Concussions are one of the worst injuries a person can sustain because they affect one of the most vital parts of the body; the brain. Marcos A. Abreu, Wirt Edwards, and Brandon D. Spradley, doctoral student and United States Sports Academy professors, define a concussion in their article “The War Against Concussions” as “a traumatically induced transient disturbance of brain function” (Abreu, Edwards, and Spradley, 2). The issue with concussions is largely about knowing the signs and symptoms, how they are treated, understanding the technology used to detect them, and preventative measures that can be taken. Paul S. Auerbach and William H. Waggoner II, an emergency physician and team doctor (P.S.A.) and a former collegiate football player
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The game of football itself is an inherently aggressive activity. Therefore, stricter protocols must be set in place to allow players to make a full recovery from a TBI. Auerbach and Waggoner claim that whether in high school, college or the NFL, the typical recovery time-period allowed for a TBI is usually about seven to ten days. However, research has shown that even a mild concussion can take a minimum of four to six weeks to completely heal (Auerbach and Waggoner, 1260). This often happens because coaches and players do not have a firm understanding of the signs and symptoms of a concussion so they fail to properly treat the TBI. According to Abreu, Edwards and Spradley, symptoms of a concussion include “blurry vision, confusion, feeling hazy, drowsiness, sleep problems, headache, inability to focus, sensitivity to light, sensitivity to sound, and dizziness.” They go on to explain that some of the signs of a concussion include “behavior or personality changes, dazed look, balance and coordination changes, delayed responses, and unclear speech” (Abreu, Edwards, and Spradley, 3). Many of these signs and symptoms are overlooked or unrecognized and therefore players do not receive adequate treatment. This is a big problem because concussion protocols that exist are not fully enforced in many leagues. Early intervention and getting proper treatment is crucial to a player’s …show more content…
The increase in technological advancements of protective equipment could revolutionize the way teams deal with concussions. For example, enforcing a new rule that requires players to wear a helmet that lights up if a significant impact to the head has occurred would be a major key in early-on detection. This type of technology would improve the knowledge of a possible TBI and offer a better opportunity to seek proper treatment. Kathleen E. Bachynski and Daniel S. Goldberg, two medical professionals, mention in their article “Youth Sports & Public Health: Framing Risks of Mild Traumatic Brain Injury in American Football and Ice Hockey” that “helmets continue to be portrayed and pursued as a key means of reducing TBI” (Bachynski, and Goldberg, 326). This is especially important for the players of youth football. Children who play football are exposed to the idea that aggressive and violent behavior is rewarded and encouraged to reach the primary goal of winning. This causes adolescents to often play through injuries such as a concussion if it means the continuance of play or winning the game(s). When that happens it puts the child’s health and safety at higher risk. Children’s brains are at the greatest risk because they are still going through a variety of developmental changes. Kevin M. Guskiewicz, a professor at the University of North Carolina, declares in his
The game of football itself is an inherently aggressive activity. Therefore, stricter protocols must be set in place to allow players to make a full recovery from a TBI. Auerbach and Waggoner claim that whether in high school, college or the NFL, the typical recovery time-period allowed for a TBI is usually about seven to ten days. However, research has shown that even a mild concussion can take a minimum of four to six weeks to completely heal (Auerbach and Waggoner, 1260). This often happens because coaches and players do not have a firm understanding of the signs and symptoms of a concussion so they fail to properly treat the TBI. According to Abreu, Edwards and Spradley, symptoms of a concussion include “blurry vision, confusion, feeling hazy, drowsiness, sleep problems, headache, inability to focus, sensitivity to light, sensitivity to sound, and dizziness.” They go on to explain that some of the signs of a concussion include “behavior or personality changes, dazed look, balance and coordination changes, delayed responses, and unclear speech” (Abreu, Edwards, and Spradley, 3). Many of these signs and symptoms are overlooked or unrecognized and therefore players do not receive adequate treatment. This is a big problem because concussion protocols that exist are not fully enforced in many leagues. Early intervention and getting proper treatment is crucial to a player’s …show more content…
The increase in technological advancements of protective equipment could revolutionize the way teams deal with concussions. For example, enforcing a new rule that requires players to wear a helmet that lights up if a significant impact to the head has occurred would be a major key in early-on detection. This type of technology would improve the knowledge of a possible TBI and offer a better opportunity to seek proper treatment. Kathleen E. Bachynski and Daniel S. Goldberg, two medical professionals, mention in their article “Youth Sports & Public Health: Framing Risks of Mild Traumatic Brain Injury in American Football and Ice Hockey” that “helmets continue to be portrayed and pursued as a key means of reducing TBI” (Bachynski, and Goldberg, 326). This is especially important for the players of youth football. Children who play football are exposed to the idea that aggressive and violent behavior is rewarded and encouraged to reach the primary goal of winning. This causes adolescents to often play through injuries such as a concussion if it means the continuance of play or winning the game(s). When that happens it puts the child’s health and safety at higher risk. Children’s brains are at the greatest risk because they are still going through a variety of developmental changes. Kevin M. Guskiewicz, a professor at the University of North Carolina, declares in his