Concussions have always been a problem in sports, and they are only becoming more relevant in sports of all ages today. Suffering a concussion can affect an athlete both short, and long term. There is a lot of research and progress towards the effects and prevention of concussions.Researchers are noticing an increase of concussions in young athletes as well, and are looking for ways of prevention. Even with research progressing on prevention, concussions are still occurring very often in most sports. Concussions are a problem in sports today, but researchers are working on ways to better understand, and prevent them. In order to better understand concussions, it is important to find out how conussions develop, how researchers classify concussions, …show more content…
and how concussions can be prevented. Some concussions are worse than others, so concussions are classified in a few different ways. The way the concussions are classified is Mild, Moderate and Severe. There concussions are classified as to how bad the symptoms are for each of them. A mild concussions symptoms usually only last about 15 minutes, but a severe concussions can have long-term effects that lingar if it was bad enough. Information found in the article (Concussion (Brain Trauma)) says that “Concussions are fairly common. Some estimates say a mild brain trauma is sustained every 21 seconds in the U.S. But it's important to recognize the signs of a concussion so you can take the proper steps to treat the injury. There are some common physical, mental, and emotional symptoms a person may display following a concussion. Any of these could be a sign of traumatic brain injury: Headache, nausea, dizziness, blurred vision, those are just a few.” This quote shows that concussions are common but all types of them have various symptoms. The symptoms can also get worse over time if not recognized or ignored by the athlete. Ultimately concussions aren’t a good thing but it is important to be aware of the symptoms to avoid long-term effects. Concussions aren’t only bad short-term but they can also affect mental health in different ways as well. One concussion isn’t the end of the world, but the more concussions a single athlete suffers, the symptoms get worse each time. Long term studies show, that after recurrent concussions without treatment an athlete can develop CTE (Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy). CTE is known as the worst thing an athlete can suffer from concussions other than instant death from trauma. CTE is a disease developed from concussions, the disease has permanent symptoms from concussions and is fatal a majority of the time for the former athlete. Information found in this article (Mental Health Effects of Concussions to Adolescents and Teens) say that “Although fairly uncommon, the circumstances of a concussion can result in posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), (CTE) or acute stress disorder, particularly when considering that concussions do not have to result in loss of consciousness during the event.” This article says that it is uncommon to suffer major mental health problems from concussions unless the concussion is that severe or the amount suffered is big. This does not mean it cannot happen though, it is just very uncommon. (PTSD), (CTE) and Acute stress disorder are some of the mental health diseases that can occur from concussions. After a certain amount of concussions an athlete may never to be able to return to sports again.
The number of concussions until an athlete is done with sports is often personalized because every case is different. It often depends on how severe the concussions prior were and the symptoms of those concussions. Doctors often take in account if the athlete has recurring symptoms from prior concussions. Also if the athlete is suffering concussions from small blows to the head that would be fine for most other athletes. Information found in the article (How many concussions is too many for an athlete?) says “It isn’t necessarily how hard an athlete gets hit in the head, or how many concussions he or she has had, but what the athlete brings to the table that often determines the response to the trauma, how bad the symptoms get, and how amenable the athlete is to therapy. Athletes with car sickness are more likely to get vestibular problems after a concussion, those with learning disabilities are more likely to develop cognitive problems, those with anxiety are more likely to have anxiety and mood issues (Patrick Skerrett)”. This article shows that each athlete is different when it comes to a cutoff number for them. Every concussion is different and it is hard to tell how they will affect an athlete. Every case is different, but there is still a cutoff where an athlete can never compete in sports …show more content…
again. There is a certain recovery time for each concussion depending on the grade. Every concussion is individually based on recovery time but most have a similar time frame. If a concussion is not treated properly the chances of another is very high. If the recovery isn’t long enough for the athlete, the chances of another concussion increases by 70%. According to information found on NPR.com “About 20 percent of teens said they have been diagnosed with at least one concussion. And nearly 6 percent said they've been diagnosed with more than one, according to a research letter published Tuesday in the Journal of the American Medical Association” (Greta Jochem). This article shows that concussions are very common but recurring concussions happen very often as well. Most of the time signs show because of concussions not being treated properly, and not given enough time to recover. For the best chances of full recovery on a concussion, an athlete must wait a certain amount of time to fully heal. Concussions can be prevented in many different ways.
