Concussions in Football

Tyler Lawwill and Hillary Pruette

Fig. 1 Panthers Football

Data source: NFL Concussions
 What is a Concussion?

A brain injury
caused by a
blow to the
head or a
violent
shaking of
the head and
body. Fig. 2
Head
Data
source:
Effects of
 Symptoms

Headache

Fatigue

Poor balance

Confusion

Nausea/ vomiting
Fig. 3
Ringing in the ears Hand
Data source:
Blurry vision Effects of
Concussions
Sensitivity to light
 What to do

Rest

Close monitoring

NSAIDs

Restricting activities such as sports,

watching TV, use of electronics, too
much socializing
Decrease light
 Grading

Fig. 4 Concussions
Data Source: Silive: Scary
Statistics About Concussions
 Progression of Football
Helmets
Before 1920s
1910s

Fig. 5 1910s helmet

Fig. 6 1920s helmet
Data Source: History
Data Source: History
of American Football
of American Football
Helmets
Helmets
 Progression of Football
Helmets
1930s

Fig. 7 1930s Helmet 1 Fig. 8 1930s helmet 2

Data Source: History Data Source: History of
of American Football American Football
Helmets Helmets
Progression of football Helmets

2011
Once an athlete
has gotten a severe
concussion in a
helmet the helmet
has to be disposed
of
For athletes who
have had multiple
Fig. 9 2011 Helmet concussions there
Data Source: is extra padding
History of
American Football that can be put into
Helmets the helmets.
 Helmets for your Helmet

Fig. 10 UNCC Football

Data Source: UNCC Twitter
 CTE

Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy [en-

sef-uh-lop-uh-thee]
CTE is a condition of brain damage which
persists over a period of years or decades
and which is the result of traumatic
impacts to the cranium.
The brain of an individual who suffers
from chronic traumatic encephalopathy
gradually deteriorates and will over time
end up losing mass.
 Symptoms of CTE
Loss of memory

Difficulty controlling implosive behavior

Fig. 11 The
Brain
Impaired judgment
Data Source:
Effects of CTE
Difficulty with balance

Depression

Gradual onset dementia

 CTE

In 1 year evidence of CTE was found in a

total of 87 out of 91 deceased former
NFL players
The connection between contact sports
in youth football and CTE later in life is
pretty clear
Brain damage in young players could
impact the overall development of a
brain
 Concussion The Movie

Although the
movie has many
untrue parts to it
the fact that they
made a movie
about CTE and
the impact in
football players
just shows how
critical the
subject is
Fig. 12
Concussion
Data Source:

Youth Football
High school and
below

Fig. 13 Youth Football

Data Source: Youth Football Concussions
 Science 360

https://science360.gov/obj/video/450fbcf6-96d9-49f9-
b301-1babd79400cb/measuring-forces-impacts-youth-foo
tball-helmets

Fig. 14 Science 360

Data Source: Science 360
 Statistics

4 to 5 million concussions occur annually with

rising numbers among middle school and high
school athletes
1 in 5 high school athletes will obtain a sports
related concussion during the season, 47% of
those concussions will come from high school
football.
33% of high school athletes who have sports
concussions report two or more in the same year.
 Statistics

47 kids have died in the past three years

alone playing football
3.5 million kids play youth football in the
united states
loss of consciousness is thought to occur in
less than 10% of concussions
 Youth Concussions A Primer for Fitness
Professionals- Matt Brzycki

o u
y Education

a n
t c Evaluation

h a Preparation
W ?
do Rehabilitation
Chicago Tribune: Youth football changes set
to head off concussion rate

Reducing the # of players on the field from 11

to 6 or 9
Smaller fields

Elimination of special teams

Linemen start in crouching position instead of

3-point stance
Coaches ensure players of equal size are lined
up against one another
Shake it Off Law

Zackerys Story

Players who show

signs of concussions
have to be examined
and cleared by a
medical professional
prior to re-entering
the game.

Fig. 15 Zackery
Lystadt
Data Source: The
 Heads Up Football
NFLs positive affect on youth
football
funds

New York Times published a study

in July of 2015 saying there is no
evidence that the program is
making the game any safer
Fig. 16 Heads up
Data Source:
Heads Up
Football
Controversial
Fig. 17 Youth
Football-
Fewer
Players
Data Source:
Decline in
Youth
Fig. 18
Number of
Injuries
Related to
Sports for
Ages 5-18
Data
Source:
Helix:
Connecting
Science to
You
Fig. 19 Stats
Data Source: Concussion Awareness Program
Source of the Impact

Fig. 20
Concussions
by Impact
Source-
Regular
Season, 20
Data Source:
Palm Beach
Post
 Works Cited
Anderson, Javonte. "Youth football changes set to head off concussion rate." Post-
Tribune. N.p., 03 Feb. 2017. Web. 02 Apr. 2017.

Brzycki, Matt. "Youth Concussions A Primer for Fitness Professionals."American Fitness

Magizine2016: n. pag. Print.

Concussion. Dir. Peter Landesman. Perf. Will Smith and David Morse. N.p., n.d. Web.

"Extreme Team Sports."History Of Football Helmets. N.p., 2010. Web. 23 Apr. 2017.

Gibbs, Lindsay. "Concussion expert says extent of brain damage in youth football
players 'took my breath away'" ThinkProgress. ThinkProgress, 23 Nov. 2016. Web. 02
Apr. 2017.

Graham, Robert, Frederick P. Rivara, Morgan A. Ford, and Carol Mason Spicer, eds.
Sports-related concussions in youth: improving the science, changing the culture.
Washington, D.C.: National Academies Press, 2014. Print
 Works Cited
Hamblin, James. "Football Alters the Brains of Kids as Young as 8." The
Atlantic. Atlantic Media Company, 24 Oct. 2016. Web. 05 Apr.
2017.

"Head Case - Complete Concussion Managements." FAQ - Head Case -

Complete Concussion Managements. N.p., 2013. Web. 02 Apr. 2017.

Measuring Forces, Impacts on Youth Football Helmets. New York, N.Y:

Films Media Group, 2012. Internet resource.

Schwarz, Alan. "N.F.L.-Backed Youth Program Says It Reduced

Concussions. The Data Disagrees." The New York Times. The New York
Times, 27 July 2016. Web. 02 Apr. 2017.

"What Is CTE?" What Is CTE? | Brain Injury Research Institute. N.p., n.d.
Web. 02 Apr. 2017.