National Football League (NFL) alumni have a significantly higher incidence and frequency of headache, migraine, and chronic migraine when compared with the general population, but lack access to care, investigators reported.
“The players we examined were not receiving standard headache treatment,” said lead author Frank Conidi, DO, MS, Sports Neurologist and Headache and Concussion Specialist at Florida State University College of Medicine and Florida Center for Headache and Sports Neurology in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida, and colleagues. “In fact, they lacked access to both neurologists and headache specialists, despite an increased incidence of concussion and headache frequency.”
Retired players in the study were between the ages of 30 and 43 (mean age 36.67), had played an average of 4.3 years (range, two to nine years), and had an average of 7.33 concussions (± 5.2, maximum 15). They experienced a mean of 24 headache days per month. Of these, 14.6 headaches were rated as severe and met the International Headache Society (IHS) criteria for migraine; 43% met IHS criteria for chronic migraine. Half of the retired players were currently using narcotic pain medication (not specifically for headache), but only one was taking a migraine-specific abortive medication. Neuropsychologic testing demonstrated significant abnormalities in attention and concentration (66%), executive function (50%), learning and memory (50%), and spatial and perceptual function (33%). Three players had abnormalities on advanced brain imaging that indicated permanent brain injury.
Concern about injuries sustained while performing on the field of play in football, hockey, or other contact sports has spurred new regulations within professional and high school sports organizations to protect players. Earlier this year, the NFL reported that the number of concussions in the league had declined by 13% this season because of improved medical diagnoses, stiffer penalties for striking with a helmet, and fewer practices.
“While it’s too late to protect retired players from injury,” Dr. Conidi said, “We must do all we can to ensure that they get the kind of treatment and access to care they need.”