Local doctor says movie could affect participation in football

It’s a movie that is meant to shed light on the concussion issue in football. One Pueblo doctor said it could impact the sport locally.

The film “Concussion” is set to hit theaters on Christmas.

It’s about a doctor in Pittsburgh, who found a link between football and chronic traumatic encephalopathy.

CTE affects brain function because of hits to the head that cause concussions.

Dr. Rocky Khosla has studied concussions since 1988.

He said the movie could make parents think twice before putting their kids into football.

“It may make parents and guardians a little more concerned. I would not be surprised if more kids don’t go into football. I think there could be effects,” he said.

Khosla said more than 16,000 brain injury tests have been conducted in Pueblo since 2011 for 11 different sports in middle and high school, along with college.