Sports Related Concussions

The Centers for Disease control estimates more than 300,000 sports-related concussions occur each year in the United States. A concussion is a brain injury characterized by an onset of impairment of cognitive and/or physical functioning. Even though concussions are considered "invisible injuries", they are still very serious head injuries that can have long lasting affects even 30 years later. Athletes shouldn't be able to participate in any physical activity until they are evaluated and signed off by a medical professional not just signed off by their coach. Concussions are serious head injuries that can affect a person's life up to 30 years after they get said concussion. The long term effects of a concussion can be memory loss, cognitive difficulties, and even loss of basic motor skills. Even after a person stops playing sports in high school they might be affected in their daily job from that head injury they received during high school 10 or 20 years ago. Not only does head trauma have long lasting consequences; a person is more likely to receive a second head …show more content…
An excerpt from “Girls Suffer Sports Concussions at a Higher Rate Than Boys. Why is that Overlooked?” states that "Girls have smaller, weaker necks than boys making their heads more susceptible to trauma". Women are more likely to get a head injury, therefore, they should have a different standard they have to meet before starting any physical activity again. Athletes already have to be signed off by an athletic trainer or their coach. The coaches want the players back on the field just as much as the players want to play again. The coaches have just as much motive to get the player back prematurely as the player wants to be back. Instead of having the coaches sign the players back on to the field, they should have medical professionals evaluate and sign them back on the