Concussion

There is no greater challenge than to appropriately balance a sport's integrity with injury risk. And there is also no greater responsibility for a sport's national governing body. Since the formation of US Lacrosse in 1998, the investigation of injuries in men's and women's lacrosse has been a focus of the doctors and researchers who make up its Sports Science & Safety Committee. The prevention of injuries that involve the head, face and eyes has been an ongoing priority for US Lacrosse.

Orioles second baseman Brian Roberts made his first competitive appearance on a baseball field in more than a year at Prince George's Stadium on Wednesday night and enjoyed every relatively uneventful minute of it. "It was exciting…fun," he said. "You realize how much you enjoy playing the game of baseball and how fortunate you are to be able to play it this long and hopefully continue to do it. " Roberts has been recovering from the effects of multiple concussions since suffering his second in eight months in a game at Fenway Park last May. He has embarked on a 20-day injury rehabilitation assignment that he hopes will get him ready to return to the major league lineup in mid-June, but has a few more steps to take before that can happen.

Lakers forward Ron Artest suffered a concussion and injured his left elbow after falling at his home. Artest didn't travel with the Lakers to Saturday's game in Sacramento after tripping over a box and falling down a flight of stairs at his home on Christmas night. He was treated at UCLA Medical Center, undergoing a CT scan and receiving stitches in the back of his head and his elbow. A neurologist examined him on Saturday and confirmed he had a concussion, the team said.

A day after making a handful of roster additions and cuts, the Ravens announced on Wednesday that they had released fullback Chad Diehl, an undrafted free agent who had participated in the team's rookie minicamp over the weekend. No reason for the move was given, but Diehl shed a little light on it on his Facebook page. “At rookie mini-camp this past weekend I suffered another concussion,” Diehl said via the Spartanburg Herald Journal (S.C.) . “With this concussion happening so soon after the concussion I had in January at the Senior Bowl it left many people concerned including family, doctors, and myself about my health and future if I were to continue playing.

Ravens defensive tackle Arthur Jones, who suffered a concussion in the Week 10 loss to the Seattle Seahawks, is no longer experiencing symptoms and has been cleared to suit up Sunday against the Cleveland Browns. The second-year player said he is looking forward to playing the Browns after having been idle for two weeks. “I can't wait,” he said with a wide grin. “I feel great. It was a fun week of practice. It feels good being back out there. Two weeks off, in a dark room, wasn't fun, trying to get my body in gear, my physical health back right.” And Jones, a noted gamer who invites fans on Twitter to play Xbox with him, has gotten back in that game, too. “Towards the end, when I started to feel better,” he said.

Washington Redskins general manager Bruce Allen says the team is inviting 500 area high school football coaches to a concussion forum during a minicamp next month. Speaking Wednesday at a panel discussion as part of Brain Injury Awareness Day on Capitol Hill, Allen said the Redskins have sent a letter to coaches in Washington, Maryland and Virginia, asking them to attend practice at new coach Mike Shanahan 's first minicamp and participate in an information session about concussions.

NFL teams now have new, stricter instructions for when players should be allowed to return to games or practices after head injuries, guidelines that go into effect this week. In the latest step by the league to address a hot-button issue, commissioner Roger Goodell sent a memo to the 32 clubs Wednesday saying a player who gets a concussion shouldn't return to action the same day if he shows certain signs or symptoms. Those include an inability to remember assignments or plays, a gap in memory, persistent dizziness and persistent headaches.

A day after making a handful of roster additions and cuts, the Ravens announced on Wednesday that they had released fullback Chad Diehl, an undrafted free agent who had participated in the team's rookie minicamp over the weekend. No reason for the move was given, but Diehl shed a little light on it on his Facebook page. “At rookie mini-camp this past weekend I suffered another concussion,” Diehl said via the Spartanburg Herald Journal (S.C.) . “With this concussion happening so soon after the concussion I had in January at the Senior Bowl it left many people concerned including family, doctors, and myself about my health and future if I were to continue playing.

The Browns will not be disciplined by the NFL for their handling of the Colt McCoy concussion injury in Pittsburgh on Dec. 8, according to league spokesman Greg Aiello. The Browns put McCoy back in the game without testing for a concussion. The NFLPA has not decided whether to file a grievance against the club, said union spokesman Carl Francis in an email reply. The incident spurred two changes in league protocol. Teams were notified on Wednesday that starting with this weekend's games: To read more, go to http://blog.cleveland.com/browns_impact/print.html?

