Minimally Invasive Spine Surgeon Dr. Michael A. Gleiber Calls New Partnership between AAFP Foundation and NFL Foundation a Big Step in the Right Direction
West Palm Beach, FL (PRWEB) August 27, 2015 -- Minimally invasive spine surgeon Dr. Michael A. Gleiber, MD, FAAOS is calling the newly-announced partnership between the American Academy of Family Physicians (AAFP) and the National Football League (NFL) Foundation a big step in the right direction towards improving player safety at all levels.
The new partnership, which was announced via the AAFP’s website on August 19, will involve integrating the AAFP Foundation’s evidence-based medical knowledge with the NFL Foundation’s considerable influence and resources. Together, they aim to raise awareness of concussion risks and side effects, and spread the message that concussions can often be successfully managed.
“For several years, I have been advocating for increased concussion awareness; especially among teens and young adults, who are still developing and can take longer to recover,” commented Dr. Gleiber, who also serves as a Spokesperson for the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons, and is a regulator contributor to the Huffington Post. “Leagues, schools, parents, coaches, trainers, players and the medical community must work together to ensure that all concussions are identified, reported and treated properly. I applaud the new partnership between the AAFP Foundation and the NFL Foundation, and expect that it will make a positive difference.”
Dr. Gleiber went on to highlight four tips for managing concussions among teens and young adults:
1. Avoid the obsession to “win at all costs,” as it often drives football players to play while injured or, just as dangerously, can prevent them from revealing to coaches and parents that they are hurt in the first place.
2. Learn how to spot the symptoms of a concussion, which can include dizziness, headache, memory loss, irritability, nausea, vomiting, drowsiness, irritability, confusion, and sleeping pattern changes. It is vital to remember that, contrary to popular belief, a concussed person may not – and often does not -- lose consciousness.
3. Never self-medicate! If there is even the slightest chance of a concussion, regardless of how seemingly minor or if there is an absence of symptoms, it is vital to seek medical attention. It is always better to err on the side of caution.
4. Under no circumstances should football players with a potential concussion be allowed to return to play without medical clearance. Doing so can put them at serious risk of “second impact syndrome,” which is when the brain sustains a second concussion while continuing to recover from the first. This can lead to permanent damage -- and even death.
Added Dr. Gleiber: “While there is no way to completely prevent the possibility of a concussion, everyone involved must do their part to ensure that any concussions that do occur are properly identified, reported and treated.”
Additional articles by Dr. Gleiber on concussions and other issues related to spine health and pain relief are available on his blog at http://michaelgleibermd.com/news.
About Dr. Michael A. Gleiber, MD
Dr. Michael A. Gleiber, MD is a trusted expert in the field of minimally invasive spine surgery. He currently serves as Spokesperson for the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons, is a writer for The Huffington Post, and is frequently invited to provide his medical expertise in the media. Dr. Gleiber has been honored with multiple recognitions, including Castle Connolly Top Doctors for Spine Surgery, SuperDoctors of South Florida, Top 10 Spine Surgical Specialists Florida by Vitals.com, and is listed amongst Top 50 Spine Surgeon Leaders.
Learn more at http://michaelgleibermd.com
Media Relations, Michael A Gleiber MD PA, http://michaelgleibermd.com, +1 (561) 972-6464, [email protected]
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