLE PLAYING FOOTBALL, IF YOU HAVE A CERTAIN AMOUNT OF CONCUSSIONS, YOU'RE DONE.
MEDICAL HARDSHIP AND STILL GET YOUR SCHOLARSHIP BUT CAN NO LONGER PLAY THE GAME YOU LOVE.
UNREALISTIC, MOST PLAYERS THAT PLAY COLLEGE FOOTBALL THINK THEY'RE GOING TO PLAY IN THE
NATIONAL FOOTBALL LEAGUE, SO THEY DON'T WANT THEIR CAREERS TO END BECAUSE THEY'RE TRYING
TO GO TO THE NFL AND NFL WILL NOT DRAFT YOU IF THEY KNOW YOU HAVE A CERTAIN AMOUNT OF
HEAD TRAUMA AND CONCUSSIONS BECAUSE NOW, THEY'RE LIABLE WITH THIS CONCUSSIONS LAWSUIT AND EVERYTHING
ELSE TO HAVE TO PAY FOR THE REST OF YOUR LIFE. >> RIGHT. VERY LITTLE ROOM. THAT BRINGS US
TO ADD SOMETHING. I THINK IT'S INTERESTING THAT WE HIDE IT OR FAKE IT BECAUSE IT'S EASY
TO FAKE. YOU CAN'T SEE IT. YOU CAN'T TAKE AN X‑RAY AND SAY, YOU HAVE A CONCUSSION.
IT'S NOT LIKE YOU BROKE A FINGER. TAKE AN X‑RAY. YOU COULD K SEE THE FRACTURE. IT'S
EASY TO HIDE. IT'S ALSO THE MOST DANGEROUS THING TO HIDE BECAUSE YOU'RE DEALING WITH
MOTOR FUNCTION AND ALL OF THAT KIND OF OTHER STUFF.
>> I THINK WHAT I'M LEARNING FROM ALL THE PEOPLE THAT HAVE I'VE GONE INTO THESE PRESENTATIONS
AND DONE PRESENTATIONS IS THAT WE NEED TO CHANGE THE WAY THAT WE EDUCATE KIDS. WE CAN'T
EDUCATE A COLLEGE KID THE WAY WE EDUCATE A HIGH SCHOOL KID AND MIDDLE SCHOOL KID. WHEN
WE DO PRESENTATIONS, WE HAVE TO MAKE IT SPECIFIC TO THAT AIM GROUP. BECAUSE HIGH SCHOOL KIDS
DON'T WANT TO BE TOLD ALL THE BAD STUFF THAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN TO THEM. THEY NEED TO BE EDUCATED
ON WHY I NEED TO TELL MY COACH THAT I FEEL DIZZY OR HAVE A HEADACHE. MIDDLE SCHOOL KID
HAVE A LITTLE BIT DIFFERENT. ELEMENTARY SCHOOL GOING TO HAVE TO CHANGE THE WAY WE DO EDUCATION.
>> TAKE AN ATHLETE OUT, THEY ARE MORE SUSCEPTIBLE AND VULNERABLE TO A SECOND CONCUSSION. DANGEROUS
WINDOW. RIGHT. THERE IS NO QUESTION. EVEN THOUGH WE
DON'T KNOW A LOT ABOUT CONCUSSION, THERE'S NO QUESTION THAT WE DO KNOW THAT FIRST OF
ALL, IT'S SYMPTOMS END UP BEING SORT OF ADDITIVE. MEANING IF YOU GET ANOTHER CONCUSSION WHEN
YOU HAVE ALREADY EXPERIENCED ONE, YOU'RE MORE LIKELY TO SUFFER LONGER SYMPTOMS. MORE SEVERE
SYMPTOMS AND SECONDLY, WHEN YOU'RE CURRENTLY SUFFERING ONE, ACTUALLY COULD BE SEVERE CONSEQUENCES.
IF YOU DON'T LET YOURSELF FULLY HEAL AND GET BACK OUT THERE AND TAKE ANOTHER HIT, YOU CAN
ACTUALLY HAVE IN A SENSE, SEVERE BRAIN REACTION, SEIZURES OR BE HOSPITALIZED. SO IT'S VERY
SERIOUS THING, NOT TO ADMIT THE CONCUSSION AND ONE OF THE THINGS WE ACTUALLY DID.TALK
ABOUT IS WHAT DO THE COMING CONCUSSION LOOK LIKE. ONE OF THE BIGGEST MISCONCEPTIONS IS
THAT A CONCUSSION HAS A LOSS OF CONSCIOUSNESS. THAT WAS ALWAYS SOMETHING WE THOUGHT, YOU
PASS OUT. YOU LOSE CONSCIOUSNESS. WHEN REALLY ONLY ABOUT A QUARTER OF CONCUSSIONS HAVE LOSS
OF CONSCIOUSNESS. FAKE IT LIKE YOU MENTIONED, TRY TO, IF YOU CAN KEEP YOUR BALANCE AND KIND
OF THINK STRAIGHT, AND YOU CAN PULL IT OFF EVEN THOUGH YOUR HEAD IS RINGING.
>> SAY YOU HAVE A HEADACHE. >> NOT ADMIT THE HEADACHE OR ANY MAYBE THE
VISION CHANGES OR SOME OF THE THINGS BOTHERING YOU, LIKE LIGHT SENSITIVITY, YOU COULD FAKE
IT. >> KIND OF LIKE WHEN YOU THINK OF MUHAMMED
AL. >>, SUFFERING. GEORGE FOREMAN, SEEMS TO BE
WITTY AND SOMEWHAT ASYMPTOMATIC, ARE PEOPLE DIFFERENT IN TERMS OF THEIR ABILITY TO TAKE
HITS TO THE HEAD. IS IT BECAUSE OF THE SKULL, BRAIN, PHYSICALNESS? WHY IS IT SEEMS SOME
PEOPLE ARE MORE SUSCEPTIBLE THAN OTHERS? >> REALLY GOOD QUESTION. A LOT OF THEY'RES
ABOUT THAT. ONE OF THE THEORIES IS THAT OUR SKULLS AREN'T ALL SHAPED SIMILARLY. SOME PEOPLE
MAY HAVE MORE ROOM IN THE SKULL AND THEY HAVE MORE FLUID AROUND THE BRAIN OR CEREBRAL SPINAL
FLUID SO THAT'S BRAIN, IF YOU DO TAKE A HIT TO THE BODY OR THE HEAD, THAT BRAIN HAS MORE
ROOM TO MOVE. SOME PEOPLE HAVE LESS ROOM. SO IT'S GOING TO HAVE MORE OF AN EFFECT. EAR
PEOPLE THINK THERE MAY BE A GENETIC PREDISPOSITION. GENE CALLED APOE, MAY EXPOSE YOU TO HAVING
CHRONIC CHANGES IN YOUR BRAIN. SOME OF IT, WE DON'T KNOW.
