Concussions: The Invisible Injury
Ben Utecht, a former tight end in the NFL, said “The concussion crisis has changed the face of sports as we know it and it has brought to surface the incredible importance of our brain health. The time is now for us to make our brain the number one priority so that education and awareness can take effect, and begin to change the way we approach the health of our athletes from youth to professionals.” Along with attempting to prevent concussions, athletes need to be informed about the cause and effects, coached the best ways to avoid giving concussions, and helped to heal properly.
In order to work on preventing concussions, players must first understand what exactly concussions are. A concussion is, “a …show more content…
There has been an increase of rules in all sports to try and minimize the chance of a head injury. In the game of soccer, a rule has been added that limits the amount of times a player can use his or her head to propel the ball in any direction. The NFL also added rules to the game of football. “Finally, the league also implemented two rule changes that go into effect this season with the intent of augmenting player safety. First, an offensive player who is attempting to catch a ball that's been intercepted will be ruled defenseless and cannot be hit in the head or neck area by the intercepting team as possession changes or a penalty will be enforced. Also, the league has given certified athletic trainers who are stationed in sky boxes at each game the authority to stop play with the touch of a button if they see a player who is exhibiting notable signs of injury, even if he was hurt in a previous play(Reyes.)” Another way to prevent concussions is by checking playing fields for hazards that could contribute to an accident. Dips, holes, uneven turf or grass, rocks, and even stray sporting equipment could cause a mishap that could potentially end in a head injury. Having good manners during games can also help protect athletes. As a player, it is their responsibility to maintain good sportsmanship. As pointlessly excessive aggression can cause situations in which concussions can occur. …show more content…
As a matter of fact, many everyday accidents cause them as well. Car accidents, falls, and other freak accidents can result in blunt force trauma to the brain. “More than 8 million people a year go to the emergency room after a fall at home. Many of these individuals are elderly, but anyone can fall — including toddlers falling down unguarded staircases or out unprotected windows, homeowners falling from a ladder or off a roof, or anyone at all tripping over a loose rug or being knocked over by an overenthusiastic pet. People have sustained concussions or more serious traumatic brain injuries (TBIs) by stumbling over a curb or doing any one of a thousand everyday activities that can suddenly end in a fall...Car accidents can happen at any time, to even the best of drivers, in this age of many distractions (cell phones, text messages, and navigation systems). One of the most common types of accidents — the rear-end bump — is well known for causing whiplash, but that back-and-forth motion is also a culprit in many concussions(Falls, Accidents, Other
Ben Utecht, a former tight end in the NFL, said “The concussion crisis has changed the face of sports as we know it and it has brought to surface the incredible importance of our brain health. The time is now for us to make our brain the number one priority so that education and awareness can take effect, and begin to change the way we approach the health of our athletes from youth to professionals.” Along with attempting to prevent concussions, athletes need to be informed about the cause and effects, coached the best ways to avoid giving concussions, and helped to heal properly.
In order to work on preventing concussions, players must first understand what exactly concussions are. A concussion is, “a …show more content…
There has been an increase of rules in all sports to try and minimize the chance of a head injury. In the game of soccer, a rule has been added that limits the amount of times a player can use his or her head to propel the ball in any direction. The NFL also added rules to the game of football. “Finally, the league also implemented two rule changes that go into effect this season with the intent of augmenting player safety. First, an offensive player who is attempting to catch a ball that's been intercepted will be ruled defenseless and cannot be hit in the head or neck area by the intercepting team as possession changes or a penalty will be enforced. Also, the league has given certified athletic trainers who are stationed in sky boxes at each game the authority to stop play with the touch of a button if they see a player who is exhibiting notable signs of injury, even if he was hurt in a previous play(Reyes.)” Another way to prevent concussions is by checking playing fields for hazards that could contribute to an accident. Dips, holes, uneven turf or grass, rocks, and even stray sporting equipment could cause a mishap that could potentially end in a head injury. Having good manners during games can also help protect athletes. As a player, it is their responsibility to maintain good sportsmanship. As pointlessly excessive aggression can cause situations in which concussions can occur. …show more content…
As a matter of fact, many everyday accidents cause them as well. Car accidents, falls, and other freak accidents can result in blunt force trauma to the brain. “More than 8 million people a year go to the emergency room after a fall at home. Many of these individuals are elderly, but anyone can fall — including toddlers falling down unguarded staircases or out unprotected windows, homeowners falling from a ladder or off a roof, or anyone at all tripping over a loose rug or being knocked over by an overenthusiastic pet. People have sustained concussions or more serious traumatic brain injuries (TBIs) by stumbling over a curb or doing any one of a thousand everyday activities that can suddenly end in a fall...Car accidents can happen at any time, to even the best of drivers, in this age of many distractions (cell phones, text messages, and navigation systems). One of the most common types of accidents — the rear-end bump — is well known for causing whiplash, but that back-and-forth motion is also a culprit in many concussions(Falls, Accidents, Other