MEDICAL ~ SURGICAL COSMETIC ~ LASER Dr. Nancy H. Kim Award winning Board Certified Dermatologist Fellowship Trained MOHS Surgeon From skin cancer surgeries to anti-aging treatments, Spectrum Dermatology is recognized as one of Arizona’s leading treatment centers for laser, cosmetic, surgical and medical dermatology. INSPIRING PATIENTS TO CARE FOR THEIR SKIN CALL TODAY: 480.948.8400 www.SpectrumDermatology.com SCOTTSDALE 7425 E. Shea Blvd Suite 110 Scottsdale, AZ 85260 DESERT RIDGE 20950 N. Tatum Blvd., Suite 250 Phoenix, AZ 85050 PHOENIX/ARCADIA 4350 E. Camelback Rd. Suite A-200 Phoenix, AZ 85018 VISIT OUR ARCADIA LOCATION Page 52 November 2015 By Jacob Janower Getting a concussion is one of the most damaging injuries in sports. It can happen on a football field, soccer field, baseball diamond or any other sports facility imaginable. Given the harmful effects of the injury, sports leagues are now instituting protocols for athletes in relation to concussions and testing for the injury. These protocols can be found from the professional leagues such as the NFL, down to high school leagues and all of those in between. A concussion, also called a mild traumatic brain injury, is defined as a blow to the head or a violent shaking of the head and body. They most commonly occur in sports when a defending football player’s helmet makes contact with the offensive player’s helmet while going for a tackle, and when someone hits a header in soccer. There are between 1.6 and 3.8 million concussion-related injuries every year, and approximately 300,000 of those happen to high school athletes, according to Prevacus, a pharmaceutical company developing a new treatment for concussions. In 2011, the Arizona Interscholastic Association (AIA) instituted rules of their own pertaining to the injury in order to prevent athletes to continue playing with a possible concussion. “Players suspected of a concussion must be removed from the game,” Gary Whelchel, State Commissioner of Officials for the AIA, said. “Only a certified athletic trainer can re-enter the player.” Arcadia High School athletic trainer Emily Clarke expounded on the new protocol, stating the rules put into place. “The new rules that have been established are concussion education, baseline testing with neurocognitive computer tests,” she said. There is also a comprehensive evaluation and return- to-play guideline. In addition, AHS will have certain rules as far as when athletes can be cleared of a concussion. “Our protocol at Arcadia will have a five day return-to-play guideline,” Clarke said. Whelchel thinks the concussion protocol will benefit the high school athletes, even if it keeps them out of the game for a certain amount of time. “I believe it makes the playing environment safer by providing a check of players prior to re-entry,” he said. “It is done by medical personnel, not coaches.” Clarke pointed out the safety aspect of the new rules, stating that while the new protocol prolongs the return of the athletes, it allows them to return when it is safe to do so. Last year, AHS started using special helmets while playing football to protect against concussions. AHS is the only school in the Valley to use Riddell brand helmets with InSite Technology, according to AZSports360. Strict concussion protocol protects high school athletes