>> INTERESTING. YOU SAY THEORIES. THE 50 YEAR STUDY, RIGHT, SO WHAT SCARED ME THE MOST IS
THAT THERE'S THERE'S NO CONCRETE EVIDENCE. I FELT LIKE I WAS IN THE MIDDLE OF SOMETHING
NEW. TALKING ABOUT RULE CHANGES, THAT'S WHAT REALLY SCARED ME THE MOST. I FELT LIKE I WAS
IN SOMETHING THAT WAS JUST COMING UP. >> YOU BRING A GOOD POINT WHICH IS WHEN I
SEA PATIENTS IN THE OFFICE, THAT'S ONE OF THE HARDEST CONVERSATIONS I HAVE, ONE OF THE
MOST CHALLENGES PATIENTS, ARE THE CONCUSSION PATIENTS. EVERYTHING FROM FRACTURES TO SPRAINS
AND STRAINS. TALK ABOUT WHAT YOUR LIFE WILL LOOK LIKE 50
YEARS FROM NOW, I DON'T HAVE THOSE ANSWERSND A I THINK THAT'S HARD FOR ANYBODY TO MAKE
THAT CHOICE, WHETHER THEY SHOULD GO BACK AND PLAY.
>> EDUCATION FOR A COACH IS WHEN YOU TALK ABOUT HAMSTRINGS, TALK ABOUT BROKEN BONES,
AND EVERYTHING ELSE, THERE MAY BE SOME CONVERSATION, BUT AS A COACH, WHEN YOU TALK ABOUT CONCUSSIONSINGS,
YOU HAVE TO DEFER TO THE DOCTOR AND THE TRAINER AND REALLY TAKE CAUTIOUS APPROACH AND HANDS
OFF AND IT'S YOUR DECISION NOW. OUT OF THE COACH'S HANDS.
>> WHAT YOU TALK ABOUT TOO IS YOU CAN LIE ABOUT IT AND HIDE IT. WHAT'S PROBABLY HELPED
US THE MOST IN THE HIGH SCHOOL IS WE HAVE OBJECTIVE TEST THAT WE GIVE NOW. IT'S CALLED
IMPACT TEST. NEUROPSYCH TEST, COMPUTERIZED TEST. IT PROVIDES US A BASE, WE DO A BASELINE
ON ALL OF OUR ATHLETES, 9TH THROUGH 1TH GRADE. IF THEY GET CON CUSSED, WE COMPARE THAT SCORE
TO THE BASELINE TEST. OBJECTIVE PIECE OF DATA THAT WE HAVE. PROBABLY THE ONLY OBJECTIVE
PIECE THAT WE HAVE BESIDES BALANCE TESTING. BUT IF IT YOU HAVE A STRONG CORE, CAN YOU
KIND OF GET BY WITH THAT AS WELL. PROBABLY WHAT'S GOING TO CHANGE AND IS CHANGING PROBABLY
IN THE LAST YEAR IS THIS VESTIBULAR THERAPY AND VESTIBULAR ASSESSMENTS THAT WE CAN DO.
LOOK AT THEIR EYES, BALANCE, AND COMPARE IT WITH OUR IMPACT SCORES AND WE CAN GET A BETTER
IDEA OF WHERE THIS ATHLETE'S GOING TO GET TO OR HOW LONG THEIR CONCUSSION MAY LAST.
>> YOU HAD MENTIONED YOUR OWN DAUGHTER SUSTAINED CONCUSSION DURING SOCCER.
>> YEAH. >>MALIA: IF YOU WERE TO SORT OF RESTART AT
THE BEGINNING WITH YOUR DAUGHTER IN SPORTS, WOULD YOU HAVE DONE ANYTHING DIFFERENTLY?
>> PROBABLY THE BIGGEST CHANGE WOULD HAVE BEEN STARTING HER, GETTING HER NECK STRONGER
AND HER CORE STRONGER AT AN EARLIER AGE. THAT'S ONE THING THAT WE CAN CHANGE. WE CAN'T CHANGE
THE GENETICS OF THE PERSON. SO WE CAN CHANGE THEIR STRENGTH‑WISE AND THE OTHER PARTS
THAT'S HARD IS TO CHANGE THAT MENTALITY OF HOW AGGRESSIVE THEY PLAY. IT'S LIKE I GUESS
ROY SAID, YOU PICK YOUR HITS. YOU PICK WHEN YOU'RE GOING TO BE AGGRESSIVE AND GO AFTER
A BALL OR GO. RICH, YOU ARE MENTIONING YOU'VE GOT A SON
NOT PLAYING FOOTBALL RIGHT NOW. TELL ME ABOUT THAT. THAT'S INTERESTING.
WELL, I THINK HE LOOKS AT THE GAME AND WANTS TO PLAY SOMETIMES. BUT I THINK HE'S CLOSE
ENOUGH TO THE GAME, SEES THE DANGERS. MY WIFE IS DEFINITELY PART OF THAT 10% OF SOCCER MOMS.
