The question continues to arise, should children be able to play football with all of the knowledge we have on concussions? The long-term effects concussions and bumps to the head have on the brain may make you decide it’s something you don’t want your child to participate in.
When an individual is hit the membranes in the brain become disturbed and the neurotransmitter glutamate is released in high amounts, which goes hand in hand with an influx of calcium ions. Calcium helps with energy production and overall functions of the brain. When there is an increase of calcium from a blow to the head the brain is not properly able to function and an energy crisis occurs.
What’s actually occurring in the brain?
According to the literature the progression through an energy crisis begins with a hit to the head causing axons to be injured. Due to the damaged axons calcium floods into the cell and potassium escapes but the cells go into the energy crisis to try and pump the ions into their correct place. As the cell is working on pumping the ions back the mitochondria store the excess calcium but they are flooded with too many so they go into oxidative stress. The oxidative stress and continual pumping of ions back wears the cell down and it eventually undergoes apoptosis. In the long run repetitive concussions can lead to extreme cell death in the brain, which then comes the potential for CTE and CNI.
Knowing the cellular effects concussions have on the brain allows parents to make more informed decisions on whether or not they want their child to participate in football or other contact sports.
The Tough Questions
Although questions arise like how long can you shelter your child from the world? Are you going to keep your child from not participating in something they love because of the possible side effects? How do you know if your child actually has a concussion or if they just have a headache? Are we just setting children up for failure in the future by throwing them on the field to ram into each other? These are all very serious questions that need to be taken into consideration while making decisions about a child’s future sport career.
With no right or wrong answer it makes this an extremely hard decision for anyone to make.
Should football be banned from Children Athletics?
