Today, many athletes across the country suffer from a common injury. This injury is one with serious side effects and can permanently end any star's career. Could you imagine being at the top of your game and then suffer a career shattering injury, many athletes face it every day. Today, Concussions are a constant threat across the world of sports. Football and hockey are two sports with a level of play that causes an increase in Concussions. Medical experts and leagues are doing the best they can to understand this growing issue. By understanding the role concussions can play in the game of professional hockey, the league can help prevent these problems from happening. Concussions affect the game of hockey in several ways from on and off the ice. In order to understand concussions role on the game of hockey, one must look at the symptoms, injuries, and side-effects of this condition.
Hockey is a sport of speed and strength. With the growing size and strength of today's players, injuries are likely to occur. Concussions are one of these injuries that include a wide variety of conditions and symptoms. “A concussion is a traumatic brain injury that alter the way your brain functions” (Staff, Mayo Clinic). The game of Hockey causes severe collisions that sometimes result in head injuries. “Although concussions usually are caused by a blow to the head, they can also occur when the head and upper body are violently shaken. These injuries can cause a loss of consciousness, but most concussions do not. Because of this, some people have concussions and don't realize it” (Staff, Mayo Clinic). Concussions are common in any contact sport. According to the Mayo Clinic, all forms of concussions impair your brain in some fashion. These injuries often take time to heal. The time frame for these injuries varies from patient to patient. Concussion's symptoms are one part to analyze and evaluate to determine their effects on the game of hockey.