MOMS THAT UNDERSTAND THAT THIS TRAUMA IS NOT WORTH IT AND I WAS TO LAY IN THE NFL FOR A
LONG TIME, WHAT'S THE CHANCES OF PAOA MY SON PLAYING IN THE NFL. WE KNOW SO MUCH MORE ABOUT
EDUCATION AND GOING TO COLLEGE AND HOW IMPORTANT YOUR BRAIN IS. DO YOU REALLY NEED REPETITIVE
HITS TO YOUR HEAD VERSUS PLAYING BASKETBALL AND LEARNING OUGHT THE THINGS YOU CAN LEARN
IN OTHER SPORTS. I THINK FOOTBALL IS THE GREATEST GAME IN THE
WORLD, BUT YOU HAVE TO MAKE SURE IT'S TAUGHT PROPERLY AND YOU'RE VERY EDUCATED ON THE CONCUSSIONS
BECAUSE WHEN THEY DO OCCUR, YOU HAVE TO TAKE THE PROPER NECESSARY STEPS.
>>MALIA: HE REALLY WANTS TO DID IT IN HIGH SCHOOL OR COLLEGE, YOU'LL BE OKAY WITH THAT.
>> YES. BECAUSE LIKE ROSS WAS TALKING ABOUT BEFORE, IT'S CHANGED SO MUCH. WHEN YOU TALK
ABOUT JUNE JUROR SEAO, 20 YEARS WITH THE NFL. AVERAGE 100 TACKLES A YEAR, 2,000 TACKLES.
EVERY SINGLE DAY IN PRACTICE, EIGHTIES, 90'S, YOU DON'T TACKLE PRACTICE ANY NOR. ALL OF
THOSE THINGS HAVE MADE THE GAME SO MUCH SAFERRER. >> WITH YOUR CHURN, YOU'LL WAIT 'TIL 11 BEFORE
STARTING TO HIT THE BALLS WITH THE HEAD. >> I HAVE SEEN AN ATHLETE HAD A CONCUSSION
FROM HITTING 50 SOCCER BALLS. IT COMES DOWN TO WHAT WE USED TO DO AND WHAT WE WILL DO
AND WHAT MAYBE WE THINK WE SHOULD DO AT THIS POINT ARE GOING TO BE DIFFERENT THINGS. WE'LL
KNOW MORE AS WE GO. >> WHEN YOU HAVE SORT OF MIXED FEELINGS ABOUT
THEM GOING INTO SPORTS? >> I HAVEN'T THOUGHT ABOUT THAT. BUT NOW THAT
YOU BRING THAT UP. >> WAIT 'TIL YOU HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT IT. DON'T
WORE BY IT NOW. >> LET'S GO TO A QUESTION FROM JILL IN MANOA.
HAVE THERE BEEN ANY STUDIES OF DETERMINING THE EXTERIOR OF HAVING HELMETS. HEARD CHATTER
ABOUT THE PLASTIC FOOTBALL HELMETS, PART OF THE PROBLEM. NOT PROTECTION. ANY THOUGHTS?
>> FOOTBALL HELMETS WERE NEVER MEANT TO PREVENT A CONCUSSION. THEY WERE MEANT TO PREVENT A
SKULL FRACTURE. ALL THE PADDING IN THE WORLD IS NOT GOING TO PREVENT THE CONCUSSION. IT'S
GOING TO PREVENT THE SKULL FRACTURE. BEST EXAMPLE I'VE HEARD ABOUT THIS IS FROM A DOCTOR
VICKSBURG. HE TALKS ABOUT A WOOD ***. THE WOOD *** HAS A TONGUE THAT WRAPS AROUND
A BRAIN. WHEN A WOODPECKER MAKES A HIT WITH THE BEAK, THIS TONGUE WRAPS AROUND HIS SKULL
TO ENCASE IT OR BRAIN ENCASE IT. STABILIZES AS IT'S MAKING REPEATATIVE HITS.
CAN'T MIMIC THAT IN FOOTBALL HELMET. NO MATTER HOW EXAMPLIVE HELMET YOU BUY, NOT GOING TO
DO IT. >> MARK KELSO IN THE EIGHTIES, HAD A BIG COATING
OVER HIS HELMET. HE LOOKED LIKE KAZOO. LIKE THE KID IN THE JACK‑IN‑THE‑BOX COMMERCIAL.
THAT WAS SUPPOSEDLY TO TRY TO HELP. BUT WHEN THIS CONCUSSION LAWSUIT WAS TAKING PLACE,
THEY PRETTY MUCH ELIMINATED THE HELMET MANUFACTURERS BECAUSE IT'S REALLY NOT THEIR FAULT BECAUSE
LIKE ROSS WAY SAYINGS NOT GOING TO PROTECT YOU FROM A CONCUSSION. YOU CAN HIT YOUR HEAD
ON GROUND. IT DOESN'T HAVE TO BE A HELMET HELMET TYPE OF HIT TO GET A CONCUSSION.
NO SILVER BULLET IN TERMS OF EQUIPMENT THAT COULD HELP. I AM A FOOTBALL AND WRESTLING
REFEREE. INCREASING ILLEGAL HELMET CONTACT FOUL CALLS BUT GET A LOT OF PRESSURE FROM
COACHES PLAYERS TO LET THE KIDS PLAY. WHEN YOU GET A REFEREE WHO KICKS OUT, YOU CAN FORGET
REFEREEING CHAMPIONSHIP GAMES. >> I DON'T THINK THAT'S TRUE. IN TERMS OF
THEY GRADE REFEREES HAD OUR HIGH SCHOOL MEETING WITH THE REFEREES, I THINK THERE WAS 842 PENALTIES
THIS YEAR BASED UPON HELMET TO HELMET HITS. MY QUESTION IS, HOW MANY WERE ON THE OFFENSE.
BECAUSE WHAT WE ARE CONCERNED ABOUT IS IF AN OFFENSIVE PLAYER LOW LOWERS HIS HEAD AND
DEFENSIVE PLAYER, LOWERS HIT HEAD, WHAT YOU'RE TAUGHT IS LOW CENTER OF GRAVITY IN ORDER TO
KEEP YOUR FORWARD PROGRESS. ON DEFENSE, SAME THING. YOU WANT TO GET LOWER. LOW MINUTES
WINS. IT'S ALWAYS CALLED ON IT'S DEFENSE. WHERE IT SHOULD BE CALLED ON ALMOST ON THE
EQUAL BASIS ON THE OFFENSE IF HAD IS GOING TO BE A RULE THAT'S GOING TO IMPACT THIS GAME.