Doctors and researchers are progressing greatly on prevention of concussions. One way that is being pushed in bettering equipment to prevent concussions. Another way is educating young athletes on symptoms of concussions, and effects so they know the importance of treating them correctly. Concussions are part of sports, so instead of working to eliminate them fully, right now researchers are focusing on prevention and treatment. According to information found on the website Forbes.com “ While Alberts says the risk of brain injury is naturally higher among football players because of their profession, what medical experts don’t know are the effects of variables such as repeated blows, genetics and how providing more recovery time can help reduce potential damage (David Lariviere)”. This article shows that there are several factors after concussions that are crucial toward prevention. Understanding the type of concussion and the recovery time is also very important. Concussions can be prevented, but there are certain steps and variables that are important towards
prevention. Concussions are very relevant in today’s sports and are becoming more common in today’s sports. Concussions are classified in three different ways, mild, moderate and severe. Concussions have both short, and long term effects but can also cause mental health problems such as CTE. To avoid long-term problems athletes are often prohibited from competing in sports after a certain amount of concussions. To make sure concussions do not reoccur an athlete needs to have the right recovery time. Even though concussions are very relevant, they have various ways of prevention. In order to better understand concussions, it is important to find out how they can be prevented, how researchers classify concussions, and how concussions develop.
Injuries are a huge part in professional sports. When playing a professional sport athletes do not always take into consideration that their bodies are vulnerable to injuries. One of the leading injuries that can end athlete’s career is concussion. According Kia Boriboon author of the article “Concussion Management In Football: Don 't Shake It Off” concussion occurs when the brain repeatedly collides with the skull. Concussions are serious and cannot be taken lightly they are detrimental to a person’s athletic career as well as life. Players who have suffered from a concussion or like symptoms of a concussion are at risk and should not continue playing their sport until cleared by a medical doctor, who is an expert in concussions. If concussions are not treated with the appropriate medical care, it can cause physical and mental health problems for athletes well after their professional career have ended. In
In 2001 there were 150,000 athletes that were injured at the age of nineteen and younger. In 2009 there were 250,000 injured athletes at the age of nineteen and younger. There is a 6.3 per 1,000 incidence a college player will suffer a concussion while a high school athlete has a 11.2 per 1,000. Risk of concussions in football is high and equipment should continue to improve, but rules should stay the same in order for the game to remain
Concussions and the effect they have on people ranging from the young to the old has become a very popular discussion in recent years. Generally people watch sports for entertainment and then there are those who engage in high impact sports from a very young age on. The people at home know how fun playing in a sport is, however they may not know the brutal consequences for some participating in that sport. Injuries to the brain are a main concern among those in the world of high impact sports. Football, soccer, wrestling, lacrosse, and rugby are among sports that athletes receive injuries in. The injuries vary from sprains, to fractures, to torn MCL or ACL, and bruised organs. Concussions are a severe type of injury endured by athletes in the sports world and this life changing injury is one that people are becoming more aware of.
A. Background In recent years, there has been an increase in research investigating the long-term effects of repeated head trauma on the brain, especially in athletes. Following his discovery of chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE), Dr. Bennet Omalu inspired a movement of research aimed at establishing better safety standards and protocols in football. It was not until 2002 that the initial connection between repetitive head trauma, such as concussions, and brain injury was suspected (Ott, 2015). As common as concussions were during the late 1970s and 1980s, they were often swept under the rug, as they were seen as insignificant injuries.
Even after the new standards, what do we do when a player gets one? That’s where the advancements in concussion detection and treatment come into play. According to the article “Advancements in Concussion Prevention, Diagnosis, and Treatment” the writer states “the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reported 207,830 trips to an emergency room annually between 2001 and 2005 due to sports participation injuries” ( “Advancements in Concussion Prevention, Diagnosis, and Treatment | The Sport Journal” ). The report from the CDC shows how many reported sports injuries occur in a short period.
