Leddy honored for research on concussion in teens

The American Medical Society for Sports Medicine (AMSSM) has awarded its Best Overall Research Award to John Leddy, medical director of the UB Concussion Management Clinic, clinical professor of orthopaedics in the Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences and a physician with UBMD Orthopaedics & Sports Medicine.

The award recognizes research Leddy presented at the annual AMSSM meeting in April in Dallas on “Predictors of Recovery in Adolescents with Acute Sport-Related Concussion.”

Leddy is internationally known for his research, conducted with co-investigator Barry Willer, UB professor of psychiatry, into the best ways of diagnosing and treating concussion, especially in adolescents, who, Leddy says, are the most vulnerable age group for concussions and take the longest time to recover.

Leddy’s research demonstrated that a concussed patient’s exercise intolerance — the threshold of physical activity at which his or her physical symptoms increased — is a key clinical indicator of the severity of the concussion when done within the first week or so after the injury.

“Our research demonstrates that a systematic assessment of exercise tolerance, soon after the injury, is the best predictor of recovery time,” Leddy says. His research also shows that, in combination with an assessment of exercise intolerance, a brief physical examination of the eyes, the neck and the patient’s ability to maintain balance provide vital information on how well the patient will recover and how long it will take.

“I’m honored to have been chosen for this award,” Leddy says, “but the real winners will be the young athletes who can benefit from the research findings. We have learned much over the years about the causes, evaluation and treatment of concussions — but there is still much more work to be done. Our team of physicians, neuropsychologists and other specialists has developed a holistic approach to both treatment and recovery, and we will continue to work on behalf of patients everywhere.”

The UB Concussion Management Clinic provides evaluation and treatment for individuals suffering from a recent concussion and from post-concussion syndrome. The clinic includes internationally recognized experts who are the most experienced in Western New York for evaluating patients with a concussion and developing a safe return-to-activity (sport, school or work) program. 

The UB Concussion Management Clinic is available to anyone who has had a concussion, regardless of age and no matter the cause. Prospective patients should call 716-204-3200. UBMD Orthopaedics & Sports Medicine offices are located in Buffalo, Amherst, Niagara Falls and Orchard Park.