SO I THINK THAT IT'S CALLED LIKE, USUALLY WHEN YOU PUT IT NEW RULE, IT'S OVERLY CALLED
BECAUSE THEY'RE VERY RECEPTIVE OF THIS AND VERY RESPONSIBLE ABOUT THIS NEW RULE CHANGE.
BUT WHAT HAPPENS IS IN FOOTBALL, IT'S BASICALLY KIND OF PLAYS ITSELF OUT BECAUSE TURNING YOUR
HEAD ON A FOOTBALL TACKLE, NOW YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT NEUROLOGICAL THINGS, PINCHED NERVES,
BASICALLY, HITTING FACE‑TO‑FACE IS A LOT SAFER THAN TRYING TO PLACE YOUR HELMET ON
THE SIDE OF SOMEBODY'S STERNUM OR SOMEBODY'S CHEST. SO IT'S AN INTERESTING TOPIC. IT'S
SUCH A TOUGH CALL FOR OFFICIALS. BUT WE AS COACHES NEED TO KNOW THAT WE WOULD RATHER
THEM ERR ON THE SIDE OF CAUTION AND UNDERSTAND THAT WE CANNOT CONTINUE TO LET PEOPLE HIT
EACH OTHER WITH THEIR HELMET. >> SOUNDS FROM THE CALLER. NOT NETSLY THE
FEELS HE'S ENCOUNTERING. >> REFEREE'S JOB, THEY HAVE A DIFFICULT JOB
ESPECIALLY WITH THE NEW RULE CHANGES. BECAUSE NOT EVERYBODY UNDERSTANDS THE RULE CHANGE
AND WHY THE RULE CHANGES WERE MADE. IT'S GOING TO TAKE SOME TIME FOR THAT TO HAPPEN. BUT
THEIR JOB IS TO SAFETY OF THE ATHLETES ON THE FIELD.
>> >>MALIA: CAN THE BRAIN HEAL COMPLETELY AFTER
YOU SUFFERED A CONCUSSION OR WILL THERE ALWAYS BE RESIDUAL DAMAGE? CALLER FROM KAILUA.
>> SORT OF OUR TOUGH QUESTION. WE BELIEVE YES. WE BELIEVE YES. TECHNICALLY, BY DEFINITION,
CONCUSSION FALLS UNDER A TITLE OF MILD TRAUMATIC BRAIN INJURY. OR MILD TBI. SO WE THINK OF
IT ON THE MORE MILD SPECTRUM. IF THAT'S IT'S CASE, WE REALLY DO BELIEVE YOU COULD FULLY
HEAL AND YOU COULD PROBABLY SPEAK TO THAT. I'VE HAD TWO, THREE CONCUSSIONS MYSELF AND
I THINK I'VE HEALED COMPLETELY. FROM SPORTS. FROM SOCCER.
>> VERY INTELLECTUAL. >> FROM SOCCER. ACTUALLY FROM PADDLING. A
BOAT HULIING. SO IT'S POSSIBLE LIKE I SAID TO FULLY RECOVER. WHAT WE'RE MORE CONCERNING
ABOUT IS THIS ADDITIVE EFFECT. THAT IT'S NOT THE ONE, IT'S NOT THE TWO. IT'S WHEN WE START
SIX, SEVEN EIGHT. THE PROBLEM IS WE DON'T HAVE THE NUMBER. WE ALSO DON'T KNOW THE FORCE.
IS IT HARD ONES? ONE LITTLE ONE WITH 10 HARD ONES WE DON'T REALLY KNOW THE FORMULA YET.
AND AGAIN, I FEEL LIKE ALL NIGHT, THAT'S WHAT I'M SAYING.
WE DON'T KNOW. I THINK THAT'S WHERE WE NEED TO WORK.
>> I KNOW YOU HAD THE EMOTIONAL AFTER EFFECTS OF HAVING HAD TO GIVE UP PLAYING A SPORT YOU
REALLY LOVE. DO YOU FEEL THAT YOU CONTINUED TO HAVE HEALTH AFTER EFFECTS?
>> DEFINITELY. I'VE HAD DIFFICULTY STRUGGLING WITH, SEE THE PROBLEM IS THERE'S A LOT OF
UNKNOWNS. SO I'M NOT SURE IF IT'S DUE TO THE CONCUSSION ALONE WITH THE EFFECTS OR ABRUPTLY
BEING TAKEN AWAY FROM THE THING YOU LOVE MOST. I'M NOT SURE WHAT IT IS. DEFINITELY BEEN AFTER
EFFECTS. IT'S FUNNY THAT YOU TALK ABOUT FORCE BECAUSE
ONE OF MY WORSE CONCUSSIONS WAS JUST IN A CAR ACCIDENT. SO THERE'S A, I WAS IN A CAR
WITH MY TWIN SISTER AND UNFORTUNATELY, WE HIT SOMEBODY FROM BEHIND AND I JUST HAD THIS
WHIPLASH AND FROM THAT, I HAD A CONCUSSION. I TRIED TO LIE ABOUT IT BUT IT WAS JUST SO
BAD. I WAS THINKING, I DIDN'T HIT MY HEAD. IT WAS JUST THE FORCE. AND THEN APPARENTLY,
THE BRAIN KIND OF SHIFTED A LITTLE. THAT ALONE, I GOT LIKE VERTIGO ALMOST.