In a previous column, we reported on guidelines for returning athletes to sports after a concussion (a transient alteration in mental status caused by a blow to the head). The importance of following these guidelines is highlighted in a recent issue of the Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report published by the Centers for Disease Control and Health Promotion.The March 14 issue reports on the death of two young football players, both of whom died from complications of what has come to be termed "second impact syndrome."

With her perky, upbeat attitude, Maryland's Karri Ellen Johnson has always been a glass-half-full person. Right now, however, her glass is just about running over. After repercussions from a concussion wiped out the last 12 games of her junior season, including Maryland's run to the NCAA women's lacrosse final, she is relishing every minute on the field as the No. 3 Terrapins prepare to host No. 6 Loyola in Saturday's noon NCAA quarterfinal. "It's so exciting to put an emphasis on the tournament," Johnson said.

UPDATE: I just received an email response from Cam Weber, GM of American Football for EA Sports. He writes: “In order to depict the seriousness of concussions, when a player is injured in a Madden NFL game, they will be tended to by the medical staff and then escorted off the field. If the injury is determined to be a possible concussion, the player will not be permitted back into the game. Madden NFL has been used to help teach the sport of football to several generations in regards to the rules and complexities of the sport.

The Ravens' scouting system, envied around the league, has remained remarkably consistent under General Manager Ozzie Newsome . There have been a few tweaks along the way to adapt to technology and the times, but the organization still doesn't belong to the two main national scouting services, and still does put the onus on their own area scouts to do the bulk of the heavy lifting. "We still have our area scouts responsible for every player that's being drafted in their area.

There is no greater challenge than to appropriately balance a sport's integrity with injury risk. And there is also no greater responsibility for a sport's national governing body. Since the formation of US Lacrosse in 1998, the investigation of injuries in men's and women's lacrosse has been a focus of the doctors and researchers who make up its Sports Science & Safety Committee. The prevention of injuries that involve the head, face and eyes has been an ongoing priority for US Lacrosse.

I heard the oldies station playing the Bob Dylan tune "The Times They Are a-Changin'," and the famous line could well apply to the seismic cultural change surrounding sports concussions. Not so long ago, the injury was hardly a headliner. A "ding" was almost considered a rite of passage and badge of honor for athletes playing contact sports. Today, concussions are front-page news, the focus of millions of dollars' worth of research and legislative action across the country.

Last season, Justin Radebaugh won 42 of 71 faceoffs for Salisbury after transferring from UMBC. But the Lutherville native and Boys' Latin graduate has not made an appearance in each of the team's first two games this year due to post-concussion symptoms. That means more reps for junior Tyler Granelli, who has taken 70 of the Sea Gulls' 85 faceoffs this season and won 44. “It's pretty much a one-man show because Justin has a concussion,” coach Jim Berkman said last week.

The Carolina Panthers have another injured quarterback. Panthers coach John Fox said Jimmy Clausen sustained a concussion during Sunday's 31-16 loss at Tampa Bay, and indicated the injury might have occurred when Bucs cornerback Aqib Talib dove headfirst into the pile on Clausen's quarterback sneak in the final seconds. "It's hard to say. Could have been any number of plays, but there's a chance it could have happened on the last play," Fox said Monday. Fox, who did not mention Clausen among the Panthers' injured players after the game, said the symptoms developed later.

ANAHEIM, Calif. -- Los Angeles Rams quarterback Chris Miller was released from a New Orleans hospital yesterday after at CT scan revealed no serious damage from a concussion he suffered in the first quarter of a 37-34 loss to the New Orleans Saints on Sunday.

Ohio State's 10-9 upset of Denver, a Final Four team last year, on Sunday could be traced to the play of an opportunistic offense (10 goals on 14 shots on net), a stingy defensive midfield (two goals for the Pioneers' starting midfield) and an unrelenting faceoff unit (10-of-20 against junior Chase Carraro, who won 58.2 percent in 2011). But the most significant factor in the Buckeyes' win might have been the play of goalkeeper Scott Spencer. Filling in for usual starter Greg Dutton, the sophomore transfer from Division II New York Institute of Technology made eight saves against a potent Pioneers offense.

As Orioles position players continue to trickle in ahead of the club's first full workout Friday, one player has been noticeably absent from the team's clubhouse. And given the concussion symptoms that have limited second baseman Brian Roberts to 98 games the past two seasons, he is one of the biggest question marks in camp. On Tuesday, the switch-hitting Roberts was spotted hitting balls from a tee for about 15 minutes in the team's indoor batting cages at the Ed Smith Stadium complex.