The Herndon Elementary School sixth grade was buzzing with excitement on a recent spring afternoon. As the students filed into the gymnasium, they were greeted by huge cardboard boxes, audiovisual presentation equipment, and members of the Town of Herndon police force. Local lawyer Doug Landau was there too. Landau — dressed not in a pinstripe…
This past summer, President Obama hosted the first-ever summit on concussions at the White House. The purpose of the conference was to increase awareness and education about the serious nature of concussions in youth, and more importantly, to kick start a culture shift in America when it comes to youths and sports. Concussions in Youth…
The word concussion is everywhere lately. From former football players suing the National Football League (NFL) for hiding the dangers of concussion, to concussions sustained by other professional athletes, local youth athletes, and even our own Doug Landau — concussions seem to be more prevalent than ever. Baseball players — particularly pitchers — are…
Following up yesterday’s post on the increase in concussions seen at hospital emergency rooms, new initiatives to educate the high school sports community about concussions have been adopted. Beginning in the fall of 2010, all Rhode Island high school coaches head coaches, assistants and volunteers must take a free 20-minute online course on…
Youth sports build strong bodies, teach “team work” and help stem the trend toward obesity that has the attention of America’s health care providers. However, there are statistics demonstrating emergency Room visit s for teenagers are tripling over a 10 year period. Sports Medicine researchers are concerned that “bigger, stronger and faster” may not be…
Daylight Savings time means it’s lighter later in the morning. For “early bird” exercisers, that means that you should be wearing reflective, bright colored clothing so that you can be seen. You have seen me in my orange, yellow and other brightly colored garb. I practice what I preach. I also try to wear my…
I am contacted by injured and disabled athletes from all over the United States. Recently, I received a note from a Florida college football player who sustained a career ending neck injury. This full scholarship athlete felt his neck was injured and went to the football team trainer. His cervical area was sore, and he…
Wisconsin’s highest court rejected a lawsuit that sought damages on behalf of a former high school cheerleader who suffered a serious head injury while performing a stunt, as reported on Fox News. In the ruling, the Wisconsin Supreme Court found that the lawsuit was barred by a state law that prevents participants in contact sports…
Do kids return to the field too soon after a concussion and head injury ? Doug Landau has seen athletes knocked out, “knocked silly” and even his best friend bloodied when he ran from the pitcher’s mound for a pop up only to be struck in the skull by his catcher running into him with…
With his own daughter watching her final two high school games from the sidelines this Fall, sport injury lawyer Doug Landau wondered about other student athletes who return to the playing field before medically stable or physiologically ready. Too many kids may be returning to the playing field too soon after a concussion. “How many?…