Head trauma, one of football's biggest risk is being analyzed from all angles. Saturday, several college football players left the field after blows to the head. Baptist Hospital Director of Emergency Services Dr. Wendell Pahls says football has changed through the years.
"I think the forces of sports have increased over the years. Players are bigger, stronger, faster and they hit harder than they used to."
A perfect example, Saturday when thousands of fans at War Memorial Stadium watched Razorback quarterback Tyler Wilson take hit after hit. Eventually, removing him from the game. Dr. Pahls says players need to be monitored.
"One concussion most of the time, the player or patient will recover from without too much sequelae. However, there is concern that repetitive concussion syndrome can lead to significant long-term problems such as seizures, behavioral disorders, some ability to think clearly, cognitive disorders."
Neurologists say once a person suffers a concussion, he is four times more likely to sustain a second. After several concussions, it takes less of a blow to cause injury and more time to recover.
In the second half of Saturday's game Cornerback Tevin Mitchel collided helmets with his own teammate.
Dr. Pahls says Mitchel's hit was painful to watch.
"That is all transmitted directly through the players head and neck and shoulders and the chance of a fairly significant head injury or neck injury or upper-extremity injury is pretty significant and frankly as an ER doctor it always makes me a little uncomfortable to see that kind of a severe impact."
Doctors do believe Mitchel will be fine. As for Wilson, no word if he'll return this season. Doctor Pahls believes it is best to be safe than sorry.
"I also think that the importance of knowing when to put them back in to a sport has increased and I think that's a very important thing that the coaches are now more aware of."