Chicago personal injury firm Romanucci & Blandin has learned about a new study that shows alarming results: high school athletes are four times more likely to suffer a concussion today than they were 10 years ago.

According to a study by Andrew Lincoln, who heads the Sports Medicine Research Center at Union Memorial Hospital in Baltimore, in 2008, there were about five concussions for every 10,000 times kids got hit on the playing field. This compares with slightly more than 10,000 in 1997.

It’s unclear what drove the numbers up, but researchers say it’s likely a combination of awareness of concussion’s signs and symptoms. Researchers recorded concussions at 25 schools over a nine-year period in six different sports each for boys and girls.

Concurrently, legislation continues to make its way through the Illinois House of Representatives that would provide new safeguards against rushing athletes back into games after they sustain concussions. School districts would be required to obtain a doctor’s written permission before a player who may have sustained a concussion could resume playing.

The move is part of a national wave of concern about the long-term risks associated with concussions. The NFL held a news conference last week and said it wants all 50 states and the District of Columbia to pass legislation that could cut down on concussions. A quicker route would be through federal legislation, and a bill is pending in Congress on that issue. The GOP-led House is not likely to support the bill, so the matter will probably be left to the states.

Other research shows that repeated blows to the head can lead to depression, dementia and other mental health problems as victims age. The recent suicide of former Chicago Bears player Dave Duerson brought new attention to the issue.