NYIT Center for Sports Medicine Hosts Concussion Conference

Five former professional hockey players joined medical and health experts from New York Institute of Technology (NYIT) Center for Sports Medicine on April 6 at a public conference on concussions at the Old Westbury campus.

Speaking to a standing-room-only crowd in Rockefeller Auditorium, the players and experts urged parents, students from NYIT College of Osteopathic medicine and School of Health Professions, athletes, and other audience members to be aware of the dangers of concussions and to learn about their prevention and treatment.

Former NY Islanders Bob Nystrom, Bob Bourne, Clark Gillies, Pat LaFontaine, and Steve Webb recounted their experiences with multiple concussions as athletes at a time when the typical approach would be to “shake it off” and remain in the game. They agreed that baseline testing—an assessment of balance and brain function an athlete can obtain before a head injury—is a useful strategy that can help physicians and patients understand the effects of a concussion and focus on targeted treatments for symptoms. 

Earlier in the day, the center hosted a series of professional development lectures on concussion management aimed at physicians, physical and occupational therapists, and trainers.

During the evening conference, NYIT Center for Sports Medicine Director Hallie Zwibel (D.O. ’11), and Assistant Professor Adena Leder, D.O., a neurologist, provided an overview of recent research on concussions and reviewed the services offered at the center, which treats amateur athletes and patients of all ages as well as student-athletes from NYIT and Long Island University teams.

“Parents, teachers, athletes, and coaches need to be aware of the 4 million concussions occurring each year in the United States,” said Zwibel. “Concussions can be potentially devastating, keeping individuals away from sports, their job, or school.”

NYIT Center for Sports Medicine offers concussion baseline testing, neurologic evaluations, physical and occupational therapy, osteopathic manipulative treatments, and cognitive, visual, and balance testing as part of its concussion management and treatment program. The center’s experts are also researching the effect of osteopathic treatment on concussion patients.