Concussions and What They Mean for You and Your Favorite Sport
Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy (CTE) is a progressive brain disease caused by concussions or repeated hits to the head. Some symptoms include memory loss, aggression, depression, difficulty sleeping, as well as judgment and risk-taking issues. Many studies have linked the onset of CTE to repetitive mild traumatic brain injuries (mTBI), putting any contact-sport athletes at risk of experiencing a degenerative neuro-traumatic brain disease that affects them long after retiring from the game. Studies have shown the mTBI leads to short-term motor deficiencies, memory loss and decreased learning ability. In addition, these blunt traumas, if repetitive, can cause behavioral abnormalities like anxiety and depressive disorders that lead to increased risk-taking and judgment issues.
Who are the most at risk to suffer concussions? Studies show that in the 2015-16 and 2016-17 seasons, 458 concussions were sustained during gameplay by 401 different players. Cornerbacks received the most concussions at 23%, followed by wide receivers, linebackers, and offensive linemen. Cornerbacks were most likely to sustain concussions following a helmet-to-body impact when lunging for tackles following a pass completion.
But not only professional football players are at risk of suffering from the effects of traumatic head injuries. Studies have shown that any young adults who have suffered traumatic brain injuries also have lower performance rates when performing cognitive function tasks. Research has shown that as few as two concussions can cause decreased cognitive ability, affecting one’s ability to control their attention, performance, working memory, and planning. Studies have proven that even in young, healthy adults, those experiencing multiple mTBI’s perform at a lower rate when conducting task-switching exercises. If these are the effects of just a few head impacts, athletes who receive head trauma consistently are even more at risk for permanent brain damage.
Who are the most at risk to suffer concussions? Studies show that in the 2015-16 and 2016-17 seasons, 458 concussions were sustained during gameplay by 401 different players. Cornerbacks received the most concussions at 23%, followed by wide receivers, linebackers, and offensive linemen. Cornerbacks were most likely to sustain concussions following a helmet-to-body impact when lunging for tackles following a pass completion.
But not only professional football players are at risk of suffering from the effects of traumatic head injuries. Studies have shown that any young adults who have suffered traumatic brain injuries also have lower performance rates when performing cognitive function tasks. Research has shown that as few as two concussions can cause decreased cognitive ability, affecting one’s ability to control their attention, performance, working memory, and planning. Studies have proven that even in young, healthy adults, those experiencing multiple mTBI’s perform at a lower rate when conducting task-switching exercises. If these are the effects of just a few head impacts, athletes who receive head trauma consistently are even more at risk for permanent brain damage.
Image Source: KeithJJ
In fact, research suggests that the type of head impact and amount of force have less of an effect on the likeliness of a concussion than the sheer number of impacts the individual has had. Meaning, the more head impacts, the more likely the concussion, as opposed to the force or angle of the hit itself. Any type of head impact exposure predisposes the onset of a concussion. Division 1 athletes in the college football and in the NFL participate in consistent contact play, increasing their head impact exposure. Thus, efforts to reduce overall head impacts during practice sessions and within games could reduce some of these risks. In short, minimizing the number of head impacts decreases the onset of concussions, which in turn lowers the likeliness of athletes developing CTE or other traumatic brain injuries.
Ultimately, these repetitive mild traumatic brain injuries cause decreased efficiency in spatial learning and memory, as well as subacute anxiety, resulting in increased risk-taking activities over time. Sleep deficits and depression are also common behaviors after repeated head traumas. Players at the youth, high school, college, and professional level show a great accumulation of a variety of head impacts, calling to question the ethics and health risks of playing such an extreme contact sport. With new studies demonstrating the severity of just a few head impacts, parents and individuals may want to reconsider the cognitive danger of contact sports like football. Does the possibility of permanent neurodegenerative side-effects decrease the appeal of the game?
Ultimately, these repetitive mild traumatic brain injuries cause decreased efficiency in spatial learning and memory, as well as subacute anxiety, resulting in increased risk-taking activities over time. Sleep deficits and depression are also common behaviors after repeated head traumas. Players at the youth, high school, college, and professional level show a great accumulation of a variety of head impacts, calling to question the ethics and health risks of playing such an extreme contact sport. With new studies demonstrating the severity of just a few head impacts, parents and individuals may want to reconsider the cognitive danger of contact sports like football. Does the possibility of permanent neurodegenerative side-effects decrease the appeal of the game?
Featured Image Source: KeithJJ
RELATED ARTICLES
Vertical Divider
|
Vertical Divider
|
Vertical Divider
|