Blow to the Head

In contact sports such as football, injuries are inevitable. Every single play involves full force impact from both teams and the play usually ends in taking the opponent down. Sprains, pulled muscles, and even broken bones can be easily identified, but when the injury is on the brain it is often passed over and forgotten about. Blows to the head resulting in concussions are happening more and more but are not always taken seriously. The brain is a vital organ allowing you to live and function controlling everything you do. So why are injuries to it taken so lightly? With lawsuits and rule changes, the NFL is stepping up and doing something to make a change.

A concussion occurs when the head takes a blow that makes it move rapidly, so rapidly that the brain actually rattles or twists in the skull. It is commonly thought to be a “bruise on the brain”, but that is not true. There is no bruising, but there is damage done to the cells in the brain. Not every hit in the head is concussion, and that is where the problem comes in. A concussion cannot be identified by seeing it or feeling it, not even an x-ray can show it. Common warning signs include dizziness, not being able to recall a play or the score of the game, and loss of balance. In the midst of a game a player that gets hit or injures his head just shakes it off , often wanting to get back in to the action. However if a concussion was the case, the brain is highly vulnerable to more damage, and needs the proper time to heal. Therefore, continuing to play and create stress for the brain is a very bad idea.

http://blog.fora.tv/2013/08/with-nfl-persuasion-espn-pulls-out-of-pbs-concussion-documentary/

The NFL has been making some changes to their protocol to help prevent athletes with concussions being hurried back in to the game. Last year they started providing teams with better care by having a neuro-trauma expert physician on the field to help assess injured players. If the head physician or team physician checks a player for concussion, that physician is the one who has final say on whether the athlete can go back in to the game. This means trainers or coaches cant make that decision. If a concussion is diagnosed, the athlete must pass through a 5-step process, put in place just this year, before being released to play again. 

The steps go as follows:

1. Rest and recovery
2. Light aerobic exercise
3. Continued aerobic exercise & strength training
4. Football specific activities
5. Full football activities/clearance

Players must be able to pass through all of these steps without the initial symptoms returning.

http://www.recorder.com/home/9635572-95/a-look-at-head-injuries-in-area-sports

With the new changes, and while everyone is still adjusting to the protocol, the 5 step process isn’t perfectly followed quite yet. Just a few weeks ago Jamaal Charles of the Kansas City Chiefs took a hit the head and was assessed by a trainer. After passing the test he was allowed to keep playing, even though some of his symptoms were signs of a concussion. He was quoted in an interview (via ESPN.com) saying “A couple plays later, I just [saw] this light buzz around my eyes and I was trying to catch ‘em. But I was like, ‘let’s get the ball and run again.” This is a great example of how short term thinking, players just want to get back in the game and do their part. Fans also want to see the players in the game bouncing back from getting knocked down. The question becomes is a few more plays, or another quarter in one game worth the risk of the lasting effects a concussion can have? As an athlete, at the time of injury and in the moment it feels like you should do everything you can to get back out there because you want to do the best for the team, but in the long run it most certainly is not whats in your best interest.

Past players are now coming forward about the repercussions of their injuries. Perhaps if they had known about the reality and seriousness of concussion they would have treated their injuries differently. This past July 5 former NFL players filed a lawsuit suing the union for “for not providing accurate information about the risk of head injuries”. Lawsuits are happening at the college level as well. The NCAA has just settled a suit for $70 million to pay for current & former athletes to have testing done to determine brain trauma from injury during football or other contact sports. According to an article in TheHuffingtonPost.com NCAA figures that from 2004 to 2009 alone, 29,225 athletes suffered concussions. Basically this lawsuit makes it so that players can do the tests, and if they find damage done, they have a basis for suing.

To make a real change, NFL is turning to focus on players just starting the game, implementing a new program to help awareness about injuries to the head. The program is called “Heads Up” Football. It helps coaches and players to take safety precautions by using proper equipment, learning the right techniques for tackling, and being able to identify warning signs of a concussion. To see more about the program you can visit Heads up Football

http://www.ihigh.com/mfca/article_47736.html

They say knowledge is power. So starting by provide players with knowledge from the very start can hopefully influence how injuries to the head are viewed and taken care of in the future. Putting an end to the idea that mild concussion doesn’t need to take the same treatment steps as a serious concussion. A concussion is a concussion and should all be treated the same and be given the proper amount of time it needs to fully heal before getting back in the action.

Untill next time...

Keep moving forward!

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