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Frankie Stanton

Mrs. DeBock

English IV Honors

March 24, 2017

Service Research Paper II

The most tragic and life threating injuries in all sports are head injuries especially

concussions. When a harmful head collision occurs, action needs to be taken immediately to the

player until the he or she is cleared to continue playing or if he/she needs to be examined by a

neurologist. It just takes a hard hit to the right spot on the head and it could cause a problem for

the rest of that athletes life. Concussions negatively affect athletes with physically, mentally, and

psychologically in the long term.

In fact, concussions have a horrible effect on players that suffer them. Depending on the

concussion, the healing process could take up to weeks, months or even years. An athlete that

suffers a concussion will be monitored for symptoms such as sleepiness, head pain, dizziness,

confusion, incoherence, or nausea (Flynn). These symptoms may signify complications such as

hemorrhaging or swelling in the brain. In this case, the patient needs to see a neurologist or a

doctor. With such a long stage of healing, the quicker the patient takes action in helping your

concussions, the quicker the patient will recover from it. When acknowledged about the link

between concussions and severe long-term damage to the brain, it will be a slow process. The

National Football League (NFL), for example, was routinely taken to task for a disability system

that denied benefits to retired players suffering the effects of multiple concussions, an issue that

prompted a congressional warning in 2007 (Flynn). This routine strictly was taken in action
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because NFL players need rest when they receive a big hit because of how much contact their

body intakes during practice and games. NFL players would just keep going and going to build

up their tolerance for impact but there come to a point in an athletes life where he need a break

from embracing or giving hard hits. Now that every professional sport has a concussion policy

for receiving concussions, depending on how hard the impact will depend on how long the

athlete will need to sit out for recovery. The NHL is widely considered to be the first

professional sports league to adopt a concussion policy, having done so in 1997. The NFL, MLB,

and NBA implemented its first concussion policy in 2007 and updated it in 2009 (Flynn). The

NBA concussion policy has all players to take a baseline neurocognitive exam prior to each

season. This stabilizes their head and to see if any impact has affected how quick they react to

movements. All professional sports have taken action in concussions because of the tragic long

terms affects it has on athletes.

To add to the fact, there has been an increase in danger for youth sports because of

concussions. Receiving a concussion at a younger age is dangerous because their brain has not

fully developed yet. This can lead to even worse problems receiving a concussion at a young age

than and older one. When youth sports wear the best equipment to protect the brain and neck,

this will prevent severe injuries who engage in risky behavior on the field (Walter). With proper

and modern equipment will lead to a less risk of receiving a tragic injury. If the equipment is old

or broken, it will not have its proper point or use for the youth. Proper protection and safety is

extremely important, especially for young players. In baseball, a helmet has been developed that

can withstand a baseball traveling up to 100 miles per hour (Walter). Almost all professional

pitchers throw at least 85 miles per hour, and most exceed 90 miles per hour with their fastball.

Many batters at the plate that received a hit in the head with a pitch but due to the strong helmets;
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it has saved their life from either a tragic injury or a concussion. In younger age youth baseball

games, it is mandatory for all batters to wear a mask helmet. This is because of safety regulations

and the possibility of a baseball contacting to the face. If a player receives a hit to the head, they

will have a specialist to evaluate the mild brain injuries of the player suspected of sustaining a

concussion. Then, these specialists are required to clear the player before he returns to the field

(Walter). If the player is on the starting roster, then they will lose their spot until the player is

cleared to return. This is also required for youth sports too. If this regulation has been instructed

to the professionals, then the youth sports will have to follow this procedure. There has been an

increase in danger for youth sports because possible concussions occurring.

Additionally, there are ways for players to avoid or better to prevent from concussions

from occurring. There is currently an increased awareness of the long-term and lasting effects of

concussions incurred while playing professional, college, or youth sports. Furthermore, the

relatively recent discovery of chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE) in dozens of former

professional athletes has motivated coaches and players to alter the way sports such as football

and hockey are played before more players are subjected to the long-term effects of repeated

head injuries (Miller). Raising awareness will help the long-term effects on concussions from

supporting others injured. Because of such a fast and high speed pace, it is important for players

to pay attention to their position on the field so they do not get side swiped or hit from a burst of

surprise. This fault could lead to a hit to the head they are not expecting and could cause a

concussion. This comes in effect primary more specified to youth because of the inexperience

they have. Professional sports are more aware of these actions taken and know correct

positioning so their timing is right and this does not happen to them. For understanding and

knowing this knowledge, this comes with education. Learning a great education at a young age
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will allow players to understand the field more and what can and cannot happen to players. In

addition, it is important for players to be educated so they will know the symptoms of their body.

They need to be certain and determine when they feel pain, where it is coming from and what

caused it to do that. This is important because giving this information to a neurologist or

specialist will allow them to continue their investigation on the injury. In general, medical

professionals feel that a concentrated effort to educate all athletes of the symptoms and long-term

effects associated with repeated head injuries would motivate them to learn safer techniques for

playing their sports (Miller). Learning safer techniques will enable the players to prevent these

concussions from reoccurring. In football, there is a proper way to hit/tackle a player to prevent

injury. Many inexperienced players will try to lead with their head to make contact first, rather

than leading with their shoulder. If a player leads with their head, this is a risk to fracturing their

neck, receiving a concussion or more. The player cannot control how the neck is going to

respond from the impact because the neck muscles are not strong enough to hand their hit

(Miller). If the player leads with their shoulder, it is a stronger and more stable hit ensuring and

reducing the risk of a concussion occurring. Education is important in sports because it will

show proper techniques that will prevent an injury or concussion from occurring.

Concussions negatively affect athletes physically, mentally, and psychologically in the

long term. One too many hits to the head can cause diseases, short memory loss, and more. When

an athlete receives this, it can lead them to have early retirement. Depending on how hard the

impact was determines what the injured player will need to do for treatment and practices to

improvement and recovery. The head controls the entire body. Proper education showing the

correct techniques of sports will reduce risks of head injuries. The most tragic and life threating

injuries in all sports are head injuries and can lead to permanent damage.
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Works Cited

"Concussions in Pro Sports: Guide to Critical Analysis." Points of View Center Reference Center.

EBSCO Industries, 1 Mar. 2016. Web.

Flynn, Simone I. "Concussions in Pro Sports: An Overview." Points of View Center Reference

Center. EBSCO Industries, Inc, 2017. Web.

Issitt, Micha. "Responsible Solutions to Concussion-Related Injuries." Points of View Center

Reference Center. EBSCO Industries, Inc, May 2014. Web.

Miller, Steve, and Linda R. Collins. "Point: Increased Education and Awareness Will Reduce

Sports-Related Concussions." Points of View Center Reference Center. EBSCO

Industries, Inc, 16 Mar. 2016. Web.

"Sportsconcussion Concussion Prevention." Sportsconcussion. BIANJ All Rights Reserved, n.d.

Web. 24 Mar. 2017.

Walter, Andrew. "Counterpoint: Professional Sports Associations Should Protect Athletes from

Concussions." Points of View Center Reference Center. EBSCO Industries, Inc, 1 Mar.

2016. Web.