Shockwave helping raise concussion awareness

The NHL announced a new protocol starting this month for evaluating head trauma, as players showing signs of a concussion will be removed from the bench area and examined by a doctor in a quiet room away from the ice.

And the plan certainly resonated locally.

“I’m very excited that the NHL has put together a program to keeps the players safe from a concussion and second-impact syndrome,” said Tim Johannes, an assistant hockey coach at Stevenson High School in Lincolnshire. “What’s missing (from the NHL plan) is, the players need to know the signs and symptoms and ultimately what could happen with long-term systematic concussions.”

Just as the Stevenson players now already know, thanks to the postage stamp-size indicator the high school players have attached to the back of their helmets. It’s the Shockwave System indicator, invented late last year by Johannes to measure the G-force that the helmet receives from contact. G-force is the measure of the forces applied to the brain during acceleration or deceleration injuries. The device is calibrated for the age-group that will be wearing the helmet and what medical studies have shown as to how much G-force they can sustain.

“What’s nice about the Shockwave System is, we educate younger players about the signs and symptoms (of concussions), and also explain long-term problems that concussions can cause,” Johannes said.

Stevenson has been using the Shockwave System for about six months – and Patriots players and parents are convinced it’s definitely a valuable safety tool.

“The players now understand what to look for, and if something doesn’t feel right they’re questioning it,” Johannes said.

Stevenson had three concussions during the 2010-2011 season, and in each case, the player’s Shockwave indicator changed from white to red, indicating the player had endured an impact that could have resulted in a concussion — and they had.

“There was one case when the player was on his back (after being hit) and head coach Nick Meo asked him cognitive questions, such as, ‘What just happened?’ and ‘Where are you?’” Johannes said. “The player was slow to answer and complained of a headache. At that point, Meo turned to me and said he was done playing the rest of the game. As we picked him up, the indicator was red.

“We actually didn’t need the indicator to tell us he was done for the game – he had already failed the cognitive questions.”

The Shockwave System has been picked up by numerous area hockey teams and players in the area, including a Benet Academy player, whose Shockwave indicator went off during a game and, yes, he later was determined to have suffered a concussion.

The Shockwave System also is growing in popularity on multiple levels of football, from youth leagues to the Arena Football League.

The Shockwave System also has piqued interest from Lacrosse USA, as well as NHRA, NASCAR, Major League Baseball, the NFL and the NHL.

“I started this company to help hockey coaches in the way they handle and identify head impacts and possible concussions, and also to make players and parents understand the signs and symptoms of a concussion,” Johannes said. “I never thought the Shockwave System would have so many opportunities to help so many people in helmeted sports, both competitive and recreational sports.”