Concussions in Football
analytical Essay
1133 words
Even though football players are aware of the dangers the game can bring upon them, they take part despite it. The passion, the joy it creates; for professionals it’s also the devoted fans and compensation they receive is what keeps the players motivated. Today players are much bigger, faster, smarter, bigger, better. The game is more physical. The sport has never been so competitive. The popularity has reached new peaks, as much that the NFL has thoughts of moving a team to London, England. Additionally, Super Bowl XLVII (47) was one of the most watched television events of all time; an astonishing 108.4 million viewers (The Associated Press). Fans worship their teams and love to see big hits. Football is a contact sport; injuries are no doubtingly part of it. Concussions are one of the many detriments caused by the ruthlessness, but one of the few with perpetual effects: consequence of the brutality. What is a concussion? A concussion is a hard blow or collision; bodily injury (as to the brain) resulting from a sudden jar (Webster pg. 103). This is an injury that mot only occurs in football, but in other sports as well. The only difference is that in football players are constantly hitting, blocking, and tackling one another with enormous amounts of force. Therefore it is more likely to occur than in other sports like golf, tennis, or soccer to name a few. Right after the collision that caused the concussion players reminisce coming out feeling either dizzy, having fuzzy vision, balance problems, having painful headaches, not having the ability to concentrate nor remember new information. Pittsburg Penguin Sidney Crosby came back to playing hockey eleven months after from suffering his concussion. Denver Bronco, Wes Welker cam... ... middle of paper ... ...layoffs/2012/story/_/id/8913211/ - More Living Football Players Show Signs Of CTE By Travis Waldron http://thinkprogress.org/sports/2013/11/07/2906241/living-football-players-signs-cte/ - Timeline: The NFL’s Concussion Crisis By Lauren Ezell http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/sports/league-of-denial/timeline-the-nfls-concussion-crisis/ - Mike Webster autopsy 'one of the most significant moments in the history of sports' By Tyler Drenon http://www.behindthesteelcurtain.com/2013/10/8/4814434/concussion-suit-mike-webster-thing - Concussion Watch/Frontline http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/concussion-watch/ - Dorsett, others shows signs of CTE/Outside the Lines By William Weinbaum and Steve Delsohn http://espn.go.com/espn/otl/story/_/id/9931754/former-nfl-stars-tony-dorsett-leonard-marshall-joe-delameilleure-show-indicators-cte-resulting-football-concussions
In this essay, the author
- Explains that cte is a brain disease found in individuals with annals of head trauma. it can cause memory loss, dementia, depression, suicidal thoughts, cognitive and emotional difficulties.
- Analyzes how the nfl and 4500 former players accused the league of concealing information about concussions from them and settled for a whopping 765 million dollar agreement.
- Opines that mike webster's autopsy was one of the most significant moments in the history of sports.
- Analyzes how dorsett, others shows signs of cte/outside the lines by william weinbaum and steve delsohn.
- Explains that football players are aware of the dangers the game can bring upon them, but they take part despite it. a concussion is a hard blow or collision; it is more likely to occur than in other sports.
- Explains that mike webster played in the nfl for 17 years and claimed that football gave him dementia, memory loss, anger, and depression.
Related
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- The Concussion Problem in Professional and Amateur Footballexplanatory essayThesis Statement The number of concussions in professional and amateur football has been rising and has sparked much controversy in recent years. These concussions are most likely linked with disease and even the deaths of some pro and semi-pro football players. New research is attempting to solve the problem but the issue is still prevalent in football today.
In this essay, the author
- Explains that the number of concussions in professional and amateur football has been rising and has sparked much controversy in recent years.
- Explains the definition of a concussion in the nfl and how it affects professional athletes as well as amateur or youth football players.
- Explains that chronic traumatic encephalopathy, or cte, is a degenerative disease of the brain linked to symptoms of dementia and depression.
- Opines that the nfl and many private researchers are set on finding a way to conquer this issue. they want to stop these concussions from happening and prevent the diseases resulting from them.
- Explains that many private companies and researchers have taken the issue of concussions head on.
- Explains that the nfl has increased research on concussions throughout the 21st century.
- Explains that the nfl has long denied that concussions have any long-term effects. they argued that mtbi was a sham committee that "glorified the violence of the game."
