Essay On Concussions

Concussion, the diagnosis every player dreads but hears too often, so what is actually being done to prevent this from sidelining millions of players every year and protect players from getting life-threatening concussions? Concussions are a serious health risk sustained by all athletes, more specifically football players. Football is a sport that demands more from its athletes mind and bodies than most sports do. The endless head collisions that occur on the line of tackle, as well as, one perfectly positioned hard hit to the head or body could potentially ruin a player’s career, as well as, his personal life. The constant fear over short and long-term health effects regarding concussions in sports have already resulted in rule changes, lawsuits,
and decreased youth participation in football. One thing that is constantly developing and helping to lessen the amount of concussions received by football players is technology, more specifically wearable technology. Technology has enhanced the awareness of the dangers of concussions and the importance of offering improved protection for athletes.
Technology will continue to promote safety and welfare. Whether it is a helmet, software, or mouth guard technology is constantly being improved to limit the amount of players who suffer from concussions and more technology will continue to be developed as this problem is constantly a challenge in the sports world. Athletes competing at all levels including competitive, recreational, high school, college athletes, and professional are all at a risk of obtaining a concussion. A concussion is defined as “a complex pathophysiological process that affects the brain, typically induced by trauma to the brain. It can be caused either by a direct blow to the head, or an indirect blow to the body, causing neurological impairments that may resolve spontaneously” (Sports Concussion Institute, 2012). Concussion comes from the Latin word concutere meaning “to shake violently” (WebMD, 2017). Symptoms have the potential of lasting for days, weeks, months, or even longer. Those signs and symptoms include, “headache or a feeling of pressure in the head, temporary loss of consciousness, confusion or feeling as if in a fog, amnesia surrounding the traumatic event, dizziness
or seeing stars, ringing in the ears, nausea, vomiting, slurred speech, delayed response to questions, appearing dazed, fatigue” (Mayo Clinic Staff, 2017). Delayed symptoms, which can occur even a month after the impact, are “ Concentration and memory complaints, irritability and other personality changes, sensitivity to light and noise, sleep disturbances, psychological adjustment problems and depression, disorders of taste and smell” (Mayo Clinic Staff, 2017). Most players who suffer from a single, mild concussion will fully recover without any noticeable side effects. However, after a player sustains a concussion it is more likely that that same player will receive another concussion. “Second impact syndrome” is referred to as a potentially fatal swelling of the brain and can happen if a second injury occurs soon after the first concussion was received. What some people may not be knowledgeable of is the fact that multiple small concussions can lead to cumulative neurologic and cognitive deficits (Comston, 2009). Furthermore, in severe cases “the brain is squeezed through small holes within the skull. This squeezing of the brain through these small holes is known as “herniation”. Herniation can lead to decreased blood flow to the brain, and ultimately, to the athlete’s death” (Comston, 2009). Football players at every level, especially at the professional level, receive concussions at an alarming rate. During the 2012 season, 261 NFL players were diagnosed with a concussion. In 2014, 206 NFL players sustained a concussion, and in 2015, 271 NFL players suffered from a concussion (CNN Library, 2016). Due to the risk of health issues and death that come with concussions, doctors, coaches, athletic trainers, and lawmakers are taking a stance in protecting athletes at all levels from receiving concussions.