Heady Topic: High School to Host Concussion Seminar

Tom Vara coached wrestling for a decade, watching young bodies bounce off mats. So the Hopatcong High School athletic director knows a thing or two about concussions.

But that's not good enough for Vara. He wants the borough and its surrounding communities to understand the hot-button issue, especially with the fall sports season approaching.

That's why Hopatcong High School's auditorium will host the Kessler Institute for Rehabilitation's 2010 Sports Education Lecture Series Wednesday at 7 p.m.

Vara said he's seen an increase in concussions in recent years.

"You're getting so many of them," he said. "A lot of times they're never even reported or misdiagnosed."

And Vara's not the only one. Kessler recently echoed his sentiment in a press release.

"More than 3.8 million [high school athletes] will sustain some type of brain injury this year, according to the Centers for Disease Control, with football-related injuries being the most prevalent," the release said.

Those are some heady numbers—no pun intended. The press release goes even further.

"Despite the serious risk, it is estimated that 99 percent of football players, ranging from high-school level to the professional ranks, return to the game even when a concussion has been diagnosed," the release said.

That troubles Vara. He said he and athletic trainer John Canzone have been looking into educating the area on concussions for a while.

"We've been spending a lot of time listening to people, doctors, trying to get well-versed in concussions," Vara said. "There's a lot of progress being made, and we want to be right on the cutting edge."

The event is the first of its kind in Hopatcong, Vara said. Randolph, Mount Olive, Wallkill Valley and other high schools have been invited.

UMDNJ Adjunct Professor Monique J. Tremaine and speech-language pathologist Julie C. Burhart-Crumby will speak before the crowd.

"We've been getting the word out there," Vara said, referring to concussion awareness. "But we want to get it out there a little bit more."

Dr. Neil N. Jansy, a Kessler physiatrist, agreed information could be the best protection. Even better than a helmet.

"It is imperative that coaches, trainers, family members and players be aware of the serious after-effects of a concussion," Jansy said in the press release.

"Equally important, athletes need to be honest about any problems they may be experiencing. We often see that players will disregard their symptoms, tough it out and return to play too soon in an attempt to keep their competitive edge.

"However, this can result in serious complications and lasting problems."