Concussion Discussion
Research Assessment #2
Source:
"The American Association of Neurological Surgeons." AANS. American Association of Neurological Surgeons. Web. 24 Sept. 2015.
Date:
September 23rd, 2015
Analysis:
As sports such as football and hockey become increasingly prevalent, the “side effects” of these high contact sports begin to really stand out. One of the most common downsides to these popularized sports is the widespread presence of concussions. According to the article, “more than 300,000 sports-related concussions occur annually in the U.S.”, and the chances of getting a concussion while playing a high contact sport is on the rise. So, what exactly are concussions?
The article states that concussions usually result from blows to the head that cause brain injury, and in turn a temporary loss of normal brain function, memory loss, and possible permanent brain damage. The scary aspect of concussions is that many may not even recognize when it happens, and the second hit can have much worse effects than the first hit. Personally, I feel that in high school sports, players and athletes may recognize that they have a problem, but still avoid talking to their sports physician in order to keep playing. Their passion for their sport can be very dangerous if these athletes do not recognize when they need to stop playing. Therefore, in the future, I’d like to research better ways to increase awareness of this dilemma primarily in the local area, and see where things take off from there. Athletes need to be taught about the actual symptoms of concussions so they can properly diagnose themselves. According to the article, the more common symptoms include dizziness and fatigue, memory loss, confusion, and prolonged headaches. Furthermore, athletes need to be encouraged to communicate with their sports doctor or physician even if at the slightest sign of danger. Just as when it comes to many traumas and diseases, the earlier the problem is detected, the easier it will be to fix.
In my opinion, in the stages we are at in sports medicine, there will be no way to completely stop the prevalence of concussions. This is most likely due to the fact that sports such as football are simply an American institution at this point; companies profit through the NFL, families have made it a part of their lives to get together and watch games, and the monetary aspect of the sport at the national scale outweighs any potential “risk” in the eyes of many football officials. However, I will continue to remain undeterred in my goal to better prevent the most common injuries, and even the smallest steps I take in Frisco and our school district could be the spark to increasing awareness on a bigger scale.
The most practical way to achieve my goals at this point is to begin talking to the football coaches at our local high schools and go from there. Many have most likely discussed concussions with their players, but a brief reminder would definitely not hurt. As for the coaches, they need to realize that the safety and health of their students outweighs anything else. Whether it be an improved type of football helmet or better programs to educate athletes, concussions are an issue that needs to be fixed, and I can be the person to begin the solution.
