In this 2013 photo, Air Force Academy Falcons freshman quarterback Nate Romine runs for a touchdown. Romine took over for starter Karson Roberts who suffered a concussion. Officials say sports are responsible for half of all concussions at the academy. (Courtesy U.S. Air Force/Mike Kaplan)
U.S. Air Force Academy cadets are helping the NCAA in a national study on concussions, the service announced.
Hundreds of cadets took part in the research July 13, the Air Force said in a press release. It’s part of a three-year, $30 million joint program by the Pentagon and the National Collegiate Athletic Association to better understand concussions that have bene plaguing both sports and the military.
“The collected results of these evaluations will be compiled into a database and form a baseline of a cadet’s complete physical assessment,” Col. Darren Campbell, the director of the academy’s Concussion Center, said in a press release.
“By having a baseline, we then have something to compare [if]they are injured,” he said. “We know what their ‘norm’ should look like.”
The academy said that each cadet spent an hour undergoing testing and evaluations, including balance, memory, and cognitive tests.
Lt. Cmdr. Brian Johnson, a behavioral science professor at the academy, noted that athletics account for about half of all concussions among cadets.
“Regardless of participation in the national research study, all cadets are given the same level of care,” he said. “We treat every cadet the same and we focus on this issue for long-term effect.”