I COULDN'T STAND UP. BALANCE PROBLEMS. SENSITIVITY TO LIGHT. THAT WAS NOTICE MORNING. I COULDN'T
GO TO CLASS ALL DAY. THAT WAS SCARY BECAUSE THERE'S NO HEAD TO HEAD OR IMPACT. IT WAS
JUST ON THAT WHIPLASH ALONE. >> THAT'S WHY IT GOES BACK EVEN THE HELMET
QUESTIONS. HELMETS CAN'T PREVENT THAT WHIPLASH EFFECT. SOME GOES TO SO MANY PEOPLE HAVE TRIED
HEADER BANDS IN SOCCER, PADDED BANDS. ON CHILDREN. MAKES SENSE THAT IT WOULD HELP FOR HEAD TO
HEAD CONTACT. ONE OF THE WAYS SOCCER PLAYERS GET CONCUSSIONS. BUT NOT GOING TO HELP IF
A BALL COMES 100 MILES AN HOUR AT YOUR HEAD. OTHER PIECE WITH WHAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT
TOO, TALK ABOUT THE HEADACHES, DIZZINESS, VERTIGO AND WE HAVE HIGH SCHOOL KIDS, MIDDLE
SCHOOL KIDS AND THEY GO TO CLASS AND THEY HAVE TO SIT IN CLASS AND LISTEN TO THE TEACHER,
TAKE NOTES, AND IF THESE CONCUSSED KIDS CAN'T HANDLE THAT SOMETIMES AND THAT PROLONGS THEIR
SYMPTOMS. PROLONGS THEIR CONCUSSION AND IT'S THAT EDUCATING THE TEACHERS ON WHAT THEY NEED
TO DO. AND THAT'S SOMETHING THAT WE HAVE TRIED TO DO OVER THE PAST YEAR.
>> WHAT DO THEY NEED TO DO. >> ONE IS THE TEACHER NEEDS TO KNOW THAT THE
CHILD GOT CONCUSSED. MOM AND DAD ESPECIALLY IN THE ELEMENTARY MIDDLE SCHOOL LET THE CHILD
KNOW THE CHILD GOT CONCUSSED, SO THE TEACHER CAN KEEP AN EYE, HOW THEY'RE DOING IN THE
CLASSROOM, PUTTING THEIR HEAD DOWN IN THE CLASSROOM, BOTHERED BY THE LIGHTS IN THE CLASSROOM.
SOMETIMES EVEN WALKING DOWN THE HALLS CAN TRIGGER THE SYSTEM. EVEN THE VOLUME OF THE
NOISE. >>MALIA: LET ME ASK A HELMET QUESTION QUICKLY
SINCE WE JUST BROUGHT THAT UP AGAIN. THIS IS A QUESTION, DO THE HELMET MAKE PLAYERS
FEEL INVINCIBLE? WOULD LEATHER HELMETS BE BENEFICIAL.
>> GREAT QUESTION BECAUSE WHEN YOU LOOK AT RUGBY, IT DOESN'T SEEM TO HAVE AS MANY CONCUSSIONS.
THE SERIOUS HEAD INJURIES. OBVIOUSLY F. YOU DON'T HAVE A HELMET ON, I THINK YOU WOULD
BE MORE CAUTIOUS. I REMEMBER WHEN I WAS UNIVERSITY OF HAWAI'I I HAD A HELMET THAT IT TWO OF THOSE
EAR TYPE OF PRESSURE THINGS THAT MADE MY HELMET THING I COULD RUN INTO A WALL AND IT WOULDN'T
AFFECT THAT. BUT I THINK THE ANSWER TO A QUESTION IS YES. HAVING A HELMET ON ALLOWS YOU TO BE
MORE BRAVE, MORE COURAGEOUS AND BE ABLE TO HIT SOMEBODY MUCH HARDER. YOU'RE GOING TO
HAVE BLOOD AND FRACTURES AND ALL OF THOSE OTHER THINGS.
>> THIS QUESTION IS, WHAT PREVENTIVE MEASURES ARE THERE TAKEN IN OTHER SPORTS TO PREVENT
CONCUSSIONS? IS IS THE PANEL WARE OF PREVENTIVE EFFECTS OF USING CUSTOM PROTECTIVE MOUTHPIECES?
ANY THOUGHTS ONEN THAT THE RESEARCH ON THAT GOES SAME DIRECTION AS THE HELMETS AND HEAD
BANDS FOR SOCCER. WHICH IS THERE'S NO QUESTION IT PREVENTS DENTAL INJURIES. 100%. BUT THE
REAL PROBLEM IS IT DOESN'T STOP THE TRANSLATION OF FORCE. IDEA WOULD BE THAT YOU HAVE A PADDED
MOUTHPIECE AND THAT'S GOING TO PREVENT THE TRANSMISSION OF THE SHOCK WAVE TO THE BRAIN.
BUT IT DOESN'T WORK THAT WAY. AGAIN SAME THING. IF THE HEAD IS WHIPPING BACK AND FORTH OR
TWISTING NOT GOING TO DECREASE THE RATES OF CONCUSSIONS.
>> IN COLLEGE, THEY ARE TAKING THOSE MEASURES. SO AT BOTH SCHOOLS US I WAS AT, CAL STATE
KNOWLEDGE NORTH RIDGE, REQUIRED TO GET FITTED FOR MOUTHPIECES AND U.H., ALSO REQUIRED TO
GET FITTED FOR MOUTHPIECES. THOSE ARE THE KIND OF THINGS THEY ARE TRYING TO DO. CAN'T
WEAR HELMETS ON THE BASKETBALL COURT. THEY ARE TRYING.
>> DO YOU THINK WE SHOULD LOOK AT FURTHER CHANGES IN TERMS OF PLAYING FIELD OF 8 ON
8 RATHER THAN STANDARD 11 PLAYER? ARE THERE ANY OTHER CHANGES THAT COULD HAPPEN?
>> YOU CAN ANSWER THAT QUESTION. I DON'T THINK YOU CHANGE 8 ON 8 OR 11, 11. I DON'T THINK
IT'S GOING TO CHANGE. HITS ARE STILL GOING TO BE THE HITS. I THINK 8 ON 8 WOULD BE MORE
HIGH IMPACT HITS BECAUSE THE LESS PLAYERS YOU PUT ON THE FIELD, THE MORE VERTICAL AND
HORIZONTAL IT GETS IN THE HIGHER COLLISION. SO I THINK ONE THING THAT HAS CHANGED IN THE,
IF YOU WATCH FOOTBALL, 10 YEARS AGO OR 20 YEARS AGO VERSUS TODAY, IS YOU HAD MORE TIGHT
ENDS AND FULL BACKS AND ULF THAT. THE GAME HAS BECOME MORE SPREAD OUT, BECOME MORE ATHLETIC.
IT'S HARD TORE HIT SOMEBODY IN THE HEAD BECAUSE YOU'RE IN SPACE WHEN YOU'RE TACKLINGS.
