I know a girl (name undisclosed) in my high school that finished out her senior year with 9 total concussions. How does one pass through high school with an allowed amount of concussions like that? I know it is because he coach wanted her to be playing because he felt that she would be able to handle the stress. He simply put her back into play when she said that she would be able to. I also know it was partly her fault because in order to find her baseline, (through an impact test) she would intentionally not try her best in order to pass it easier if she did get a concussion. She would return to play without the necessary rest that she (and her brain) needed.
Although there was fault on both parties, she should not have been allowed to play after a couple concussions. We talked about second-impact-syndrome in class and the damage repeat concussions has on the brain. This is when the brain doesn’t have time to completely repair its axons (or reroute in some cases) and another impact causes potentially more damage than the first. Where we are at now in research implies that we cannot be certain when the correct time is to return to play, but the correct time is after symptoms reside. The brain may be undergoing repair long after a player returns to the field, rink, pitch, etc., which may lead to undesirable risks.
So why do we allow people to return to play so soon? It is because of a lack of knowledge. The topic of concussions is very recent in scientific literature and as of late, imaging and testing is generally expensive. Also, more expensive than what people want to pay if all their doctor tells them to do is “go home and rest and don’t do any physical activity”. Although the entire public should become aware of the severity of concussions, but parents and coaches alike should be the most concerned. I understand that there is not quite as much concern in the professional leagues like the NFL because their athletes are getting payed handsomely to ultimately dispose of their bodies (in an almost-literal sense). If they want to sacrifice their body for money, then so be it. BUT, they should be more informed with scientific literature and personal experiences of concussions should be mainstream commercials, like anti-tobacco ads are, to raise awareness of what athletes may be getting themselves into.
I don’t see any regulations on equipment happening soon, but within the next couple decades I think we will see new techniques enforced and encouraged in sports. i.e. tackling in football could be focused into a rugby-like fashion where the cranium is a little more valuable. Get to know, love, and cherish your melon. It’s important.
Concussion: Just a brain "love tap"? or something more?
