Concussions in Football

Concussions in Football

Austin Maly

Northwestern Oklahoma State University

Over the last couple of years the amount of concussions diagnosed has risen quite a bit in relation to the past. This is worrisome to many people in the medical field and the promoters of football. Concussions in the game of football is a serious problem, which is just now being took serious by the players and trainers. The football community must change their outlook on concussions before any safety and regulations can be enforced. These injuries can cause brain damage, motor functions not working or even death. As football evolves into America's game, the leaders of the sport must make sure it is safe. This does not mean to make rules and regulations that will make the game fall apart and take away what the game is all about. There are a few small things that they can do that will be able to keep the integrity of the game, while also making it safe for the players. These things that change be changed includes new helmets, teaching proper tackling technique, making new rules and new recovery techniques.

The Concussion Problem

Concussions stem from many issues in the game of football. One of the major issues when dealing with concussions is the fact that the player with the concussion is that the given player does not get enough rest to recover from such injury. This past season a player at Ohio State University name Braxton Miller got knocked out during a game. He had to receive help off the field from the trainers, the next week he played. Nothing drastic happen to him but if he would have had another brain injury that could have been his last play on the football field. The problem is that trainers are used to getting players back on the field as soon as possible, but the problem with concussions is that if the player gets out on the field to fast it can cause permanent brain damage or worse, death. "It is estimated that dizziness occurs in more than 55% of sport concussions." (Boriboon) The rules on concussions should be enforced to the extended that the players have no say in if they play or do not play. The trainers and coaches should take away any power from the kid when it comes to concussions. If a player goes back too soon this can cause at the worst death. A normal hit by the average football player can cause brain damage, but when a professional football player hit it cause severe brain damage. The problem with head injuries is that the helmet sometimes does not protect the player because it does not protect for rotational force. "Athletes in the U.S. suffer 3.8 million sports-related concussions each year. While helmet makers dither with small improvements, Swedish scientists have built something that could protect us all." (Foster) The major problem with helmet developed today is that it doesn't protect rotational force. Rotational force is when the brain rotates and these helmets only protect the horizontal force. "After a football tackle or a hockey check, that blob moves, and does so in irregular ways. "Rotational forces strain nerve cells and axons more than linear forces do," Cantu says. "They're not only stretching, but they're twisting at the same time. So they have a potential for causing greater nerve injury."." (Foster) Also a problem is the fact that good tackling technique is not taught by the coaches. The excuse is that they do not have the time to teach proper technique to players at a higher level. So they are saying that proper technique should be taught by then, when in reality the saying goes practice makes perfect. The coaches must stress tackling the right way so when a game comes they are prepared to tackle the right way. If these problems are not fixed the game of football could be in serious danger because the deaths that can happen.

Death in the Game of Football

Concussions seem like such a common, ordinary injury that can be recovered with fast, but in reality concussions are one of the dangerous injuries that can happen to the players. The average football player take 1,000 to 1,500 hits over a full football season. Cantu said in a interview with The Cleveland Plain Dealer "a significant number of them may be taking some brain abnormalities as a result of it. This is giving parents food for thought about the concept that no trauma is good for the brain." (Mangels) The short-term effect of concussions seem like they are not worrisome, but they are very scary. The player might not be able to play or have to sit out for a while, but if these things are not done there can be more dangerous problems that occur in the body that can result in brain damage and death. A player cannot be the telling factor on whether they should play or not play because they will play every time. A Sports Illustrated story stated that "Troy Polamalu admitted this July that he doesn't report every "buzz" he feels. If he did, Polamalu estimates he'd have been diagnosed with 50-100 concussions though