Daniel Flynn's Football Does A Body Good?
analytical Essay
1159 words
In Daniel Flynn’s essay “Football Does a Body Good,” he states his point of view on football and the way people should see it. Football is a dangerous sport that has caused many types of head injuries concussions and other health problems throughout the years. This popular sport has caused many players to develop diseases later on in life, such as Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy, also known as CTE, Alzheimer 's, and Dementia. One of the NFL’s most pressing issues is concussions, which can have life-changing health effects on the football players. For instance, a concussion occurs when an outside force causes the brain to move violently back and forth and hit the wall of the skull. Concussions result in loss of consciousness, confusion, headaches, nausea or vomiting, and blurred vision. The damaged caused by concussions is permanent, and there is no cure for it. Usually, the only remedy prescribed by doctors is at least two weeks of rest before resuming sports and similar activities. A concussion usually occurs when players collide violently into each other at high speeds. In his article“The Helmet Wars,” Tom Foster points out that “Professional football players receive as many as 1,500 hits to the head in a single season, depending on their position. That’s 15,000 in a 10-year playing career, …show more content…
In this essay, the author
- Analyzes how daniel flynn's essay, "football does a body good," states his point of view on football and the way people should see it. football has caused many types of head injuries, concussions, and other health problems.
- Explains that a concussion occurs when players collide violently into each other at high speeds, and there is no cure for it.
- Opines that even helmets and padding protection does not prevent a player from getting concussions. helmet manufacturers are researching and trying to develop safer protective head gear.
- Opines that the nfl's concussion issue will be more pervasive today, since it influences the players, as well as the league.
- Explains that many former players have developed life-changing diseases from multiple concussions. many nfl athletes are rethinking their careers due to the fear of a brain injury.
- Argues that football is safe and healthy, but the long-term effects of it can be harmful. parents are choosing not to let their children play football. football organizations should inform players of the potential life-changing health effects.
Players are using their heads as a weapon which is careless, dangerous, and should be banned from the sport. A lot of time and money has been invested in improving football helmets. Quinn and Brachmann emphasizes that “There’s a strongly held belief that no matter how much time and money is invested into research and development there will never be a helmet that is truly concussion-proof ” (Quinn and Brachmann). Helmets have been effective in preventing skull fractures, but not concussions. Helmet manufacturers are researching and trying to develop safer protective head
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- The Concussion Problem in Professional and Amateur Footballexplanatory essayConcussions have become arguably the #1 most prevalent issue in football today. The number of concussions throughout football has been rising for the past 20-30 years and there seems no way of stopping them. However, 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 that have ruined so many football families’ lives. In order to solve this problem, I think that these researchers need to combine all of their knowledge to solve an issue that so many want solved. As soon as we conquer this “illness” we can return to enjoying the game that we love.
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 - The National Football Leagueopinionated essayBrain injuries can play a major role in football. Reoccurring concussions also occur due to these brain injuries, and cause these athletes permanent damage. Trainers and doctors in the medical field diagnose these brain injuries by loss of consciousness, slurred speech, loss of balance, and loss of memory. In football, they could improve the safety of the helmets; improve the rules, or safety regulations in all sports to help prevent concussions.
In this essay, the author
- Explains that the national football league (nfl) has come under fire for the long-lasting medical consequences of players’ game-related head injuries.
- Explains that brain injuries can play a major role in football, and reoccurring concussions can also occur due to these injuries.
- Opines that football helmets are the most important pieces of equipment and have been revolutionized since football started.
- Explains that football players are put in dangerous and sometimes unexpected situations on the field. with inappropriate training, and helmets that aren't up to par, the nfl can be held responsible for these traumas, which end in death.
- Explains that players started using hard plastic helmets with padding on the inside and one barred facemask in the 1950s, which caused more injuries to their heads and necks.
- Explains that head injuries can be scary, as players become accustomed to them. tom mchale, who retired in 1995, became addicted to cocaine and painkillers and took his own life.
- Explains that concussions can lead to depression and long-term mental diseases if players put their heads first when tackling opponents. dementia is also a major brain injury.
- Explains that memory loss is one of the most common side effects of concussions. rickie harris was a kick returner and defensive running back, which put him in serious hard-hit situations.
- Explains that many short term effects on the brain are minor. athletes may have numerous headaches, loss of consciousness, dizzy, ringing, vomiting, and slurred speech.
- Argues that the nfl should be able to diagnose concussions so they don't reoccur.
- Opines that terry bradshaw feels that the nfl isn't doing enough to protect players.
- Recommends that players and coaches give players extra time to recover from concussions so they don't occur like the cases in the study. many football players love the game but hate the results because of numerous brain injuries.
- Explains that the high school level of football is subject to more concussions than the college level because of the bigger, stronger players resulting in higher collision forces.
- Opines that the nfl can be held responsible for injuries caused by faulty equipment. many have said it's the players fault because they choose to do this line of work.
- Explains that junior seau took his own life on may 2, 2012, due to his head trauma. the question is whether the nfl is responsible for his suicide.
1813 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 - 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 - Expository Essay Rough Draft: Footballopinionated essayFootball is looked over at a fun, entertaining, and harmless sport, but that is not what it is at all. Nearly 8,000 Players suffer from concussions caused by hard hits to the head each year. That does not sound harmless to you now, does it?
In this essay, the author
- Opines that rough draft football is a fun, entertaining, and harmless sport, but that is not what it is. hard tackles lead to many players end up with permanent brain damage.
