Concussions On The National Football League

First, I am going to talk about the science behind concussions, CTE, and why it is such an issue for a football player. Concussions are very damaging to the brain and experiencing a lot of them can lead to CTE. I will also discuss people that influenced the understanding of concussions and CTE. In 2002, a neurologist named Dr. Bennet Omalu tried to tell the NFL about the brain damage he found while doing a former NFL player’s autopsy, but the NFL did not really listen. In 2009, another researcher by the name of Dr. Ann Mckee tried to get the NFL’s attention about her concerns about football players and concussions as well. The NFL once again ignored these assumptions. However, the NFL did listen to Dr. Elliot Pellman, who told the league as early as 1994, that concussions were not a big problem and just part of the game. I will discuss how NFL players were treated when they got their “bell rung” during a big game; and what kind of medical treatment they

Concussions can cause long term effects if not treated properly. A player can recover from a concussion in a few weeks, but the lasting effects of a concussions still prove relevant. Retired players that have suffered from concussions during their careers and were not treated properly felt the long-term effects of sustaining head injuries that caused many to commit suicide, which has led to the NFL investigating their concussion protocol to keep the players safe. As the NFL uses its lead doctors to investigate and understand more about the brain it will lead to gains in the safety of athletes

Many memories are made in football, but sadly some of the greatest players cannot recall them. The National Football League has been associated with concussions and brain traumas throughout the years, but lately it has been exposed by media and NFL veterans. The league recently “reached a $765 million preliminary settlement with thousands of former players who were suing the league over its treatment of concussions…” (Waldron). Many former players are experiencing the effects of taking hard hits over and over again; they were not properly treated, which makes the injury worse and long term. The concussion issue in the NFL is more prevalent today, because it affects not only the players, but the league as a whole.

A concussion is a type of brain injury caused by hits to the head or the body causing the brain to move rapidly. In a football perspective a player can get picked up in to the air and slammed to the ground or hit in the head or even head to pad contact can cause a concussion. There are many symptoms that come with a concussion including, memory

In the sports world today, there are many different injuries that athletes experience and one of the most devastating injury is a concussion. Concussions can happen to anyone, in any sport, but we tend to see most concussions in contact sports (Świerzewski 1). While having an informal conversation with my dad about football, he told me it was common for athletes to receive a head injury in a game and continue to play as if nothing was wrong. While watching SportsCenter, I found that some of the greatest retired athletes don’t remember the best moments of their careers due to the lack of treatment. The worst aspect of concussions is that the symptoms can be delayed; in some cases, it’s only a headache so athletes don’t seek medical treatment. Multiple concussions over time can lead to life-threatening complications due to the damage they cause to the brain. Concussions can happen to anybody at anytime, but there is more to concussions than meets the eye.

In the National Football League, many players have the risk of receiving a concussion. Many players that receive concussions are sidelined for multiply weeks and cannot play in the games they miss. For example Chris Miller had received multiply concussions during his career in the NFL. He was then forced to retire after receiving “5 concussions within 14 months” (Kia Boriboon, 2013). He tried to make a “comeback in 1999 but was sidelined again by another concussion” (Kia Boriboon 2013).

“To offer the best care possible, many health-care and sports programs now offer baseline testing to their athletes at the beginning of each season. This ensures there is data on hand that can be used by their doctor to assess their recovery if they experience a concussion” (Rumney and University of Toronto). Players or athletes get this taken care of as a back-up information if they experience or receive a concussion. Concussions in other yet similar contact-sport associations have been on the rise and professional sports are aware of the danger of getting a concussion. “Concussion incidents have been on the rise in recent years and professional sports are now taking a more serious approach to head injuries. Players in the NRL(National Rugby League), Super Rugby and AFL are sent for a head injury assessment if they appear to be concussed and they are not allowed to return to the field if it is deemed they suffered any degree of concussion” (Dutton). Players who are suffering from a concussion will stay out the game for safety

The number of concussions in professional and amateur football has been rising and has sparked much controversy in recent years. These concussions are most likely linked with disease and even the deaths of some pro and semi-pro football players. New research is attempting to solve the problem but the issue is still prevalent in football today.

