Injuries are an unavoidable fact of life in the National Football League. Out of all the injuries that can befall a player, very few are more dangerous, and sadly go more unreported than concussions.
Concussions fequently occur in the NFL, but often they go unreported. Players afraid of losing their starting position or simply not even knowing they’ve suffered a concussion will often continue playing when perhaps they should sit out for a game or two.
Head injuries are thought to be related to reports of NFL players problems with depression, mental anguish, and even suicide.
In their continuing efforts to make the game safer for players, the NFL has turned to Apple’s iPad for help in diagnosing players who suffer head trauma. Using an app developed for the device, team medical personnel can perform on-the-fly examinations of players to determine if they’re fit to take the field, or need to go to the locker room for a more thorough examination.
Doctors demonstrated how to use the app at the annual scouting combine in Indianapolis, where a large number of college football’s best show off their skills to NFL scouts, hoping to improve their position in the upcoming pro draft.
While diagnosing injuries such as concussions still has a long way to go, this is a great step to see the league taking for the safety of the players.
