SPORTS
It finally happened. My 8 year old posed the question…can I play tackle football? My initial impulse was to say yes. I played football (not until high school). It is a fantastic sport. I learned many lessons about life as well as a great game during those four years. Upon further reflection I decided to table the matter and do a little research.
There is a lot of information available with a simple google search. I read an opinion piece written by neurosurgeon whose young boys play and articles about all the brains studied at Boston University evaluated for CTE. It was a recent study performed at Wake Forest and published in the Journal of Neurosurgery this past September that influenced my thoughts on the subject the most.
In summary the study evaluated 8-13 year old Pop Warner football players. MRI’s were performed focused on the white matter in the brain pre and post-season. Accelerometers were placed in the helmets to evaluate the number of sub concussive events that occurred during practices and games. In short, there were changes in the white matter in these young men at the end of the season.
Hmmm…..what else causes a sub concussive injury? Both of my boys play hockey. There is no checking until they are 14, but it is far from contact free. The boys were on our trampoline outside the window as I was reading the study. Most of the tricks they perform and rough games they play on the trampoline look jarring. It is nice to have some information, but it certainly is still not enough.
Bottom line I think I will hold off on letting him play tackle football until he is 12 years of age. He will continue flag football until then.
The good news: my big, fast, strong 8 year old who possesses a cannon for an arm wants to be a kicker. You just can’t make this stuff up.
John Rodger, MSPAS, PA-C
