Concussions and Our Kids: America's Leading Expert on How to Protect Young Athletes and Keep Sports Safe - Hardcover

See the movie "Concussion." But first read the classic book from the acclaimed concussion doctor who's changing how America thinks about safety in youth sports.

From Washington to Quebec, from offices at the NFL to the New York Times, from the NHL players union to the soccer fields of Anytown, U.S.A., people are talking about concussions. Long believed by experts to be a silent epidemic, concussions are fast becoming the most dominating and important issue in all of sports. At the center of this crisis—and one of the key reasons for this increased awareness—is Dr. Robert Cantu, the country’s leading expert on athletic brain trauma and a pioneer in the study of the link between concussions and progressive brain disease in athletes. He has treated thousands of patients who have experienced brain trauma, from high-profile professional athletes to peewees, including young boys and girls who play soccer, football, lacrosse, hockey, and other sports. And he is on the frontlines of groundbreaking research that is changing the way sports are played.

Concussions and Our Kids is the first prescriptive book of its kind to address the issue of head trauma in sports and provide preventive solutions to protect athletes and give guidelines for the way sports can be played safely. Dr. Cantu and sports journalist Mark Hyman have crafted a book that is part manifesto, part manual, explaining to parents and coaches what head trauma is, why it has become a focus of national attention, and why some practices in youth sports must change. They also outline the measures we can take to protect our children. Readers will learn:

· The signs and symptoms of a concussion
· Three concussion tests parents can give at home
· Concussions and what “rest” really means
· How concussions improperly treated can develop into post-concussion syndrome
· Why total brain trauma (not just the number of concussions) is a risk factor for chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE)
· Why helmets are no guarantee of safety
· Why concussions are prevalent in all sports, not just football and hockey
And more

Addressing what sportswriter Bill Simmons calls “the single most important issue in sports today,” this book is essential reading for parents, coaches, players, and all those interested in young athletes, their safety, and their future well-being.

Advance Praise for Concussions and Our Kids:

“Cantu and Hyman have been longtime leaders in America, widely disseminating commonsense information on concussions in younger athletes. With Concussions and Our Kids, Dr. Cantu will not sugarcoat anything; it’s a truly sobering reminder that even our children’s ‘playtime’ can have serious medical and life consequences. If your children—or grandchildren—participate in sports, please read this book.”—Bob Bigelow, co-author, Just Let the Kids Play and former NBA first-round draft choice and player

“Concussions have become the most important sports story of the decade, and there is no better person to read on the subject than Dr. Robert Cantu. This book comes along at a crucial time in our national conversation on the dangers of head injuries throughout American sports. It’s a well-researched, riveting story that every coach and parent of a young athlete should read.”—Christine Brennan, USA Today sports columnist, ABC News commentator, and author of Best Seat in the House

“Much of the sports establishment wants players, and their parents, in the dark about concussions. This book shines the light.”—Gregg Easterbrook, football columnist, ESPN

“This is an important, cutting-edge work, by the premier specialist in his field. If you watch sports, or if you have a young athlete in your family, you need to read this book.”—Dan Shaughnessy, Boston Globe columnist and author of The Curse of the Bambino and Senior Year