Super Bowl 59: Hackensack Meridian Health Experts can Discuss NFL Player Injury Risks, Treatment

Brick, N.J. – February 5, 2025 – According to the National Football League, the 2024 season saw a historic low in concussions and a continued reduction in lower-extremity injuries. The League notes player health and safety remains at the forefront and has come a long way since the first Super Bowl in 1967. 

Safety improvements in helmets (the largest since 2021) played a large role in a 17% decrease in concussions from last season. Data collection and expert analysis have resulted in changes in both the ‘kickoff’ and ‘use of the helmet’ rules, which are helping to lower injury risk as well. 

For instance, the new Dynamic Kickoff rule alone slowed the average player speeds, contributing to a lower concussion rate for the 2024 season (down 43% from the 2021-2023 average) and the fewest lower-extremity strains on the play since at least 2018. 

Lower-extremity injuries like muscle strains, and tendon and ligament tears, continue to cause the greatest time lost for players. The 2024 season continued with a downward trend in time-loss lower extremity strains – down 14% compared to 2021.  

An evolution in the physical design of standard equipment (position-specific helmets and shoulder, knee and thigh padding) and the increasing use of technology to enhance that equipment (AI for analyzing player data, data sensors in mouth guards, helmets and shoulder pads) are continually evolving approaches helping to improve player health and safety.

Despite these advancements, players are still susceptible to injury. Hackensack Meridian Health experts are available to comment on some of the most common injuries NFL players face, the latest treatments for such injuries, and recovery efforts.

Jason Wong, DO, is an orthopedic surgeon at Hackensack Meridian Southern Ocean Medical Center in Manahawkin. Board certified and fellowship-trained in sports medicine, Dr. Wong specializes in the treatment of sports related injuries involving the hip, knee, shoulder and elbow. He serves as a team physician for multiple local high schools and participated in the care of collegiate and professional athletes (including the NFL’s Philadelphia Eagles) during his training. 

Bruce Stamos, MD, is an orthopedic surgeon at Hackensack Meridian Ocean University Medical Center in Brick.  Dr. Stamos is board certified and fellowship-trained in sports medicine and shoulder surgery and has advanced training in both arthroscopic knee and shoulder surgery. During his training, he participated in the care of collegiate and professional athletes (including the NFL’s New England Patriots). He currently serves as a team physician for a number of local high schools and previously served as head team physician for the New Jersey-based Sky Blue (now NJ/NY Gotham) team of the National Women’s Soccer League.

Both Wong and Stamos can discuss: 

• common musculoskeletal injuries athletes face that impact muscles, nerves, tendons, joints, cartilage and spinal discs
• the latest technologies available to treat such injuries
• what is involved in short-term and long-term recovery for athletes 
• how a ‘sports medicine’ approach can benefit non-athletes through prevention, immediate treatment and an accelerated rehabilitation focus 

Grant Arzumanov, DO, and Kevin Zhao, DO, are fellowship-trained neurosurgeons in the Pain Management Program at Hackensack Meridian Ocean University Medical Center in Brick. Dr. Arzumanov specializes in the treatment of complex cranial and spinal pathologies including neurosurgical oncology, skull base surgery, open cerebrovascular surgery and complex spine surgery. Dr. Zhao’s expertise lies in minimally invasive cranial, open cerebrovascular, and spine surgeries, offering advanced treatment options for a wide array of conditions, including complex brain tumors, pituitary tumors, chiari malformation, hydrocephalus (‘water on the brain’), aneurysms, disc herniations, degenerative spine disease, and adjacent level disease.

Both Arzumanov and Zhao can discuss:

• disc herniation during training
• fractures during play including: 
• transverse process fractures (a break in the bony projections on the sides of the spine often caused by high-impact collisions)
• spinous process fractures (a break in the back part of a vertebrae often caused by traumatic injury) 
• the latest approaches and technologies in treating such injuries and recovery outlooks

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