DOWNHILL RUNNING OF THE EYE FORMATION AND LEAGUE PLAYS WHERE DARREL JOHNSON, DALLAS
COWBOYS USED TO LEAD ON THE LINE BACKER 50 TIMES A GAME, THAT LINE BACKER AND HIM WERE
HAVING A REPETITIVE HITS TO THE HEAD. NOW, THE GAME IS PLAYED MUCH MORE SPACE.
>> IF EVERYONE WERE HONEST, THEY WOULD SAY THAT THAT KIND OF DRAMA, THAT KIND OF IMPACT,
THAT KIND OF VIOLENCE IF YOU WILL, MAKES FOR EXCITING TV VIEWING AND THAT THERE'S A PART
OF SOME FANS THAT MIGHT NOT FIND FOOTBALL GAMES WITH THESE CHANGES AS EXCITING.
>> AMERICA LOVES VIOLENCE. THAT'S WHAT SELLS IN THE UFC BOXING. THAT'S WHY FOOTBALL IS
SUCH A POPULAR SPORT IN THIS COUNTRY. NOT UNIVERSALLY AS ACCEPTED. AMERICAN FANS LOVE
VIOLENCE. THAT'S PART OF THE PROBLEM. >> FANS NEED TO BE RESPONSIBLE TOO AN NOT
PUSH FOR THAT. IN PROFESSIONAL GAMES. >> I WATCH SPORTS CENTER ALMOST EVERY NIGHT.
I DON'T UNDERSTAND IN THE NATIONAL HOCKEY LEAGUE, WHY THEY ALLOW THAT FIGHT. HOW THEY
JUST GO AT EACH OTHER ONE ON ONE. AND THE FANS LOVE IT. THEY'RE THROWING THINGS IN THE
AIR. FOOD, DRINKS, RIGHT? THEY LOVE IT. I DON'T UNDERSTAND THAT.
>> PERPETUATED EVEN IN THE COMMENTARY IF YOU LISTEN THE COMMENTARY, WHAT A HIT!
AND IT FEEDS OUR HUNGER FOR THIS VIOLENCE AND SO IT'S COMING FROM ALL DIRECTIONS.
>> EVEN HEARD SOME FANS WATCHING A GAME, SAY, IT'S KIND OF BEGINNING OF THE END OF FOOTBALL.
THIS IS THE BEGINNING OF THE END. BECAUSE IT'S GOING TO BECOME SO HARD TO PLAY THE GAME
WITH ALL OF THE ACCELERATION OF RULES. >> I DON'T KNOW WHAT YOU'RE HARRY TRUMAN WAS
PRESIDENT, ABOUT YOU IT WAS AT ONE TIME, IN WERE A BUNCH OF DEATHS DUE TO FOOTBALL WHERE
IT WAS ELIMINATED. NOW, THE GAME IS SO POPULAR AND SO MANY BILLIONS OF DOLLARS, I THINK IT'S
$11 BILLION A YEAR INDUSTRY IN THE NATIONAL FOOTBALL LEAGUE ALONE. I DON'T KNOW IF YOU'LL
EVER SEE IT COME TO THAT POINT. BUT I THINK YOU ARE GOING TO SEE IT WHERE IT'S GOING TO
BE SOMEWHAT SIMILAR TO FENCING WHERE WHEN YOU TOUCH THE QUARTERBACK, HE IS DOWN BECAUSE
IT'S THE QUARTERBACK DRIVEN LEAGUE. STAR DRIVEN LEAGUE MUCH AND YOU HAVE TO PROTECT THE QUARTERBACK.
NOW, YOU CAN'T EVEN CRAWL ON THE GROUND AND TOUCH TOM BRADY IN HIS LOWER EXTREMITIES.
THERE'S ALL OF THESE THINGS THAT ARE HAPPENING TO MAKE THE GAME SAFER. AT THE SAME TIME,
THEY'RE AWARE OF WHAT A MONEY MAKING MACHINE THIS GAME IS AND I DON'T THINK IT WILL EVER
BE ELIMINATED AND SHOULDN'T BE. IT JUST NEEDS TO CONTINUE TO BE SAFER.
>> LET'S TALK ABOUT BASKETBALL FOR A SECOND. ANY CHANGES YOU COULD SEE IN TERMS OF WOULD
YOU LIKE TO SEE PLAYERS WEAR HELMETS WOULD YOU LIKE TO SEE SURFACES BE SOFTER?
>> NO. DEFINITELY. I'VE BEEN TOLD A LOT, YOU SHOULD PUT A HELMET ON. THAT'S NEVER GOING
TO HAPPEN. I'VE ALSO BEEN GIVEN THE HEAD BAND. BUT THAT ARE CAN'T STOP EVERYTHING. I THINK
MOST IMPORTANT THING IS EDUCATION WITH COACHES. SO AS A COACH, YOU ALWAYS WANT YOUR PLAYERS
TO GIVE IT THEIR BEST. BUT SOMETIMES NOT SPEAKING FOR ALL COACHES, SOMETIMES COACHES MIGHT TAKE
IT A LITTLE TOO FAR, PUSH TOO MUCH. IT'S IMPORTANT THAT COACHES GET EDUCATED TO WHEN TO PULL
THEM OUT. WHAT'S BEST FOR THE STUDENT ATHLETES. >> THAT'S SOMETHING THAT I THINK IS INTERESTING.
I CERTAINLY CAN APPRECIATE THE MOM OF YOUNG BOYS. ALL OF US ARE PUTTING SO MUCH ENERGY
INTO OUR KIDS AND I THINK A LOT OF TIMES, PARENTS WITH THE BEST OF INTENTIONS PERHAPS
THIS MIGHT BE SORT OF PUTTING TOO MUCH EMPHASIS IN TERMS OF PRACTICE AND SPORTS AND ARE WE
HAVING CHILDREN SORT OF PLAY ONE SPORT TOO INTENSELY TOO YOUNG? ARE YOU SEEING THAT?
>> DEFINITELY. IT'S NOT JUST WITH CONCUSSIONS. IT'S WITH ALL OF THE INJURIES THAT WE HAVE.
