Scientist hopes Shaw's injury will raise concussion awareness

From his home in Kentucky, more than 600 miles away, Jonathan Lifshitz knew how serious Kenny Shaw’s injury was before the Florida State receiver hit the grass inside Doak Campbell Stadium.

Shaw, who was sandwiched between two defenders in a frightening second-quarter collision Saturday night, displayed the classic “fencing response” that Lifshitz’s students identified during research at the University of Kentucky’s Spinal Cord and Brain Injury Research Center.

As Shaw fell backward, both of his arms extended forward and remained in that position for several seconds. According to Lifshitz, an assistant professor of anatomy and neurobiology, that is a tell-tale sign of a concussion – and the “fencing response” that often comes with one. Continue reading; www.tallahassee.com

The way FSU receiver Kenny Shaw extended his arms following a collision Saturday night was an obvious sign of a concussion, according to Kentucky scientist Jonathan Lifshitz. / Mike Ewen/Democrat