It is a known fact that NFL and NHL players have faced health consequences following the end of their career due to physical injuries sustained during their career. The NFL and NHL need to do more to protect their players by regulating the standards of each sport, respectively. Football and hockey are both sports that require early participation and training from a young age in order to enter the professional league. Both football and hockey are contact sports that encourage aggression and physicality. Between tackling and hits, players suffer minor to major injuries that may require surgery. Consequently, the majority of football players must endure multiple concussions throughout their career. Similarly, hockey players sustain hard blows to the head and hits from the upper body to lower extremities.
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The reports are shocking. According to the American Academy of Neurology, a recent study showed that more than 40% of retired NFL players had brain injury (https://www.aan.com/PressRoom/Home/PressRelease/1453). The study utilized MRI scans to detect the amount of white matter in each player’s brain. The white matter are myelinated axons that conduct action potentials, allowing one to learn and carry out their motor skills. According to a study by Sampaio-Baptista and colleagues, there is a correlation between white matter and learning rate.
The reports are shocking. According to the American Academy of Neurology, a recent study showed that more than 40% of retired NFL players had brain injury (https://www.aan.com/PressRoom/Home/PressRelease/1453). The study utilized MRI scans to detect the amount of white matter in each player’s brain. The white matter are myelinated axons that conduct action potentials, allowing one to learn and carry out their motor skills. According to a study by Sampaio-Baptista and colleagues, there is a correlation between white matter and learning rate.