News & Updates 1/2/2012
JMP & Memorial Hermann Hospital Concussion Education

Concussion Education and Awareness Program

For Immediate Release:

Houston, TX (JMP) January 2, 2012

The James Marshall Project in collaboration with Memorial Hermann Hospital in Houston Texas, and supported by Road2Recovery.com, RiderDown.org and Kevin Johnson / X Game Gold Medal Winner are embarking on an education, awareness, and management program relating to MTBI’s or mild traumatic brain injuries as they occur to athletes practicing or competing in the sport of motorcross in the Greater Houston Area.  Concussions or MTBI’s have been a highlighted topic in many other sports and we feel it is time to bring this science and education to athletes, parents, and coaches in this competitive sport.

Memorial Hermann Sports Medicine is a discipline within the system that works with the community in providing healthcare, education, prevention, and management of injuries as they occur to the athletic community.  They have provided education on MTBI’s as well as provided them with IMPACT Testing.  ImPACT Testing is a neuro-psychological evaluation done on the computer which establishes a baseline for each athlete.  If the athlete suffers a concussion they are able to take the post injury test and this tool enables a trained physician in ImPACT to determine the level of injury suffered by the athlete.  It also serves as a tool in determining areas of deficiency so the athlete’s recovery program can be focused on the weakness.

As you are aware concussion’s/MTBI’s are an issue in our sport.  Most recently we all have seen the long term effects on professional football players being played out in the national news. We are learning everyday more and more about the potential for long term issues if not managed properly.  Dr. Michael Lee a Pediatrician from Southport, Connecticut made this statement about concussions.  “There is an epidemic in our midst that most of us are unaware of.  Untold numbers of young people are suffering concussions at an alarming rate.  Many go unreported.  The public as well as the medical profession has failed to appreciate the consequences of this problem and have been made aware of its significances and its long term complications.  In order to prevent both short and potentially long term functional brain impairment that may occur if a concussion is not treated properly, the following management recommendations are outlined.”

Any athlete returning to activity following a concussion and still has symptoms fall risk to Second Impact Syndrome.  Second Impact Syndrome can occur to those under 21 that have symptoms from concussion and suffer a second concussion within two weeks of initial injury.  Sudden death is the result of this potential catastrophic event.

Memorial Hermann Hospital and the James Marshall Project are producing a video that we will use to educate the competitors, parents and trainers of motorcross in the Houston area.  We felt this would be the best way to get it to the large community in the sport with the access in the comforts of their homes.  In addition to the video we will be providing IMPACT Testing to the riders above the age of 12 to develop baseline scores necessary for follow up post injury testing should it be necessary. 

Football, soccer, hockey, lacrosse and other sports get all the attention around concussions.  However, statistically more MTBI’s are seen in the emergency rooms around the country from bike and off road transportation.  We hope this program can reinforce previous messages around equipment (helmet regulations), rider safety, and injury management.

Our goal is to have the video available for roll out in March and baseline testing in the Houston area will begin in early 2012.  We look forward to working with those who share our goal of increasing the education of MTBI’s or mild traumatic brain injuries head trauma.  We plan to deliver a product that will support and enhance the safety concerns developed by your sport over the years.

We are also partnering up to take this education to the next level. Our goal is to model the Memorial Hermann Hospital program on a regional and national level in the very near future.

Highlights form Round #7 of the Outlaw452 Main Event Series at Historic Rio Bravo MX in Houston Texas. The video was shot by Matt Wozney with www.MXPTV.com

Rio Bravo MX - Outlaw 452 Main Event Series from MXPTV on Vimeo.