SAN ANTONIO – A new film, "Concussion," starring Will Smith, tells the story of a doctor who challenges the NFL about brain injuries.
Local doctor Evan Ratner is leading his own charge to educate others about concussions.
Ratner said things have changed dramatically over the past 10 years, but it has been a challenge.
“I (am) certainly not going to speak for the NFL or for college programs, but I think that a lot more could have been done a lot earlier,” he said.
Changes have been made, and more is being done to recognize and treat concussions. Protocols when a player gets hit are now in place, and changes have been made to equipment.
Helmets are now being made with different materials to protect from head injuries.
“You can cut the number of significant neck and head injuries almost in half if the kids are in good shape, if the equipment is state-of-the-art and (in) good shape,” Ratner said.
Ratner said that the continued effort is educating people about the risks and getting them to understand seriousness of concussions.
The possibility of getting injured in any sport will always be a factor, but decreasing those chances is why Ratner and others continue to push for more awareness.
“My job, as I see it, is not to keep kids from playing the sport they love. It’s to get them back as soon as it's safe for them to be back,” he said.
The NFL addressed the movie on Wednesday, saying that it is doing everything it can to make the game safe.
Since 2005, updates have been made to 39 rules related to health and safety. New concussion protocols have been implemented and millions of dollars have been invested in new equipment.
"Concussion" opens in theaters on Christmas.