Persuasive Essay Concussions

The rate of concussions among high school students has doubled in the last decade, more than 3 million were reported in the last year alone (headcasecompany.com). The government should enact more laws on the proper treatment of concussions in schools by educating athletes on the risks of untreated brain injuries, adequately training coaches on how to encourage the importance of healing rather than playing and properly instructing the athletic trainers on site of the different varieties of concussion symptoms. Long lasting risks of concussions have been a very hot topic in the media recently. Most people believe that concussions are linked to athletes during their time as a professional, however, the prolonged risks of untreated concussions
can be traced back all the way to the beginning of an athlete's recreational career. Long before it was even remotely competitive.
Temporary memory loss, vertigo and migraines are just some of the relatively mild health risks related to post concussions. More and more studies are being undergone on retired professional and recreational athletes who now have an extreme attention deficit and memory loss as well as Parkinson’s disease related symptoms. All as a result of a concussion they sustained thirty years ago (Nordqvist). Dr. Maryse Lassonde of the Quebec Nature and Technologies Granting Center, conducted many studies on these retired athletes including those of the Montreal hockey team. She found that athletes who suffered a severe concussion that then went untreated for years at a time, had abnormal brain activity as well as the deterioration of important motor pathways (Nordqvist). Researchers from the University of Los Angeles, conducted brain autopsies on current NFL football players who experienced the long term effects of multiple concussions. What they found were “abnormal tau proteins.” These proteins have been previously linked with Alzheimer's disease (Nordqvist). For an athlete, being on a team is usually one of the most important parts of their lives. Schools should be teaching young athletes how to recognize concussions and what to do if they have one. In addition, athletes should know the proper steps in treating a concussion and the correct return to play guidelines. The risks of long term health effects become greater and greater with each concussion sustained and it begs the question, why are athletes still being encouraged to play even if it gambles on the well being of their life later?
The knowledge of concussions has made great strides since the beginning of professional sports.
However “research is showing that many young athletes are not reporting their symptoms, are not removed from play and are returning to play too soon” (CDC Concussion at Play 2). It has been proven that concussions are not necessarily caused by just a hit on the head. However, it is now being discovered that a concussion can be caused by a “bump, blow or jolt to the head or the body that results in the brain moving rapidly back and forth” (CDC Concussion at Play 3). This means that even if an athlete feels no symptoms after getting hit, they could still get a concussion as a result of moving around after the blow, like to continue to play in a game or practice. A study was conducted by the Center for Disease prevention on High school athletes. Sixty nine percent of these boys and girls reported that continued to play with concussion symptoms and forty percent of those reported that their coaches didn’t even know they had a concussion (CDC Concussion at Play 5). Coaches are not properly trained on concussions and most of them encourage their players to play the whole season, putting injuries off to be dealt with during the off season. With the prolonged risks of concussions growing, Coaches should be required and should want to let their athletes heal before returning to
play.
Athletic Trainers are the first responders among athletes for injuries. The average certified athletic trainer sees approximately seven concussions per year (NATA 280). Not all concussions are the same and should be treated accordingly. Most teen concussions last only a couple of weeks, however there are some who still experience symptoms for months or longer (CDC 2). Athletic trainers being responsible for how and when an athlete returns to play should be required to have more knowledge of the varieties of symptoms that accompany a concussion. In addition, athletic trainers should be able to “educate athletes on the risks of hiding symptoms” just to return to play faster as well as assisting athletes on how they should proceed with school and learning (CDC 13). As many as one third of athletes does not receive clear instructions on how to go about dealing with school. Having a “return to learn” plan in place as well as a return to play, will help reduce long term concussion symptoms among teens and athletic trainers are the best people to promote healthy healing to young athletes (CDC 9).
The Government enacting more laws on the increased treatment of concussions in schools by educating athletes on the risks of prolonged brain injuries, properly training coaches on the importance of their players healing rather than playing and re-instructing on site athletic trainers about the different varieties of concussion symptoms, will improve the later quality of life among athletes. As little as one in five athletes sustain a concussion during their sports season (headcasecompany.com). As many as 39% of those adolescents with concussions, show signs of neurological disability in the future (headcasecompany.com). Concussions are virtually unpreventable. All the helmets and padding in the world couldn’t protect your brain from moving. However, knowing the right way to recognize symptoms and knowing when it is time to stop playing could help prevent later problems and that begins with the future of the sports world. Starting education among athletes early will promote and spread the importance of healing in the treatment of concussions.