Major sports leagues attend concussion symposium

The CFL is joining the NHL, NCAA and other top sports organizations in London today to discuss head injuries at the NFL’s second annual professional sports concussion conference.

The symposium attracts medical experts as well as officials from various sports to examine the diagnosis and treatment of concussions.

Jeff Miller, the NFL’s senior vice- president of health and safety policy, said the goal of the gathering is to educate and collaborate.

“The idea is the more minds you have working against these subjects the better the results will be,” Miller said. “One goal is to share protocol as it relates to head injuries and concussions and best practices so each league is informed of what others are doing and, where appropriate, to apply it to their games.”

Dhiren Naidu, the team doctor for both the Edmonton Eskimos and Oilers, will attend the conference along with Kevin McDonald, the CFL’s vice-president of football operations.

“I think you always learn something from what people are doing and they probably learn from you,” said Naidu. “But collectively we can get together and say, ‘OK, what are the priorities right now to keep people active in sport and keep our professional or elite athletes healthy now and for the long-term.”

Concussion awareness and education have resulted in major advances in football equipment — most notably helmets — as well as rule changes to make the game safer. The NFL has made 39 rule changes and added independent athletic trainers at every game who can stop play immediately if they feel a player requires medical attention.