NFL-Army Seek Faster Head Injury Diagnosis

by Kris Osborn

YOU CAN READ PART I HERE

Quick sideline or combat-zone blood tests, portable eye goggles and quick-reacting head injury diagnostic devices are among some of the winners of research grants awarded through the NFL’s Head Health Challenge initiative — an effort designed to better diagnose, treat and prevent concussions and traumatic brain injury.

There continues to be substantial NFL-Army collaboration on these efforts due to a common interest in more quickly recognizing the existence of concussions and head injuries through on-the-spot emerging technologies.

The NFL wants to accurately assess the needed timeframe for allowing players to return to the field of play after a head-related collision, and Army officials tell Scout Warrior that, at times, soldiers in proximity to a blast will not know they have suffered a concussion until several days after an incident. Diagnosing concussions more quickly in both of these instances, therefore, could drastically improve outcomes.

A key area of focus for existing research is in a field referred to as “Biomarkers,” much of which consists of quick blood tests designed to rapidly determine if a concussion has occurred following a collision on the football field or explosion in combat.

Prior to the use of technology, such as an MRI, there are no scientific metrics established to determine whether a concussion has occurred, NFL officials said.

“Currently, concussions are based on subjective diagnosis based on signs and symptoms – which immediately may not show up for a period of up to 24 hours. There are many ideas we have like blood tests or eye movement challenges which may indicate a concussion,” Jeff Miller, NFL Vice President for Health and Safety Policy, told Scout Warrior in an interview. “I don’t want to ever compare the NFL with what goes on on the battlefield, but there are some similarities.”