Urgent Advocacy Needed: Addressing Football-Related Concussions
Head Injuries and Concussions: A Modern Epidemic Among Young Athletes
In the bustling sports scene of the United States, head injuries, and concussions have become a pressing issue, especially among young athletes. Over the course of a decade, the number of emergency room visits for concussions among 8- to 13-year-olds surged by 200%, while reported concussions in those aged 14-19 years experienced a similar spike. In 2012 alone, over 325,000 teenagers were treated for concussions, equating to almost 40 cases every hour.
One sudden blow to the head can pose distressing complications, but multiple impacts greatly increase the risk of severe head injuries, long-term neurological disabilities, and permanent brain damage. These hidden dangers highlight the need for heightened awareness and proper management of concussions.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recognized the urgency of the issue and launched the Heads Up initiative in 2003 to educate on and address traumatic brain injuries (TBIs) and concussions. In just 10 years, the CDC distributed over 15 million guides and trained nearly 1.5 million coaches online about TBIs and concussion prevention, management, and recovery.
However, concerns linger.
Concussion Breakdown
A concussion can arise from a direct blow to the head or an indirect impact to the body. The American Association of Neurological Surgeons (AANS) classifies it as "a clinical syndrome characterized by immediate and transient alteration in brain function, including alteration of mental status and level of consciousness, resulting from mechanical force or trauma."
Startling statistics suggest that:
- Nearly one-third of concussions occur during training sessions
- 1 in 5 high school athletes will suffer a concussion during a season
- Over 5.3 million people in the U.S. live with TBI-related disabilities
- Only 9 out of 10 concussions involve loss of consciousness
The Brain on the Rocks
The skull encases the cerebral spinal fluid, which acts as a protective cushion during minor impacts. However, in concussions, the brain moves too swiftly within the skull, potentially causing it to collide with the skull walls, resulting in injuries known as coup and contrecoup. Rotational concussions arise when the head twists rapidly from side to side, damaging neural pathways and causing brain tissue to stretch and strain.
Injury to delicate neural pathways can lead to symptoms such as memory issues, judgment impairments, balanced challenges, difficulties with speech, muscle coordination problems, and cognitive function disruptions.
Concussions have been linked to hazards such as a higher risk of dying from an accidental injury, possibly due to alterations in cognition and balance. In some studies, concussions have even shown to almost quadruple the risk of suicide.
Mouse Medications
Recent research has suggested that young women who experience concussions may be more susceptible to developing alcohol abuse disorders as adults.
While recovery is usually possible without intervention, multiple concussions increase the risk of permanent damage by 39%.
Concussions in Football
Statistically, American football is the leading sport for concussions, accounting for over 47% of sports-related concussions.
According to estimates, the incidence of concussions among footballers is ranging between 64 and 76.8 per 100,000 participants. Ice hockey for boys comes in a close second, with an incidence of 54 per 100,000. Girls in soccer are most at risk, with almost 33 cases per 100,000, while the rate for cheerleaders is around 11.5 to 14 per 100,000.
In light of these figures, Dr. Paul Auerbach, a Department of Emergency Medicine specialist at Stanford University School of Medicine, believes that football poses a "colossally greater cause of significant injuries than boxing."
Signs and Symptoms of Concussions in Football Players
Recognizing the signs of concussions is essential for swift intervention and treatment. The CDC's Heads Up program provides the following indicators:
For the athlete:
- Headache
- Feelings of pressure in the head
- Nausea or vomiting
- Balance issues or dizziness
- Impaired vision
- Sensitivity to light or noise
- Lethargy or mental fogginess
- Memory troubles
- Confusion
- General feelings of being "off" or melancholy
For observers:
- Dazed or stunned appearance
- Uncertainty about position or assignment
- Forgetfulness about instructions
- Disorientation about the game, score, opponent
- Clumsy movements
- Slow reactions to questions
- Momentary loss of consciousness
- Changes in mood, behavior, or personality
- Inability to recall events before or after the impact
If concussion is suspected, the CDC recommends these steps:
- Removing the athlete from play
- Keeping the athlete out of play for the remainder of the day
- Seeking approval from a healthcare professional experienced in concussion management before allowing the athlete to return to play
Return-to-Play Laws
Since 2009, "Return-to-Play" laws have been implemented to provide sufficient healing time before athletes put themselves at increased risk. These laws require schools and institutions to develop concussion guidelines and educational programs, obtain annual signed waivers from athletes and parents to receive concussion and head injury information, and remove athletes from play if a concussion is suspected, among other provisions.
However, some experts believe that these laws do not offer enough protection. Dr. Auerbach recently published an opinion article, "It's time to change the rules," advocating for further safety measures to protect athletes from concussions. He emphasized the need for expert concussion knowledge when granting returns to play and suggested more radical rule changes, such as banning tackling and head contact, limiting the number of contact practice days and practices, and imposing harsher penalties for coaches that permit concussed athletes to play.
The future of football and other sports with high injury rates is uncertain. Dr. Auerbach called for increased surveillance to combat the growing problem of TBIs and concussions. With the potential for declining participation rates due to the rising public awareness of sports-related brain injuries, it is crucial that sporting institutions prioritize safety measures to protect their athletes and preserve the game's popularity. As the research continues, it will become increasingly important to make informed decisions that prioritize player health without sacrificing the spirit of athletics.
- In light of the rising number of concussions in various medical-conditions, such as sports-related accidents and falls, there is a need for increased research into chronic diseases that could be linked to these injuries.
- The science behind traumatic brain injuries (TBIs) and concussions in football players is a growing area of interest, as researchers seek to understand the long-term implications of these injuries on health-and-wellness, especially in young athletes.
- To combat the modern epidemic of concussions among young athletes, it is essential to consider integrating preventive measures for various medical-conditions, such as chronic diseases and science-based solutions, into sports programs and regulations, much like the CDC's Heads Up initiative.
