The National Football League and NFL Players Association have awarded two grants to independent medical investigators to study the effects of CBD on alleviating concussion symptoms.
The two grants totaling $526,525 were awarded to Emory University and the American Society of Pain and Neuroscience, according to a news release. In addition to studying CBD’s potential effects on alleviating concussion symptoms, the grant funding will also be used to study the effects of non-invasive vagal nerve stimulation, as well as mindfulness-based intervention in sports medicine injuries, the release said.
“We are always seeking new knowledge, techniques, and tools to ensure that NFL athletes are treated with the best possible care,” NFL Chief Medical Officer Dr. Allen Sills said. “We are proud to lead the way on investigating how the use of CBD and other alternative measures could positively impact pain management for players. As within the broader scope of player health and safety, we want to ensure every treatment at our disposal clears the appropriate medical standard for wider use.”
These grants marked the second round of grants awarded by the NFL-NFLPA Joint Pain Management Committee, which establishes standards for NFL team policies regarding pain management and the use of prescription medications by NFL players, according to its website.
“The funding for these studies will lead to advancements which will ultimately help NFL players off the field,” said Colonel Geoffrey Ling, co-chair of the NFL-NFLPA Pain Management Committee. “The health and safety of players is always the highest priority for the NFLPA and the work of the joint pain management committee with the NFL is an important part of fulfilling this mission.”
“The Pain Management Committee is thrilled that the NFL and NFLPA are funding rigorous studies on multiple treatment modalities in order to improve the treatment of pain,” said Dr. Kevin Hill, co-chair of the NFL-NFLPA Pain Management Committee. “It is our hope that these studies will help the players manage the pain that may be a part of professional football.”
In February 2022, the NFL awarded $1 million in funding to researchers at the University of California San Diego and the University of Regina to study the effects of cannabinoids on concussions and pain management.