2124 wordsRead More - Should Children Play Tackle Football?explanatory essaySince football’s inception, it has been considered a manly sport. Young boys have been encouraged by their parents to participate in the game. For many boys, it is considered a rite of passage. However, football is a dangerous sport. A study conducted by the Center for Injury Research and Policy found, “an estimated 5.25 million football-related injuries among children and adolescents between 6 and 17 years of age were treated in U.S. emergency departments between 1990 and 2007. The annual number of football-related injuries increased 27 percent during the 18-year study period, jumping from 274,094 in 1990 to 346,772 in 2007” (Nation 201). These reported injuries include sprains and strains, broken bones, cracked ribs, torn ligaments, and concussions. A concussion usually happens when a player takes a hard hit to the head or is knocked unconscious on the playing field, and if not diagnosed and treated quickly, a concussion can result in death.
In this essay, the author
- Explains that football is america's favorite sport. it is fast-paced and hard-hitting. the long-term effects of concussions on players are not fully understood.
- Explains that football has been considered a manly sport since its inception. however, it's dangerous, and the number of football-related injuries increased 27 percent during the 18-year study period.
- Explains that concussions occur regularly on the football field and have always been an injury associated with football.
- Explains that most of the deaths attributed to concussions from playing football are older boys and men. however, david sumner, a ten-year-old from simi valley, california, died from head injuries sustained while playing.
- Explains that dr. robert cantu, the director of boston university's center for the study of traumatic encephalopathy, has been a leader in this research.
- Explains how dr. cantu describes two types of acceleration that create a concussion to the brain: linear acceleration and rotational acceleration.
- Explains how the nfl began to acknowledge the effects of repeated concussions in professional players. commissioner roger goodell introduced a stricter policy to protect the health and safety of nfl players and set the best possible example.
- Explains that while the long-term effects of concussions on adults are documented, there is less research available on the effects on a child.
- Explains that a concussion can cause chemical changes in the brain, causing fatigue, memory loss, lack of concentration, and an inability to stay focused.
- Explains that a study conducted by virginia tech and wake forest universities proved that children playing football receives hits to the head equal to professional athletes.
- Explains that a child's body isn't fully developed, and that the brain damage caused by concussions is more severe. rotational forces are greater for children, proportional to the severity of the hit.
- Explains second impact syndrome, which occurs when a child receives another concussion, before an older one heals. the majority of victims of second impact syndrome are under the age of eighteen, all of them male.
- Explains that second impact syndrome is a rare but usually fatal condition. carrol, linda, and david rosner. the concussion crisis: anatomy of the silent epidemic.
- Explains that daniel, ray w., steven rowson, and stefan m. duma. “head impact exposure in youth football.” annals of biomedical engineering.
- Explains that newton’s football: the science behind americas game. ballantine books, 2013.
- Analyzes how mihoces, gary, and nation, a. d., et al. weighed the risks of youth football in the context of a concussion debate.
- Analyzes yates, keith, et al., longitudinal trajectories of postconcussive symptoms in children with mild traumatic brain injuries and their relation to acute clinical status. pediatrics.
1412 wordsRead More - Concussions in the NFLanalytical essayMany memories are made in football, but sadly some of the greatest players cannot recall them. The National Football League has been associated with concussions and brain traumas throughout the years, but lately it has been exposed by media and NFL veterans. The league recently “reached a $765 million preliminary settlement with thousands of former players who were suing the league over its treatment of concussions…” (Waldron). Many former players are experiencing the effects of taking hard hits over and over again; they were not properly treated, which makes the injury worse and long term. The concussion issue in the NFL is more prevalent today, because it affects not only the players, but the league as a whole.
In this essay, the author
- Explains that the national football league has been associated with concussions and brain traumas throughout the years, but recently it was exposed by media and nfl veterans. many former players are experiencing the effects of taking hard hits over and over again.
- Analyzes how the nfl started a committee called the mtbi (mild traumatic brain injury) in 1994. dr. elliot pellman's quote shows how concussions didn't hold much importance, even though it should have been the committee’s main focus.
- Narrates how mike webster, a former pittsburgh steeler, brought awareness to brain traumas by claiming to be disabled with the nfl retirement board and having dementia.
- Explains that dr. omalu diagnosed a football player with cte, and two other doctors connected concussions to dementia.
- Explains that the mtbi was still making concussions sound minor, and not a big problem.
- Describes how david duerson, a 50-year-old former chicago bears player, committed suicide to donate his brain to further research.
- Explains that duerson is not the only player dealing with effects of brain trauma during a professional football career. over 240 complaints have been filed against the nfl and how they deal with concussions.
- Explains that the nfl ignored mounting evidence about damage from concussions and tried to dispute emerging science with questionable research of its own.
- Explains that the league finally strengthened their approach to concussions. medical professionals on the sideline now are more prone to look for symptoms.