- Explains that one third of all nfl players will never be able to live the same way again. football might be fun, but do you really think suffering from headaches for the rest of your life will be worth it?
- Opines that nfl players should be allowed to play tackle football until they're at least 14 years old. this is a step forward, but it's not the solution.
- Opines that making changes on age restrictions and how often players are tackled is a good step forward, but it's still not the solution. there needs to be more safety involved in how you can tackle
399 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 - The Futureexplanatory essayFootball has become one of the nations most watched and loved sport. Family and loved ones gather and enjoy a game of football, but what the people do not understand is that professional football players risk injuring themselves for our enjoyment every play they are out there and every snap they take at practice. Former NFL players had sued the NFL for $765,000,000 and counting due to the lack of safety in the NFL and cause of brain damage to the players from taking hits in the professional level. The NFL has made rule changes to prevent concussion from happening in the future, they also have made equipment a lot more safer and are adding new technology into the equipment to try and decrease the number of concussions every year. The NFL has also placed a licensed neurologist on every sideline to make sure players are 100% before going onto the field.
In this essay, the author
- Explains that professional football players risk injuring themselves for our enjoyment every play they are out there and every snap they take at practice. former nfl players had sued the nfl for $765,000,000 and counting due to the lack of safety.
- Explains that the nfl has spent millions of dollars on looking for more safe equipment to use to prevent injuries and concussions.
- Explains that the nfl requires every team to have a neurologist on each side of the felid in case of concussions.
- Explains that the nfl has ordered many rule changes due to the increase of injury and concussions. the "no leading with your helmet rule" has shifted the league into a safer zone.
- Opines that the nfl committee and owners association are trying to find a way for everyone to be safe while playing the sport they love.
529 wordsRead More - What Can be Done to Help Prevent Concussionsexplanatory essayConcussions and the effect they have on people ranging from the young to the old has become a very popular discussion in recent years. Generally people watch sports for entertainment and then there are those who engage in high impact sports from a very young age on. The people at home know how fun playing in a sport is, however they may not know the brutal consequences for some participating in that sport. Injuries to the brain are a main concern among those in the world of high impact sports. Football, soccer, wrestling, lacrosse, and rugby are among sports that athletes receive injuries in. The injuries vary from sprains, to fractures, to torn MCL or ACL, and bruised organs. Concussions are a severe type of injury endured by athletes in the sports world and this life changing injury is one that people are becoming more aware of.
In this essay, the author
- Explains that concussions are a serious type of injury endured by athletes in the sports world and this life changing injury is one that people are becoming more aware of.
- Explains that concussions are an injury to the brain caused by a bump, or blow, and can occur even when you haven't even been knocked unconscious.
- Describes how the xenith helmet, created by vincent farrara, is one of a kind and has 18 shock absorbers that are made out of thermoplastic urethane.
- Explains that every helmet has a warning label to disclose to the user that the helmet cannot prevent concussions entirely.
- Explains that as new and improved helmets are being developed, researches have been working to develop new mouth guards that will help reduce concussions as well.
- Explains that concussions are temporary loss of brain function resulting from a relatively mild injury to the brain. symptoms include slurred speech, confusion, impaired muscle coordination, headache, dizziness and nausea.
- Explains that most of the concussions are recorded in professional sports, and everyone knows about them. however, they are not as easily recognized in high school athletes.
- Explains that almost one in five high school athletes in contact sports suffer a concussion each season.
- Explains that young athletes who return too soon are especially at risk. another hit can overwhelm their body's ability to regulate blood flowing to their brains. this second impact syndrome can cause irreversible brain damage.
- Opines that it is important to keep track of how many concussions an athlete incurs and that they treat their injury properly. left untreated, they can cause severe headaches, amnesia, and alzheimer and parkinson’s disease.
- Reports that more than 200,000 people sustain a brain injury while playing sports every year, well behind vehicle crashes, falls, and firearms.
- Explains the nfl's new helmet-to-helmet contact rules are the start of making players safer on the field. the nfl is fined players who make illegal or dangerous hits.
- Explains that in the nfl, the average speed for head to head impact is 20 miles per hour and a hit lasting 15 milliseconds is equivalent to 100 g’s of force.
- Explains that a computer generated baseline test is helpful in diagnosing concussions and helps doctors decide how to treat them. football is not the only sport making new rules to protect their players.
- Explains that the nhl implemented rule 48, which prescribed supplemental discipline for any lateral or blind-side hit aimed at the head-the league upgraded the rule that summer to a major penalty and subsequent suspension
- Explains that the nhl readjusted the rule; if anyone hits a player in the head from any direction, there will be penalties with possibility of discipline.
- Opines that hockey players do not have as much protection on their head compared to football players, so the damage is a lot greater. sidney crosby is fully on board with this new rule that will help protect the players more.
- Explains that concussions are a very serious injury that can result in death at the worst and if not properly cared for, can cause incurable disease.
- Explains that repeated concussions can increase the time it takes for you to recover and may cause more damage to your brain. rest and not return to play until you get the ok from your health care professional.
- Explains the importance of proper equipment and good sportsmanship in preventing concussions.
- Cites encyclopdia britannica's online school edition on concussion prevention.
- Explains that the x1 football helmet incorporates new technology to protect players from concussions.
- Explains that sports science, dir. john brinkess, perf. jacobs and lindy washburn, "silent epidemic preys on young athletes." the record.
2270 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