The Importance Of Concussions In Athletic Training

Athletic trainers work to treat injuries that occur within all aspects of sports in order to return players to the field or court as quickly as possible. A concussion, however, is one injury that trainers do not attempt to fix quickly and easily. Concussions have become a very serious and common injury among professional and amateur athletes who take part in contact sports, such as football and soccer. A concussion is defined as, “A traumatic brain injury that alters the way your brain functions. Effects are usually temporary but can include headaches and problems with concentration, memory, balance and coordination” (Mayo Clinic). Football, with a concussion risk of 75%, has become the most common sport in which a male athlete can receive a concussion, while soccer has become the most common sport for females, with a 50% risk of a …show more content…
In the last ten years alone, “The American Academy of Pediatrics has reported that emergency room visits for concussions in kids ages 8 to 13 years old has doubled, and concussions have risen 200 percent among teens ages 14 to 19 in the last decade” (Headcase). This significant increase in number of concussions proves why there needs to be protocols and regulations put in place in order to keep an athlete safe. These types of injuries, if continuous, can be detrimental to an athlete’s body and mind. In order to protect the minds and bodies of athletes, the protocols and equipment need to improve throughout all levels of sports to prevent and protect athletes. In addition, both children and adults need to be educated on the subject of concussions in order to teach them the long-term effects concussions can have on an athlete and how they can prevent them. In doing so, concussions can be reduced and sports can be played in a safer