Head injuries: Do they raise questions?I've been thinking a lot about the Savard and Laperriere situations and wondering if they really were "cleared" to come back last year and if they did more harm to their recovery process by playing. This has become a huge issue in the NFL, and it certain is to become one in the NHL, too. It seems strange that guys could come back and play at a pretty high level and now they are having recurrences of the symptoms.
Brian Pothier sat out a year and a half and then took an eye test and found out that he actually had issues with his eyesight that were projecting post-concussion syndrome symptoms. It all makes you wonder what the standards and protocols really are. #Hockey
Definitely agreed with this. The NHL, and specifically, GMs and teams need to have specific protocols for head injuries. They're risking players careers by getting them to come back early. Hockey is a "macho" sport and if you don't come back from an injury early, no matter where it is, you get dumped on. Teams put pressure on their players and it isn't right.
The league needs to bring in an independent group of doctors, it's the only way to ensure that players don't come back too early from these types of injuries.
Laperriere reportedly lied about his health to come back earlier. It's not always the team's fault.
If a medical doctor can't see through a lie like that then he isn't doing his job properly. Maybe it's possible that the Flyers overlooked the lie to get him back into the line-up? Things like Laperriere lying is exactly why there needs to be a reform here.
If the player is experiencing headaches and nausea, there's no way the doctor can tell if the patient is lying about it.
And Lappy wanted to come back to play in the Stanley Cup finals. I'm fairly sure there was no pressure from the team here. You don't get to play in the finals every day... Laperriere decided to bite the bullet and is now paying the price for it.
ORLY. I didn't know you were a medical doctor Phil. Thanks for sharing your expert advice.
And your second post is precisely the reason why I think independent doctors and new, stricter protocols need to be put into place.
My sister is a doctor (: I asked her. PWNED bitch.
If you lie about your symptoms it seriously gets in the way of a doctor making the right diagnostic. I can't believe you would even argue that.
Concussion symptoms are largely about the player not feeling right. If he says he feels fine, he probably is.
lmao the sister argument, fail.
I never claimed to be a doctor or had any expert knowledge, but the point is to try and put protocols into place in order to discourage players from doing this shit. Obviously it's going to come out eventually, as it did for Lappy. And from the symptoms that I've read about, it sounds like it would be hard to hide them for too long, especially if you're playing pro sports. I wouldn't be surprised if some of his teammates or the staff were turning a blind eye to them.
Maybe take it as far as to suspend the players that lie about this crap when they come back. It might be the only way to protect them...
But to have the "oh well there's no way we could have known" attitude is bogus, find a way to know. Because it's Laperriere that's going to suffer.
I stand by my claim that it was 100% Laperriere's fault.
I stand by my claim that it was 100% Laperriere's fault.
Fine, if that's the case, then there should be a rule where if players hide injuries or symptoms they should be suspended for X amount of games for putting their own lives at risk and making their teams liable for their health.
I stand by my claim that it was 100% Laperriere's fault.
Fine, if that's the case, then there should be a rule where if players hide injuries or symptoms they should be suspended for X amount of games for putting their own lives at risk and making their teams liable for their health.
I would agree to some sort of discipline for that, sure.
http://www.tsn.ca/mlb/story/?id=335821
I realize it's not the World Series but at least he's not an idiot.
There are neurolgical tests that can be performed when a player claims to have or not have headaches and nausea. And there are many more symptoms than just that. I have to believe in both cases I referred to there is blame to go around on both sides. Ultimately, if the player signs off on it, it's his decision to live with, but 20 year from now the player's association will be crying foul when there's a bunch of punch-drunk players walking around. It does need to be addressed.
I think the issue is that players can sometimes not show any symptoms and think they are fine only to have a setback after playing the game at high intensity