The increasingly competitive nature of sports is constantly pushing athletes to the limit of human capabilities. This provides a more enjoyable sporting event for the fans, but has the potential to have several adverse effects on the athletes. Major league sports has seen a dramatic rise in many types of injures such as torn ACL’s and Tommy John replacement because of the physical demand now being placed on individuals. In recent years however there has been a rise of another kind of injury, one which often goes undiagnosed until after the athlete has completed his or her career. This disease is CTE and is caused by repeated trauma to the head. These repeated concussions lead to changes of behavior, cognitive function, physiologic function. In order to better understand concussions, many researchers are now examining the neurochemistry of the disorder in order to find potential cures and remedies for CTE.
Much of the neurochemistry of concussions is still unknown and research is constantly being done to better understand what is happening within the brain. Some things are known however. Upon the initial the membranes of neurons can become damaged. This leads to calcium ions to enter the cells in concentrations much higher than normal leading to a depolarization as potassium leaves the cell. It is hypothesized that these ion fluxes could be one of the main causes of migraine in regards to concussions. Also, the mitochondria of these synaptic nerves then absorbs this calcium which leads to an energy crisis within the cell as these organelles attempt to restore homeostasis. This lack of energy within the cell can lead to vulnerability of the individual to receive concussions more easily. Energy depletion and abundant calcium within the cell then leads to the alteration of normal neurotransmitters, changing the wiring within the brain. Repeated concussions lead to permanent rewiring of the brain thus leading to the changes already discussed with CTE.
This more complete understanding of concussions has allowed for the advancement of safety equipment in many major league sports. The NFL is a prime example of such innovation when it comes to safety equipment and concussion protocol. Every year the NFL makes alterations in helmet design and regulation, in an attempt to protect their players. However, there are some individuals who do not support all of the advances in safety regulation. Many of these people make the argument that these safety regulations are changing the nature of the sport. For example boxing is a sport, MMA, and UFC are all sports which thrive off of combat. However, is it right to make individuals use more protective gear when the nature of the sport is obviously human-human combat? Also, the individuals partaking in the sport have a voice? If an individual knows the risk of a sport and deems the risks worth the reward who has the right to stop them from potentially being harmed.
The world of sports is rapidly changing. These changes may be more interesting for the audience but can take a demanding toll on an athletes body. With this rise in completion there is also a rise in injury. Knowledge of concussions has been essential for the advancement of safety equipment utilized to keep athletes safe, but how much is too much? Providing to much safety equipment can change the nature of a sport which has a variety of implications. If athletes are aware of the issues shouldn’t they be allowed to take the risks? Finding the balance between safety to prevent concussions while still being true to the sport will be no easy task.