From the Super Bowl to the FIFA World Cup, society has found a way to connect and relate with one another through sports; the metaphorical conduit that consolidates mankind from the far ends of the globe. But one thing we don 't take into account when we watch our favorite stars on the big screen is the darker side of sports that is commonly fallen on deaf ears. Every day, previously thought invincible athletic machines suffer against a silent enemy. No, it doesn 't take up the form of broken bones or halved pay checks and expired contracts, but something with farther reaching consequences and implications. Can you guess? Article one totes the fact that every year, more than five percent of high schoolers who participate in contact sports
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According to Heads Up: Concussions in High School Sports, concussions, when improperly managed, may lead to "long-term cumulative consequences". This brings us to the discussion of concussions and their hazardous effects on the mental capabilities of an individual if given the opportunity. It is said from the same source that "high school students are 3 times more likely to experience a second concussion if concussed once during a season". As such, it is important for anyone who receives a concussion, however minor, to immediately receive a mandatory period of recuperation. This is all due to the fact that concussions, when stacked on top of one another, are cumulative and will compound to worsen the consequences every time an additional instance is experienced. As a case in point, say an individual goes through her first concussion, but with little influence from symptoms and only escapes with momentary disorientation. If she were to have another concussion prematurely before her brain fully recovers from the former impact, the chance of her having permanent brain injury or even dying is exponentially increased (supplemented by article …show more content…
Allowing and even pushing an individual to continue playing immediately or briefly following a concussion is as detrimental as it is counterproductive because of the many aforementioned health risks involved. It may even be considered inhumane to the players if they are not given the recommended downtime that physicians suggest after a concussion. Glancing at article three from the Virginia Board of Education shows cataclysmic longer term symptoms of concussions such as depression, increased possibility of suicide, emotional distress and more. This raises the question of "is the act of allowing a player back into the playing field ethical?" Is winning the game really that much higher on the priority list over the player 's health? These questions should be considered when a concussion occurs on the field. In many states, vocational rehabilitation time alongside worker 's compensation comes into play if an employee suffers an injury on the job and is deemed unethical if these rights are denied, so why aren 't athletes given the same chance as regular workers to recover from a
According to Heads Up: Concussions in High School Sports, concussions, when improperly managed, may lead to "long-term cumulative consequences". This brings us to the discussion of concussions and their hazardous effects on the mental capabilities of an individual if given the opportunity. It is said from the same source that "high school students are 3 times more likely to experience a second concussion if concussed once during a season". As such, it is important for anyone who receives a concussion, however minor, to immediately receive a mandatory period of recuperation. This is all due to the fact that concussions, when stacked on top of one another, are cumulative and will compound to worsen the consequences every time an additional instance is experienced. As a case in point, say an individual goes through her first concussion, but with little influence from symptoms and only escapes with momentary disorientation. If she were to have another concussion prematurely before her brain fully recovers from the former impact, the chance of her having permanent brain injury or even dying is exponentially increased (supplemented by article …show more content…
Allowing and even pushing an individual to continue playing immediately or briefly following a concussion is as detrimental as it is counterproductive because of the many aforementioned health risks involved. It may even be considered inhumane to the players if they are not given the recommended downtime that physicians suggest after a concussion. Glancing at article three from the Virginia Board of Education shows cataclysmic longer term symptoms of concussions such as depression, increased possibility of suicide, emotional distress and more. This raises the question of "is the act of allowing a player back into the playing field ethical?" Is winning the game really that much higher on the priority list over the player 's health? These questions should be considered when a concussion occurs on the field. In many states, vocational rehabilitation time alongside worker 's compensation comes into play if an employee suffers an injury on the job and is deemed unethical if these rights are denied, so why aren 't athletes given the same chance as regular workers to recover from a