Click on this link for a great article in the New York Times about clinical studies as to the effectiveness of energy drink consumption and athletic performance. http://well.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/12/08/phys-ed-do-energy-drinks-improve-athletic-performance/

The Virginia High School League (VHSL), the governing body for high school sports activities in Virginia, has announced that it is prohibiting energy drink possession and consumption by athletes during  participation in all high school sports practices and games. Citing concern with the ingredients contained in such drinks as the phenomenally popular Red Bull, Monster, Rockstar and Five Hour Energy,  the VHSL’s Sports Medicine Committee opined that such drinks over stimulate the central nervous system, inhibit the body’s ability to re-hydrate after exercise and may lead to adverse side-effects including potential harmful interactions with ADHD medication. It is unclear as to the penalties for school liability for failure to enforce the new policy  and also as to what sanctions will be imposed against the athlete for violation of the new policy. See the attached link from the VHSL for more info.  http://www.vhsl.org/files/smac-powerpoint-concussions-2010.pdf          

No high school injury issue is more talked about today than sports related concussions, and specifically, concussions from football. The NFL  is leading the way in redefining head injury recognition protocols and its important that at the high school level, that coaches and trainers yield hugely on the side of caution in defining a possible head injury even if its sustained by the star tailback during the big game. Failure to diagnose even minor brain trauma can lead to Secondary Impact Syndrome which occurs when a second concussion is sustained after having received an initial concussion. Although infrequently diagnosed in the past, it is probable that diagnosis of SIS will increase under the  new protocols and that standards of liability will change accordingly.  The linked video from ESPN is informative. http://espn.go.com/video/clip?id=3651929

The purpose of the MPIN is to provide information and commentary on legal issues involving personal injury and criminal cases in the Middle Peninsula counties of Gloucester, Mathews and Middlesex. Occasionally, or perhaps more than occasionally, we will also address issues of local government, school administration, law enforcement, politics and other issues of critical interest to the local population. Your comments are welcome. Keep them clean and informative. Let me know what interests you and I’ll try to get something out on point. Thanks for checking in. Have a great day.