Athletes Concussions

Recreational athletes, competitive athletes, high school athletes, college athletes, and professional athletes all have one thing in common: the risk of a concussion. It's impossible to go a season without one athlete from a team receiving a concussion. The more that these concussions are studied, the more we learn about them, such as their detrimental effects on athletes. Because of the risk of health issues and death that come with concussions, doctors, coaches, athletic trainers, and lawmakers are stepping in to protect athletes of all levels from receiving concussions.

Players cannot return to the game or cannot return to practice until they have been cleared from the team doctor as well as a neurologist

Some athletes may experience concussions and never get checked out and some may have major complications in the future caused by that concussion. Once again another reason athletes should always get checked out and not try being the tough guy that doesn’t need doctors. Concussions have been studied and those studies show “athletes who sustained one or more concussions during their athletic careers were more likely to experience a decline in physical and mental performance 30 years later in life compared to those who did not experience a concussion” (Nall, 2014, para. 2). This is just one of the few life altering consequences of sports and never getting the help you

Surveys were conducted among athletic trainers to see their institution’s policies. Approximately forty seven percent of trainers stated that their institution had a scripted policy regarding concussion management. Forty percent admitted that they did not have any policy regarding concussions. Fewer than one-third of respondents reported academic policies at their clinic. Institutions with more trainers are more likely to implement academic accommodations for injured athletes. The NCAA provides policies regarding concussions and its athletes. It is required that an athletic trainer inform the athletic teams of concussions and how to prevent them. The trainer will also provide them with the signs and symptoms to help identify a

In the United States alone, athletes account for about 300,000 concussions each year (11 Facts). A concussion is a traumatic brain injury that causes swelling of the brain 's soft tissue and disrupts normal brain function (Concussion). A concussion has potential to impact memory and coordination for the rest of the athlete 's life along with lead to other, more serious, brain injuries. In order for athletes to reduce the effects from concussions, they need to be educated on the symptoms, ways to avoid the injury, and the possible lifelong effects.

In sports, the best athletes are the individuals that give each team a chance to win every game. The bad news for the best athletes is that sometimes their health gets put second to their abilities. Roughly 1.8 to 3.6 million sports related concussions happen each year (Concussion Statistics). Stronger and faster athletes as well as more impact of the hits or falls have doubled the number of concussions in a decade (Concussion Statistics). Concussions can happen to every athlete, but when it happens to the star athletes, it is different. Schools have to follow direct concussion safety laws, but professional sports have more leniencies (Get). Wins are more important in the professional leagues compared to the high school and amateur levels.

A concussion, which could be caused by a small head movement, is no minor issue as it could lead to brain trauma. Many people are affected by it and many more are vulnerable to it. But the impact isn't the real issue. The real issue is with the lack of healing and recovery. Healing time is crucial when it comes to head injuries and, according to the CDC, most athletes get around 7 days to recover compared to the recommended 1-2 months! Athletes sometimes don't even get time to recover and this could lead to long term effects in life. According to my personal experience, my ability to focus has been greatly reduced because of a concussion. This is a serious issue that is often overlooked my coaches and parents because of their pride and overconfidence in the child. Due to the fact that concussions could lead to permanent brain damage, discomfort, and long term illness, student athletes should be excluded from any athletics until a full recovery had been accomplished.

Athletes with head trauma should be required to sit out of the game until their head is fully healed. Although a medical professional signs a paper allowing them to go back into the game, they should not take advantage of that by starting right away. After concussions, teenage athletes should take it easy so their brain has the proper time it needs to heal. Concussions are a serious injury. They can have long lasting impacts and are more likely to reoccur during the same season. In contrast, in order for athletes to return to the game, a doctor has to sign forms allowing them to do so. Doctors are licensed professionals, so the athlete's head injury can't be too severe if they are able to play again. In addition, new equipment that helps prevent concussions is being created.

Concussions are becoming more and more common in professional athletes. Concussions can weaken a team, take athletes out of games, and even end athletic careers. They can also cause permanent disabilities and disease that cannot be cured. Professional sports leagues/organizations are receiving lawsuits and complaints about the growing amount of head injuries. Many athletes and fans want organizations such as the NFL or NHL to make rule changes to prevent concussions. Football being one of the leading causes of concussions, along with women 's soccer and men 's hockey, the NFL is often the target of complaints and lawsuits

Athletes in the 21st century are pushing themselves and their teammates to their limit, to try and be the best they can. Whether that is in a game situation, weight room, or practicing on the field, pool, or gym, accidents happen and can happen anywhere. It doesn’t matter if you are a guy or a girl, this accident happens to many athletes in a variety of sports. This sports injury is a concussion and it truly does affect any kind of athlete in any kind of sport. Concussions aren’t acquired in every sport, but they can happen. In the last few years concussions have become a growing problem for athletes from high school to professional athletes. Are concussions as bad as doctors and the news are making them out to be?

After an injury, if left undetected, concussions can result in long-term brain damage and may even prove fatal (Sports Concussion Statistics). Once athletes have received a concussion they are most likely to receive several more, becoming a danger to their lives (Sports Concussion Institute). Although many argue athletes know the risk involved in playing a sport, changes should be made to make sports safer because players are exposed to being severely injured, more teens are involved in playing sports, and it is cost effective for sport organizations and teams.

Coaches and doctors should take more caution with concussed athletes when they get injured because concussions can affect their brain and functionality further in life. The most research is being taken from the adults who suffer concussions, but what about these adolescents? I think it would be harder to diagnose a concussion from adolescents so they should check these kids more and the way they play sports so the doctors can improve the injuries for further on in life.

“To offer the best care possible, many health-care and sports programs now offer baseline testing to their athletes at the beginning of each season. This ensures there is data on hand that can be used by their doctor to assess their recovery if they experience a concussion” (Rumney and University of Toronto). Players or athletes get this taken care of as a back-up information if they experience or receive a concussion. Concussions in other yet similar contact-sport associations have been on the rise and professional sports are aware of the danger of getting a concussion. “Concussion incidents have been on the rise in recent years and professional sports are now taking a more serious approach to head injuries. Players in the NRL(National Rugby League), Super Rugby and AFL are sent for a head injury assessment if they appear to be concussed and they are not allowed to return to the field if it is deemed they suffered any degree of concussion” (Dutton). Players who are suffering from a concussion will stay out the game for safety

The problem is how concussions are being treated. There are things being done to treat them, but I do not believe there is enough being done. “Most such laws specify that athletes suspected of having sustained a sport-related concussion be removed from play” (Hanson, Stracciolini, Mannix, and Meehan 1225). A majority of the time the student/athlete will continue to attend school during their recovery, which, is usually a short period of 7 days. That is where the problem rises. During those 7 crucial days of recovery the student is usually still symptomatic and the conditions have the possibility of worsening since they are still using their brain. They may also fall behind in school due to their symptoms limiting their ability to function in class

High school athletes are more vulnerable to concussions than older students and make take longer to recover. In order for their brains to heal completely, they need to take longer time to recover.