- Explains that concussions can be fatal if they occur before the brain heals properly. many nfl players are giant and feel untouchable, but they need to be as aware as everyone else.
- Opines that the first few days after a concussion, an athlete needs to be very careful with what they allow themselves to do.
- Explains that concussion prevention techniques can be used especially in football. helmets are the protective gear to help with prevention.
- Explains that football is a very physical game and the chance of preventing any injury is very limited. all doctors agree that helmets will never completely prevent the brain.
- Describes the recent rule changes that were an effect of the settlement, including hitting with the crown, the snapper can never be hit, and late hits.
- Argues that officials should be responsible for removing players suspected of concussions. they argue that if officials are trusted with this power, they should also be able to remove players who are bleeding.
- Opines that the issue of concussions spreads beyond the players alone. many rules and procedures have been manipulated to fit new research on brain traumas.
- Explains that the nfl announces rule changes. the nfl concussion litigation rss.
- Analyzes mcclement, john, mihoces, gary, pennington, bill, smith, stephanie, and smith.
1768 wordsRead More - Concussions In Footballexplanatory essayFootball is one of the most popular sports in the world. It is played in a lot of different ways, fashions, and other countries. It can be a very brutal sport with players hitting at the intent to hurt one another. With these intents come great consequences. In recent years the head injuries involved with this brutal game play have been getting uncomfortably high. Many rules have had to be enforced for player safety, because of the increase of head injuries resulting in tragic effects on players both old and new. One of the injuries that have had the most devastating effects is the concussion.
In this essay, the author
- Explains that football is behind hockey with every eight per ten thousand players receiving a concussion, whereas hockey was behind.
- Explains that riddel's new "revolution" helmet is designed to reduce concussions, based on a new look at what hits actually cause them, not the blows to the top or front.
- Opines that riddeltm has stepped up to the plate to protect the players, not just for the sake of entertainment, but to keep them safe and healthy so the years they get the opportunity to play.
- Explains that football is one of the most popular sports in the world, with players hitting at the intent to hurt one another. concussions are an injury that falls under the traumatic brain injury category.
- Explains that concussions aren't traceable in football, just as they are not in many other sports. prevention is possible, but the only prevention method is not to play.
- Explains barton, lindsay, "concussion statistics in high school sports | momsteam."
- Explains the incidence of concussion in high school football players of ohio and pennsylvania.
1397 wordsRead More - Concussions in Sportsexplanatory essayJunior Seau was one of the best middle linebackers in the NFL during his 20 playing years, amassing over 1,500 tackles, and delivering an insurmountable number of hits. In 2011, shortly after retiring, he abruptly committed suicide by shooting himself. The National Institutes of Health (NIH) conducted a study on Seau’s brain and diagnosed him with Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy (CTE), a degenerative brain disease caused by repeated head trauma (Pilon and Belson). Seau is among countless other former players whose careers’ of playing football changed their lives forever. Former quarterback Terry Bradshaw told USA Today about how poor his mental health has become. He says, “I couldn’t focus and remember things, and I was dealing with depression” (Breslow, “NFL Concussions: The 2013-14 Season in Review”). Seau’s death and Bradshaw’s decline link to a growing epidemic in today’s sports: concussions. Recently, concussions increased in contact sports, specifically football (Breslow, “What We’ve Learned from Two Years of Tracking Concussions”). This increase, along with better awareness and pressure from lawsuits and the media, led to research for better concussion diagnostic technology and rule changes in football. Concussions and the effects associated with them forced football to evolve, for the better.
In this essay, the author
- Explains that junior seau was one of the best middle linebackers in the nfl during his 20 playing years. his death and bradshaw's decline link to a growing epidemic in today’s sports: concussions
- Explains that concussions are traumatic brain injuries caused by a force to the head or direct force on the face, neck or chest. the nfl and the world of sports paid attention to this alarming trend.
- Explains that media and the lawsuit by former nfl players put even more pressure on the nfl to act on concussion epidemic. former players, a congressional committee, and even president obama are active in speaking out against the league.
- Explains that these factors led to several rule changes in the nfl aimed to limit head injuries and helmet-to-helmet contact in football, along with research in new technology in helmets and the science behind concussions.
- Explains that sports leagues, athletes talk concussions with dc lawmakers, and belson, ken.
- Explains breslow, jason m., "nfl concussions: the 2013-14 season in review." wgbh educational foundation.
- Explains what they've learned from two years of tracking nfl concussions.
- Explains the comprehensive concussion center at jefferson university hospitals.