Concussions have become arguably the #1 most prevalent issue in football today. The number of concussions throughout football has been rising for the past 20-30 years and there seems no way of stopping them. However, the NFL and many private researchers are set on finding a way to conquer this issue. They want to stop these concussions from happening and prevent the diseases resulting from them that have ruined so many football families’ lives. In order to solve this problem, I think that these researchers need to combine all of their knowledge to solve an issue that so many want solved. As soon as we conquer this “illness” we can return to enjoying the game that we love.
Even though the devastation of concussions is just rising to the surface, they have always been around. In 1994, the NFL started a committee called the MTBI (Mild Traumatic Brain Injury). Dr. Elliot Pellman was appointed as chair, and he was quoted saying, “We think the issue of knees, of drugs and steroids and drinking is a far greater problem, according to the number of incidents” (Ezell). This quote shows how concussions did not hold much importance, even though it should have been the committee's main focus. This is ironic, because in today’s sport world concussions are a highly talked about topic. They hold such significance that some rules are even being changed to lower the risk for players.
The world of sports is filled with great memories, grand moments and at times complete mayhem. There are moments like hitting a Home Run in game 7 of the World Series or memories of scoring an overtime goal during the Stanley Cup finals. However, there are also incredibly low moments when mayhem occurs such as an action or incident that results in a concussion. An injury such as a concussion can ruin your sports career or potentially your ability to function normally in the future. Concussions are caused by blunt force trauma to the head, a fall or an injury that shakes the brain inside the skull. Recovering from a concussion can take weeks, months or even years to heal. For some, it can impair your mental or mobility functions for life.
How can a concussion be prevented? What is the minimum time an athlete needs to be out of the game after a concussion? What are the chances of an athlete suffering post-traumatic stress disorders after a blow to the head? In all sports athletes are prone to injuries, they can happen at any time and at any given moment. Nevertheless, people that have suffered from a head injury or concussion will also have problems dealing with their learning processes in the long run.
Concussions may not have many long-term effects, but if one does not take it seriously they could suffer from serious brain injuries that could possibly have devastating outcomes. Concussions should not be taken as a joke and should always receive proper treatment and care. One should not play a sport before their concussions is fully healed, because they could end up sitting out of the sport for longer than they first had intended.
Football is America’s favorite sport. It is a fast-paced, hard-hitting game. Every week thousands of men and boys all across the country take part in football and every week these men and boys receive violent hits during the game. Frequently, as a result of these violent hits, the player receives a concussion. However, the long-term effects of concussions on players are not fully understood. New research shows that even a slight concussion in a football game can have lasting effects on a player. As a result of this research, children under the age of fourteen should not play tackle football.
The number of children below the age of 19 are treated in American emergency rooms for concussions and other traumatic brain injuries increased from 150,000 in 2001 to 250,000 in 2009. That’s not cumulative, that is actually per year. Everyone should know how and when to treat a concussion, no matter if it is for sports or in general. Concussions can come from anything. Concussions can be an easily preventable injury, however due to poor equipment, a competitive mindset, unrecognizable symptoms, and untrained sports physicians, they are becoming quite common and can lead to potentially fatal brain disorders.
Each year, U.S emergency departments treat an estimate 173,285 sports and recreation concussions. During the last decade concussions increased by 60%. Fewer than 10% of concussions result in loss of conscious. Most people recover from a single concussion. Multiple concussions take longer to recover from. The concussion Clinic at Nationwide Children’s Hospital utilizes the expertise of pediatric sports medicine, physical medicine, and rehabilitation specialists.
Recreational athletes, competitive athletes, high school athletes, college athletes, and professional athletes all have one thing in common: the risk of a concussion. It's impossible to go a season without one athlete from a team receiving a concussion. The more that these concussions are studied, the more we learn about them, such as their detrimental effects on athletes. Because of the risk of health issues and death that come with concussions, doctors, coaches, athletic trainers, and lawmakers are stepping in to protect athletes of all levels from receiving concussions.
Herring, Stanley A., and Kathleen R. Bell. "Youth Sports Concussions, An Issue of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Clinics." Google Books. Ed. George H. Kraft, MD,MS. Elsevier Health Sciences., Nov. 2011. Web. 08 May 2014. .