WE HAVE KIDS THAT PARTICIPATE IN ONE SPORT FROM FIVE YEARS OLD. BY THE TIME THEY'RE TEN
OR 12, IF THEY'RE A BASEBALL PLAYER, THEIR ELBOW IS SHOT. SHOULDER IS SHOT. AND WE WOULDN'T
SEE THAT UNTIL THEY'RE IN COLLEGE. >> SPECIALIZED TOO SOON.
>> SPECIALIZE TOO SOON. ONE WAY ROTATION, IMBALANCED, CAUSING MORE PROBLEMS FOR THEM.
ELBOWS SHOULDERS BACKS, PROBABLY IN CLINIC ALL DAY.
>> IT'S A CATEGORY INJURY CAUSED OVERUSE INJURY. OVERUSING THAT SAME BODY PART OVER AND OVER.
WHETHER YOU'RE A BASEBALL PITCHER OR CROSS COUNTRY RUNNER AROUND TRAIN ALL THE TIME.
GETTING STRESS FRACTURES. IT IS ASTRONOMICAL RATES NOW COMPARED TO 20 YEARS AGO. ACTUALLY
EVEN SEEING THE PHENOMENON OF BURN OUT IN KIDS PSYCHOLOGICAL OR EMOTIONAL COMPONENT
OF JUST I DON'T WANT TO DO IT ANY MORE. WE WOULD NEVER HAVE HEARD ABOUT THAT REALLY EXCEPT
FOR MAYBE SOME OF THE MOST ELITE ATHLETES 20 OR 30 YEARS AGO. SEEING IT NO KIDS DOING
IT TEN YEARS BUT ON 13. >> PRESSURE TO GET SCHOLARSHIPS AND GET INTO
SCHOOLS. >> ONLY TICKET. THAT'S THE WAIT THEY FEEL.
THAT'S WHERE WE HOPE TO ENCOURAGE OTHER MEANS OF HELPING EXCITE, STIMULATE KIDS ABOUT SCHOOL.
>> WHAT IS THE VIEW COACHES. TALK TO ME ABOUT SIDELINE SCREENING. I READ THAT THAT IS SOMETHING
THAT PEOPLE ARE TRYING TO ENCOURAGE TO SORT OF KEEP AN EYE ON ATHLETES AND TRY TO CATCH
CONCUSSIONS THAT PERHAPS AREN'T BEING ADMITTED TO BY AN ATHLETE. HAVE YOU HAD MUCH EXPERIENCE
WITH THAT?. WELL, WE'RE BLESSED IN HAWAI'I TO HAVE PUBLIC
SCHOOL SYSTEMS TO HAVE TWO TRAINERS. BLESSED THAT KAISER TO HAVE A DOCTOR ON THE SIDELINE.
WE ALSO HAVE TO GO THROUGH MANDATORY CONCUSSION TESTING. WE UNDERSTAND A LITTLE BIT MORE OF
THE AWARENESS AND THE SYMPTOMS. SO IT'S DEFINITELY CONTINUE US TO EVOLVE AND IMPROVE AND I THINK
THAT'S REALLY IMPORTANT FROM HEAD COACHES TO SAYS.ASSISTANT COACHES FROM THE OFFICIALS
TO THE DOCTORS AND TRAINERS TO RECOGNIZE THE EARLY SYMPTOMS IF SOMEBODY IS CONCUSSED TO
BE CAUTIOUS ABOUT THAT. >> HAVE YOU HAD ATHLETES THAT YOU HAVE A SENSE
MIGHT BE EXPERIENCEDDING SYMPTOMS AND NOT ADMITTING TO IT.
>> NO QUESTION. AS JANELLE REFERRED TO, I WAS WATCHING A PARTICULAR DRILL AND I SAW
THAT WHEN HE WAS YOUNG MAN GOT UP, DIDN'T HAVE GOOD BALANCE. AND HE WANTED TO GO BACK
IN. AND I HAD TO LITERALLY GRAB HIM AND TAKE HIM TO THE SIDELINES AND GET OUR TRAINERS
BECAUSE SOMETIMES THE TRAINERS HAVE SO MANY THINGS ON THEIR PLATES AND HIGH SCHOOL LEVEL,
THAT THEY'RE NOT WATCHING AND WITNESSING EVERY SINGLE DRILL. SO WE HAVE TO TAKE THAT PLAYER
OVER AND MAKE SURE THE TRAINER NOW DOES THE DIAGNOSIS AND THAT HAPPENS NOT ALL THE TIME,
BUT IT DOES HAPPEN. >> THIS IS A COMMENT FROM DEREK AT SPORTS
PSYCHOLOGIST. IF OVERZEALOUS PARENTS AND UNEDUCATED COACHES CAN DEEMPHASIS WINNING AT THE EXPENSE
OF EVERYTHING, THEN WE CAN DECREASE TRAUMATIC HEAD SPORTS INJURIES. DO YOU AGREE WITH THAT?
DO YOU THINK THERE'S A LOT OF THAT GOING ON? >> SOME EXTENT. YEAH. I THINK SPORTS HAS BECOME
SUCH A HOT TOPIC THAT, WE WANT KIDS TO PARTICIPATE IN EVERYTHING, SPORT IS GREAT FOR PARTICIPATION
TEAMWORK. TEACHES US A LOT. BUT THE EMPHASIS HAS CHANGED TO SOME EXTENT ON GETTING THAT
SCHOLARSHIP, GETTING TO THE PROS AND GETTING, BECAUSE IT'S SO MUCH MONEY INVOLVED.
>> IN TERMS OF SORT OF SOME OF THE ISSUES THAT WE SEE IN THE FUTURE FOR ATHLETES, YOU
WERE TALKING ABOUT THE FACT THAT PERHAPS CTE AND MORE DRAMATIC, IT MIGHT BE SORT OF A GROUP
THAT WOULD HAVE HAD THOSE PROBLEMS ANYWHAT I PERHAPS. IT'S A POSSIBLY. DO YOU THINK SOME
OF THE ISSUES WE'VE SEEN IN ATHLETICS LIKE STEROIDS AND ALCOHOL, THAT COULD BE FACTOR?
