An ongoing study by researchers at Purdue University showed that introducing a hit count in high school football may help young football players avoid serious neurological impairment resulting from repeated hits to the head, Toronto’s The Globe and Mail reported Monday.

The study, which is being conducted by experts in biomedical and mechanical engineering, neurosurgery and kinesiology, showed that some players who do not suffer from concussions and showed no concussion symptoms had just as much if not more neurological damage than their concussed counterparts. Because those players do not feel concussed, they do not go to their doctors or take time off, meaning that the damage just gets worse the more they play. The study did show that rest for non-concussed players helped improve their symptoms.

With that in mind, the Purdue study suggested introducing a safe hit count, similar to limiting the number of pitches in little league, that would prevent long-term brain damage but still allow a high school football player to play each week.

The study has yet to determine how many hits would constitute a safe hit count, as researchers hope to use more detailed data as well as videotapes this season to provide more information on exactly what type and what strength of hit is the most damaging.

Although the research is still incomplete, the idea that players can do something about concussions without having to take more time off the field is a promising development.

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