- Explains dekosky, steven t., milos d. ikonomovic, and sam gandy, "traumatic brain injury- football, warfare and long-term effects."
- Describes trends in concussion indence in high school sports in the american journal of sports medicine.
- Explains that "new nfl rules designed to limit head injuries." the national football league.
- States pilon, mary, and ken belson, "junior seau's death classified as a suicide."
845 wordsRead More - Cost of Glory: The Issues Surrounding Football Injuriesopinionated essayAmerica’s newfound favorite pastime, football, came from a bizarre chain of events. Football started when a soccer player got fed up with just kicking the ball, so he picked up the ball and ran to the goal. His actions of picking up the ball and running with it fathered a new European sport, rugby, which was soon brought over to American shores, and was altered slightly, the shape of the ball and a few other small rules. The sport became organized into a league and produced the NFL(National Football League). The NFL had a slow beginning, but has picked up popularity, currently having a 9 billion dollar yearly revenue. Playing football comes with great costs, including physical and mental health deterioration, plus the amount of time spent prepping before game day. Which can pose several questions, “Why suffer for a game, Is it worth the money? Is it worth the fame? How great is the cost?” I believe that football, should have stricter regulations for the treatment of injuries, along with informing players of just how devastating a concussion can be, along with the other major injuries that commonly occur while playing football.
In this essay, the author
- Opines that football should have stricter regulations for the treatment of injuries, and informing players of how devastating a concussion can be.
- Argues that nfl and collegiate football teams should better inform players before putting them out on the field, along with better regulations on safety equipment and medical treatments.
- Explains that football injury rate has increased significantly over the past five years, with hospitals reporting over 15,000 football related injuries yearly.
- Opines that brain injuries have lasting effects, such as anger and depression, rapid memory deterioration, and lack of emotional ties. ex-players have trouble functioning in normal society because of a game they played for 9 nine years.
- Explains that the nfl is a highly successful organization that has taken the nation by storm. they have shown concern for player’s injuries and research done on the injuries.
- Opines that football should be regulated more for safety concerns and issues. it's unfair to have people playing on a field without knowing how devastating one bad hit can be to their lives.
- Cites farmer, sam, and melissa healy's article, "settlement would end nfl concussion suit."
728 wordsRead More - Concussions In Sportsopinionated essayThe world of sports is filled with great memories, grand moments and at times complete mayhem. There are moments like hitting a Home Run in game 7 of the World Series or memories of scoring an overtime goal during the Stanley Cup finals. However, there are also incredibly low moments when mayhem occurs such as an action or incident that results in a concussion. An injury such as a concussion can ruin your sports career or potentially your ability to function normally in the future. Concussions are caused by blunt force trauma to the head, a fall or an injury that shakes the brain inside the skull. Recovering from a concussion can take weeks, months or even years to heal. For some, it can impair your mental or mobility functions for life.
In this essay, the author
- Explains that sports are filled with great memories, grand moments, and at times complete mayhem, but concussions can ruin your sports career or possibly your ability to function normally in the future.
- Explains that concussions can occur in almost any sport. football is a physically demanding sport, but there are also sports with little or no contact.
- Explains that concussions can come in many different forms, such as sports or everyday life. sports are second only to motor vehicle crashes as the leading cause of traumatic brain injury among people aged 15 to 24 years.
- Explains that concussions can cause headaches, short and/or long-term memory loss, and depression. sidney crosby missed an entire year of hockey because he received two severe blows to the head in two consecutive games.
- Explains that concussions were too often left untreated, causing depression in athletes, and suing the nfl for millions of dollars in compensation. probert had chronic traumatic encephalopathy.
- Argues that high contact sports are becoming less popular among younger children and parents.
- Opines that high-contact sports are dangerous but very entertaining, so changes should be made to ensure the safety of the athletes who play.
- Opines that professional leagues are implementing equipment grandfathering, while the nfl and nhl have a number of rule changes to protect players.
- Opines that our attitudes on concussions need to transform and change, not just with the coaches but with players and fans as well.
- Analyzes how will smith plays a neuropathologist who exposes the hidden truth about the serious effects of concussions in the nfl.