IS THAT PART OF OF THE MEDICAL DISCUSSION RIGHT NOW.
>> THAT IS PART OF OF THE MEDICAL DISCUSSION. YOU HAVE TO LOOK AT THE SPECTRUM OF WHAT THESE
PEOPLE HAVE DONE IN THEIR LIFETIME, NOT JUST IN A SNAPSHOT AND SAY, WELL, FOOTBALL IS THE
ONLY REASON THIS COULD HAPPEN. THERE COULD BE OTHER REASONS. IT DOESN'T HAVE TO BE SOMETHING
LIKE STEROIDS. IT COULD BE NUTRITIONAL SUPPLEMENTS THEY'VE BEEN TAKING.
AGAIN T. COULD BE THEIR GENETICS OTHER COULD BE SO MANY OTHER FACTORS THAT PLAY INTO IT.
THAT WE JUST DON'T KNOW. ONE OF THE BIGGER CHANGES COULD JUST BE THAT AS YOU MENTIONED,
BACK IN THE DAY, YOU GOT YOUR BELL RUNGE. RUB SOME DIRT ON IT, GET BACK OUT THERE. WELL,
ONE OF THE THINGIES WE MAY SEE IS WE ARE MORE CAUTIOUS NOW. ATHLETES WILL BE TAKING CARE
OF, THEY WILL, BE ON THE SIDELINE, SIT OUT, GRADUAL RETURN TO PLAY, OVER A WEEK'S TIME,
THERE'S A BIG DIFFERENCE IN THE WAY WE'RE TREATING CONCUSSIONS.
>> ROSS, YOU WERE TELLING ME WE'RE SEEING THESE NUMBERS GO UP ON CONCUSSIONS HERE IN
HAWAI'I. THAT MIGHT BE SIMPLY A MATTER OF WE'RE TALKING ABOUT IT AND RECOGNIZING IT
MORE. THAT'S THE BIG PRIEST. COACH, PARENTS ARE
BECOMING MORE EDUCATED, THEY'RE MORE AWARE OF WHAT TO LOOK FOR ABOUT A CONCUSSION AND
MORE WILLING TO REPORT THE CONCUSSIONS. >> LOOK IN THE EIGHTIES OR 90'S, CONCUSSION
REPORTS, THERE WOULD BE NONE. YOU LOOK AT THE NFL INJURY REPORT EVERY WEEK, HOW MANY
CONCUSSIONS ARE REPORTED? HOW MANY PLAYERS ARE NOT PLAYING PARTICIPATING? IT'S CHANGED
TREMENDOUSLY. >>MALIA: I THINK THERE WERE 7 THIS WEEK AND
125 SO FAR THIS SEASON. WE HAVE ABOUT A MINUTE. CAN WE GO BRIEFLY AROUND. IF YOU COULD SEE
ONE IMPROVEMENT ONE CHANGE HAPPEN, WHAT WOULD IT BE?
>> KIND OF CONTINUUM IN TERMS OF THE CONTINUAL EDUCATION AND THE IMPORTANCE OF YOUNG PEOPLE
WHETHER IT'S SKATEBOARDING, RIDE THIS THEIR BIKES WITH HELMETS, HOW THEY PRACTICE AND
EVERYTHING TO DO WITH JUST EDUCATION TO THE PARENTS, TO THE COACHES, TO EVERYBODY INVOLVED
IN SPORTS AND RECREATION. >> GETTING THE MESSAGE OUT.
I THINK SPEAKING FOR ATHLETES, IN GENERAL, THINK ABOUT THE BIGGER PICTURE. RIGHT? IT'S
SO IMPORTANT, YOU THINK IT'S SO IMPORTANT RIGHT NOW, TO PLAY, TO FAKE A CONCUSSION.
IT'S NOT. THERE'S A MUCH BIGGER PICTURE THAT YOU NEED TO THINK ABOUT.
I THINK THE BIGGEST MESSAGE IS FOR COACHES THAT ARE OUT THERE, YOUNG COACHES, AS WELL
AS EXPERIENCED COACHES. HAVE SUCH A STRONG EMPHASIS ON THEIR ATHLETES.
MAKING THEM AWARE OF THE CONCUSSION AND MAKING IT OKAY FOR THEIR ATHLETE TO REPORT CONCUSSION
IS A BIG THING. >> MAKE THEM FEEL SAFE ABOUT DO DOING THAT.
>> EXACTLY. >> LOOKING AGAIN AT WHAT WE DON'T KNOW AND
GOING FORWARD AND EXPLORING THOSE AVENUES. I THINK THE SECOND PIECE ON REAL SORT OF REALISTIC
DAY TO DAY IN TERMS OF KNOWING IF YOU DO SUSTAIN THIS TYPE OF INJURY, THAT YOU HAVE RESOURCES
NOW. WE DO KNOW SOME THINGS ABOUT IT AND WE HAVE WAYS TO HELP. DON'T FAIL TO SEEK THAT
HELP. GO AND SEE YOUR DOCTOR. FIND THOSE AVENUES WHETHER IT'S PHYSICAL THERAPY, OR IT'S APPROPRIATE
REST OR SCHOOL, HELP, SCHOOL PLANS. THERE ARE WAYS TO HELP YOU KIND OF DEAL WITH THIS
INJURY AND MOVE FORWARD. >>MALIA: THANKS FOR HELPING US GET THE MESSAGE
OUT ABOUT THIS TONIGHT. THANK YOU ALL FOR JOINS US. NEXT TIME ON INSIGHTS, OUR STATE
LAWMAKERS ARE POISED TO GATHER AT THE STATE CAPITOL ON JANUARY 15TH. TO SPEND THE NEXT
120 DAYS DISCUSSING THE MERITS OF PROPOSED LAWS THAT MAY AFFECT THE QUALITY OF LIFE FOR
HAWAI'I RESIDENTS. ON THE NEXT INSIGHTS ON PBS HAWAI'I, WHAT SHOULD THE 2014 STATE LEGISLATURE
DO NOR HAWAI'I? NEXT TIME ON INSIGHTS OBJECT PBS HAWAI'I. I'M MALIA MATTOCH. A HUI HO.