Newsroom Hospital for Special Surgery

An NBA wake-up call? Why coaches are giving smelling salts a try

Fri, 15 May 2026 12:08:57 -0400

The New York Times/The Athletic reported on the use of smelling salts in the NBA, featuring insight from Erin E. Manning, MD, neurologist at HSS.

Dr. Manning shared that no studies have shown that smelling salts improves performance. She said smelling salts have only been approved for fainting because of the temporary increase of blood flow to the brain, and increased heart and respiratory rates can wake a person up.

“There’s not really a medical basis behind it in that some people report that they feel more alert when they use it,” Dr. Manning explained. “But basically, all of the studies have really shown that there’s no effect on athletic performance by doing that.”

Read the full article at nytimes.com/athletic. A subscription is required to access.

Headache After Exercise: What to Know About Exertion Headaches and How to Treat Them.

Thu, 09 Jul 2020 09:57:00 -0400

Health Magazine discusses how to treat exertion headaches that occur during or after a workout, according to experts including Erin E. Manning, MD, neurologist at HSS.

Dehydration, sleep deprivation, and food and drink choices (e.g., chocolate, alcohol and caffeine) are some of the triggers of exertion headaches. Dr. Manning explained the best defense is to stay well-hydrated and to ensure you’re getting enough sleep. Dr. Manning also suggested trying over the counter (OTC) pain relievers. However, if OTC medicines don’t help or aren’t an option, “sometimes people actually need [prescription] medication that they take either right before strenuous exercise or regular medication that they take on a daily basis to help prevent these from happening,” she explained.

Dr. Manning concluded, “I would say if this has happened more than a couple of times, then it's probably a good time to see a doctor.”

Read the full article at Health.com.

Ex-NFL star working on 'intercellular' helmet to curb concussions, CTE

Wed, 26 Dec 2018 07:00:00 -0500

UPI reporter Alex Butler writes on new tactics to curb concussions in football players such as an intercellular helmet. He reports that the NFL had pledged $100 million in 2016 to support independent medical research and engineering advancements in neuroscience. Additionally, there have been nearly 50 rule changes since 2002 to protect player safety.

"The biggest part of all of this is education and the fact that the athletes are more aware of the symptoms and what to expect," Erin E. Manning, MD, neurologist at HSS, explains. "I think a lot of this depends on their reporting of the symptoms. If you can't get the athletes to buy into all of it, then all of the awareness you can have is not going to be helpful."

She notes that more tests are needed to diagnose concussions.

"That's the most important thing, if there is some objective test that can be developed that can diagnose via blood test or a certain kind of brain imaging," Dr. Manning says. "That would be very helpful and probably one of the more valuable things that can be done at this point, other than prevention."

Read the full article at UPI.com.

Ex-NFL star Merril Hoge disputes any connection between football and the brain disease CTE in his new book 'Brainwashed' 24 years after his own career was ended by concussions

Mon, 26 Nov 2018 07:00:00 -0500

Daily Mail sports news editor Alex Raskin writes on ex-NFL star Merril Hoge who disputes a connection between football and chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE). Hoge's football career was cut short due to a pair of concussions and he has since written a book about his view on CTE.

Erin E. Manning, MD, neurologist at HSS, explains that there is still much about CTE that researchers do not fully understand.

"We don't know why people get CTE. I think the most that it's been looked at is in football players, but all we know is what the brain looks like after they die. We don't know what happens during people's lives. We also don't know how the findings correlate with people's symptoms," says Dr. Manning.

She states that there is a lot of research that needs to be done as there is no established link between football and CTE, nor concussions and CTE.

"The [existing] studies have been mostly observational. In science, we consider the gold standard to be randomized controlled studies," said Dr. Manning, who points out that this topic does not lend itself to that type of study.

Read the full article at DailyMail.co.uk.

'Like a hit of Mr. Clean': Cowboys' Dak Prescott, other pros get boost from smelling salts

Sat, 27 Oct 2018 07:00:00 -0400

USA Today featured HSS neurologist Erin E. Manning, MD, in an article about Dallas Cowboys' quarterback Dak Prescott's recent use of smelling salts for energy right after being checked for a concussion.

Dr. Manning, who did not treat Prescott, explained that using smelling salts would not mask symptoms of a concussion.

"It's not going to change the underlying process of the concussion…. It's possible that there could be mild symptoms in the beginning and it could make them harder to find," she added.

Read the full article at usatoday.com.

Additional Coverage:

Training & Conditioning: Debating Smelling Salts

EXCLUSIVE: NFL legend Brett Favre would rather be remembered for ENDING youth tackle football than his Hall of Fame career if it means saving kids from the head traumas he endured for decades

Wed, 20 Jun 2018 07:00:00 -0400

Daily Mail reported that a new drug is being tested to treat concussions. According to the article, it claims to control the effects of acute concussion in the first two weeks and prevent chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE) from occurring.

HSS neurologist Erin E. Manning, MD, offered her perspective on the potential treatment.

"The unfortunate thing we've seen with a lot of other drugs is that they look really promising… but don't turn out to work," said Dr. Manning.

"I try not to get too excited until you start seeing how it's looking in people," she added.

Read the full article at dailymail.co.uk.

Will the Patriots play another Super Bowl without Gronk?

Mon, 22 Jan 2018 07:00:00 -0500

Providence Journal featured HSS neurologist Erin E. Manning, MD in an article about New England Patriots' Rob Gronkowski's recent concussion that occurred during the 2018 AFC Championship Game.

Dr. Manning, who did not treat Gronkowski, said it is likely he can recover in time for the Super Bowl, which is two weeks away.

"The minimum [recovery time] is five days," Dr. Manning noted. However, she explained that most people need seven days or more.

"The next few days will tell. If you see him at practice in a few days, and running, that's a good sign."

Read the full article at providencejournal.com. This article also appeared in the January 23, 2018 print issue.

Additional Coverage:

The Union Leader: Doctors bet Gronkowski will be ready. This appeared in the January 24, 2018 print issue.

Can this concussion drug save football?

Mon, 08 Jan 2018 07:00:00 -0500

New York Post reporter Kirsten Fleming writes about a new drug being tested to treat concussions. According to the article, patients could take the drug nasally within minutes of initial head trauma. It claims to reduce post-concussion symptoms, such as dizziness, short-term memory loss, and chronic headaches.

Fleming interviewed HSS neurologist Erin E. Manning, MD, who offered her perspective on the potential treatment.

"It could be a game changer, but until I see data behind it, I'm going to remain skeptical," Dr. Manning said.

The article reported that the pharmaceutical company will begin clinical trials this year.

"It's hard for me to get excited about something that hasn't gone through the first round of human trials. There have been a lot of drugs that look promising in animal studies but, when it reached more extensive studies in humans, failed," Dr. Manning added.

Read the full article at nypost.com. This article also appeared in the January 9, 2018 print issue.