1985 wordsRead More - Concussions In Youth Footballexplanatory essayAfter a lawsuit occurred which lead to things being discovered about concussions in youth years. People are questioning if youth football should continue. This Lawsuit, Debra Pyka, claims that her son suffered from repeated head injuries in youth football causing CTE (Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy). Her son eventually committed suicide at the age of 25. CTE has been in the news greatly after Dr. Bennet Omalu, a Nigerian, American Physician, Forensic Pathologist, and Neuropathologist discovered and published the findings of CTE. Concussions are dangerous alone they have many short and long term effects. These short term effects can happen immediately including vomiting, tinnitus, and vision changes. Long term can include memory disturbances,
In this essay, the author
- Explains that people are questioning if youth football should continue. debra pyka claims that her son suffered from repeated head injuries causing cte and committed suicide at the age of 25.
- Explains the new rules, equipment, and techniques are being taught to keep youth football as safe as possible. hits to the head and neck area are illegal.
- Explains peter schwartz's three main reasons why kids should play football: the love of the game, physical activity, and teamwork and discipline.
- Explains that playing football in younger skills can help with many skills, short term skills and long-term skills. sportsmanship and leadership are excellent skills to learn for life.
- Explains that concussions in youth football are dangerous for future years. soccer, wrestling, ice hockey, and hockey all have the same rates. youth football goes beyond the sport itself.
- Explains that football is a dangerous sport, but it's not the only reason to ban it.
1195 wordsRead More - The Effects of Concussions on Athletesanalytical essayConcussions occur time after time throughout different sporting events and many are familiar with the word concussion, but what really is a concussion? A concussion is a head injury that can leave damaging effects on athletes of all sports and ages. Concussions are regularly caused by a hard hit to the head or body that causes the brain to shake inside of the skull. While there is fluid within the skull to protect the brain, when an athlete is hit hard enough, the brain moves to the point of hitting the skull, causing a head injury otherwise known as a concussion (“Concussions”). Terry Adirim, a medical doctor who writes articles for Clinical Pediatrician Emergency Magazine, says that an individual may have many different symptoms after receiving a concussion. Symptoms can include headache, nausea, dizziness, loss of consciousness, and vomiting, but each of these symptoms do not necessarily happen with every concussion. While many athletes are fine after receiving one concussion, it is the second concussion that can be very unfavorable and even deadly. When an athlete receives a second concussion before the first concussion has fully healed, it ...
In this essay, the author
- Opines that the more concussions are studied, the better we learn about their detrimental effects on athletes. due to the risk of health issues and death, doctors, coaches, athletic trainers, and lawmakers are stepping in to protect athletes
- Explains that concussions can damage an athlete's brain and cause permanent brain damage and even death.
- Explains that kevin turner, a former professional football player in the national football league, has been diagnosed with lou gehrig's disease.
- Analyzes how briana binowski, a 16-year-old high school basketball player, knows how concussions can affect an individual's life.
- Explains that as high school football season kicked off in 2011, 31 states had signed laws preventing students from returning to the field too early after enduring a concussion.
- Explains adirim, terry a., "concussions in sports and recreation." clinical pediatric emergency medicine 8.1 (2007): 2-6.
- Opines that brady, erik, changed the game on youth concussions. usa today, 26 may 2011.
- Explains toporek, bryan, "concussion laws targeting student-athletes on upswing." education week 10 august 2011.
- Analyzes whiteside's article, "concussions are no fun: schoolwork taxing for injured athletes." usa today.
- Explains how the michigan neuro sport concussion program provides free, online courses for coaches and officials that allow them to understand how dangerous it can be for a player to try and just shake off.
1581 wordsRead More - Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy Research Paperanalytical essayChronic Traumatic Encephalopathy is an increasing, irreversible deterioration or loss of function in the brain due to concussion or repeated hits to the head. Football, being a high contact sport, is a sport whose players are more prone to acquire CTE. The National Football Association has recently adjusted some factors of the sport that can significantly lower the risk of head injuries. These adjustments include outlawed plays and defense mechanisms, sideline protocols dealing with head related injuries, and investing in high technology helmets. The discovery of this illness has awaken the NFL to take a stand and protect the players in every possible way.
In this essay, the author
- Explains that the national football association has recently adjusted some factors of the sport that can significantly lower the risk of head injuries, such as outlawed plays and defense mechanisms, sideline protocols dealing with head related injuries and investing in high technology helmets.
- Explains that the nfl is banning certain plays from being executed during practices and games due to the obvious head injuries tied into this play.
- Argues that the nfl is doing everything in it's power to protect their players.
- Explains that the national football association and the u.s. army are testing head gear that automatically tightens when the head receives a hard blow and minimizes the aftershock of head trauma.
- Explains that the nfl is concerned with the problems that occur now but have long term health effects on the players. they outlawed certain plays and formations, instituted new sideline protocols and provided their players with better gear and equipment.
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