Current United States statistics indicate approximately 7 million head injuries occur each year. Seven hundred thousand of these relate to sports and recreational activities, and three hundred thousand relate directly to sports. Eight deaths occur each year in professional football due to brain injury (Genuardi & King, 1995). These deaths most commonly result from subdural hematoma, when blood collects within the brain, and the associated brain injury. About 20% of participants in high school football suffer a concussion in a single season. Ongoing studies by the National Athletic Trainers Association showed, “a 17% increase in minor head injuries and an 85% increase in moderate head injuries in high school football comparing the 1980s to the 1990s” (Powell, 1998). A portion of these increases is because of better and more comprehensive reporting systems but the risk of concussion remains. Further, a football player who suffers one mild brain injury (MBI) has four times the risk to sustain a second MBI (Young, Jocobs,Clavette, Mark, & Guse, 1997).

The hot topic of concussions in football has attracted a considerable amount of unwanted attention in recent years. This problem is continuing to grow at a rapid rate, while our society is oblivious that a problem even exists. Many of us in today’s day in age know someone who has played football at the high school, collegiate, or professional level. The incidence of players who end up with concussions is astounding. It is interesting that someone who has suffered from a concussion can seem virtually symptom free for many years before it causes a number problems. It is estimated that damage to the brain caused by a concussion can last for decades which opens the door for more potentially life

According to New York Times there is a new research that will help the team know what to do about players. This new research which is a simple blood test that can brain injuries conclusively (Futterman). I feel that the new way researcher coming up will benefit the athlete because now you can lie about how you feeling and the test will determine everything. Miller who is the senior vice president of the NFL, fully supports the the research, even though if it shows more clearly the precise danger that playing football poses on every play. He cares more about health than just playing, he stated that “The science has to go where science goes”.

Head injuries, including concussions, particularly in the game of American football, have become a subject of deep concern, much study and even Congressional hearings in the United States.

Football is all about the fame and money until BOOM, you’re hit and out for the season with a concussion. The cause of a concussion is getting hit in the head too hard with or without a helmet. No matter what sport you are playing, if you get inside the head too hard it could affect your brain bad or sometimes not as bad. Concussions can happen all around the world, a lot of people suffer from them few die from them. The effects include Memory Loss, CTE, and Long-Term Brain Damage.

Concussions have been known about since the early 1900s. During this time concussions did not receive the attention that it receives now. In mainstream media today concussions are a growing issue, not only in professional sports but also at high school and college levels. It is believed that Dr. Bennet Omalu was the first person to come up with a study and show that concussions are very dangerous and the great effects it has. His focus was mainly towards American football but it was helpful to others who did not play football as well. Dr. Bennet Ifeakandu Omalu is a forensic pathologist who was the first to publish findings of chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE) in American football players while working at the Allegheny County Coroner 's Office in Pittsburgh. Chronic traumatic encephalopathy is a progressive degenerative disease of the brain found in people with a history of repetitive brain trauma, including symptomatic concussions as well as sub concussive hits to the head that do not cause symptoms (Boston University, 2015). CTE has been known to affect boxers since the 1920’s (when it was termed punch drunk syndrome or dementia pugilistic). However, in recent years the disease has been found in other athletes, including football and hockey players, as well as in military veterans (Boston University, 2015). CTE is not limited to professional athletes; it has also been found in athletes who did not play sports after high school or college. The repeated brain trauma

Sports safety is a big deal, and is very important in all sports types. Like in the NFL, there are rules to help players stay safe. One of the most common and important problems you hear about is when a player gets a concussion. A concussion is a temporary unconsciousness caused by a blow to the head. When a NFL player takes a hit to the head, for example getting tackled, that player who took the blow to the head immediately gets taken off the field and is given a thorough evaluation by a doctor that all NFL teams have present with them at games. That player could be having a fantastic game, but if the doctor has come to the conclusion that the player may have a concussion, that player will not be able to play the remainder of the game for the players safety. A concussion can become a danger to the brain of the player if the player went out and took another hit to the head. These rules from the NFL are set for a reason so that the player does not get a serious injury.