Dr. Teena Shetty: Making sports safer

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Dr. Teena ShettyNeurologist, Dr. Teena Shetty, talks about the efforts of the medical community to make sports safer for players at all levels.

Physical injuries are an inherent part of the game for many athletes, but the long-term effects of more severe injuries, like concussions, have yet to be fully understood.

As athletes continue to put their bodies on the line for the chance to play the sports they love, the need for further research into the long-term effects and risks of concussions is vital for the survival of competitive sports, and, more importantly, its players.

The sports community, however, is starting to recognize the importance of raising awareness about the danger of concussions – an injury that is often dismissed because its impact is often not immediately visible like broken limbs and torn ligaments.

“There are still players, athletes, coaches, parents who believe that a brain injury is something to be toughed out,” Dr. Shetty said. “The reality that we’re increasingly recognizing is that one has to be evaluated by a trained medical professional who understands concussion before being cleared to return to play.”

DR. TEENA SHETTY: Making sports safer

Dr. Tina Shetty talks about the efforts of the medical community to make sports safer for players at all levels.

Dr. Teena Shetty sees the ugly side of these severe injuries first hand. She’s a neurologist the Hospital for Special Surgery in New York. She specializes in sports neurology, concussions and neuromuscular diseases. She is the neurologist for the New York Mets baseball team and works as a consultant for the New York Giants American football team.

Dr. Teena Shetty joined Mike Walter in our New York City studio to discuss the efforts of the medical community to make sports safer for players at all levels.