...ORIGINAL CONTRIBUTION Relationship Between Concussion and Neuropsychological Performance in College Football Players Michael W. Collins, PhD Scott H. Grindel, MD Mark R. Lovell, PhD Duane E. Dede, PhD David J. Moser, PhD Benjamin R. Phalin, BS Sally Nogle, MA, ATC Michael Wasik, MEd, ATC David Cordry, MA Michelle Klotz Daugherty, MA Samuel F. Sears, PhD Guy Nicolette, MD Peter Indelicato, MD Douglas B. McKeag, MD T HE MANAGEMENT OF MILD TRAU- matic brain injury (MTBI; eg, concussion, defined as a traumatically induced alteration in mental status not necessarily resulting in loss of consciousness) in athletics is currently one of the most compelling challenges in sports medicine. Despite the high prevalence1 and potentially serious outcomes2,3 associated with concussion, systematic research on this topic is lacking. Many sports medicine practitioners are not satisfied with current return-to-play and treatment options, which do not appear to be evidence based.4-6 There is also little research examining whether long-term cognitive See also pp 954, 958, 971, 974, and 989. 964 JAMA, September 8, 1999—Vol 282, No. 10 Context Despite the high prevalence and potentially serious outcomes associated with concussion in athletes, there is little systematic research examining risk factors and short- and long-term outcomes. Objectives To assess the relationship between concussion history and learning disability (LD) and the association of these...
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...____________________________________ PARENT/GUARDIAN/STUDENT CONSENTS ________________________ Has my permission to participate in all interscholastic (Name of Athlete) sports not checked below. If you check any sport in this box it means the athlete will not be permitted to participate in that sport. Collision __ football _ ice hockey __ soccer _ boys’ lacrosse __ wrestling Contact __ volleyball ___ softball __ field hockey ___ baseball __ basketball ___ girls lacrosse __ squash __ __ __ __ Non-Contact cross country swimming track cheerleading ___tennis ___golf ___crew 1. My permission extends to all interscholastic activities whether conducted on or off school premises. I have read and discussed the “Parent/Player Concussion Information Form” and the list of items that protect against the loss of athletic eligibility, with said participant and I will retain those pages for my reference. I have also discussed with him/her and we understand that physical injury, including paralysis, coma or death can occur as a result of participation in interscholastic athletics. I waive any claim for injury or damage incurred by said participant while participating in the activities not checked above. Parent Signature: _____________________________ Date: ___________________ Student...
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...Wow! What a big hit on the receiver. I don’t think he’s getting up anytime soon.” This statement is made by many TV announcers during NFL (National Football League) games. Hard hits are a major part of football, but they also come with their consequences. All kinds of injuries can occur from devastating hits, but the most destructive injury is the concussion. According to a video done by Sports Science, “100,000 concussions occur in all levels of football, and 60% of these are from head-to-head collisions.” According to an article on NFL.com, “154 concussions were reported in 2010, while there were 127 in 2009. Statistics show a 21% increase in head injuries.” In order to reduce the amount of concussions suffered by players, not only should the NFL put in new rules to protect the players and improve equipment, but the NFL players also need to do their part during and after their careers in order to keep their bodies healthy. When the offensive player is catching the football, he is in a defenseless position. He not only has to catch the football, but he also has to watch out for the defender. Many times, the defender tries to prevent the offensive player from catching the football. As a result, he unleashed a hard hit on the other player. Because of these hits, both the offensive and defensive players are put in a position where they are highly susceptible to a head injury. Basically, this situation is caused because of the defensive player; therefore, the NFL should take action...
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...quotient (IQ). With an increased focused being built around concussions in football it is important that we determine the mechanisms behind concussions and how they affect intelligence quotient from high school to the professional level. An increased number of law suits are continually being filed against the National Football League (NFL) and more concussion based research is being driven towards retired players; however, a greater focus needs to spent on how concussions affect these players from a younger age. Specific Aim 1: To test the hypothesis that multiple concussive episodes, commonly associated to football, results in a decreased intelligence quotient. Rationale 1: Studies indicate that one of the most significant effects of concussions and head trauma include memory loss; however, less focus has been placed on more measurable determinants of actual intelligence. In this specific aim, IQ test will be administered to every athlete at the high school level prior to starting a football program. Focus will be placed on highly recruited high school programs such as St. Thomas Aquinas, which currently has the most professional football players in the NFL. After every concussion and post recovery from the trauma, students will be administered an IQ test to chart their intelligence quotient over time. Specific Aim 2: To obtain data through recent brain scanning techniques to exemplify that concussions cause damage to specific regions of the brain. Rationale...
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...entertaining sport is very popular but it is getting progressively more dangerous as time goes on. Severe brain and neck injuries occur in the sport with more and more happening each year. The National Federation of State High School Association needs to take charge to protect its athletes and stop this rising problem by making specific rules against head to head contact. Head to head contact can be extremely dangerous and causes very serious problems. This somewhat new problem that has been recognized by scientists and doctors are very scary for someone who plays football like myself. Head to head contact is the main reason players get concussions while playing football. Leading with the head while tackling increases your chance immensely in getting concussed. Concussions are extremely hazardous and they are far too common among athletes. A bad concussion or too many can lead to permanent brain damage. It is bothersome to think that playing a sport can lead to brain damage but this is the new reality. Not only does a dangerous tackle cause head injuries, it can cause neck trauma. This is scary because neck injuries can lead to very serious problems like being paralyzed. Your neck and spine are the central part of your body for nerves. Your neck is connected to your entire body and it holds your head, making it extremely important and which is why it is essential to protect it. The National Federation of State High School Association should create rules and regulations against...
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...Effects of Concussions in Sports: Disease, Depression, and Social Effects When discussing the very popular and controversial topic of concussions in sports, there are many questions raised from the public about the effects of these concussions on ones life. For the past few decades, the sporting world has been dealing with head injuries in sports and finding new and better ways to deal with and prevent them. With most people involved in sport now knowing the severity of head injuries and there long term effects, it is not uncommon to hear more and more long term effect stories and how these injuries have impacted athletes’ lives. Psychological changes, brain disease, social declination, and even suicide caused from depression have been documented in recent years and has the public growing more and more curious to what the long term effects of head injuries are and what the best way to deal with them is. For professional athletes, the “loss of identity is evident”(Caron 175) and some may even lose their whole livelihood due to head injuries. In this paper I will be examining the aforementioned long-term effects of psychological changes, brain disease, and deterioration of social abilities. Long term effects of head injuries are an epidemic and by identifying these effects and being aware of symptoms or signs may help us better understand them. In recent years, psychological problems have been identified as one of the most prevalent effects caused by concussions in the long...
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...Injury to any person’s body results in a distressing interruption in life. Fortunately, because most peoples’ careers or errands do not require much use of the body, injured non-athletes can continue on with these activities before full recovery, depending on the seriousness of the damage done. When injury befalls on a sportsperson, the disruption experienced is amplified, as the person needs to fully recover both physically and mentally before participating again. Injury to any given athlete will cause many diverse effects psychologically, and the way the athlete views the injury is a significant determining factor in his or her ability to come back in full force. Unfortunately, the rate that the body recovers is not always simultaneous with the rate that the mind heals (Podlog & Eklund, 2007), so it is important to make sure restorative treatment is applied toward the mind during rehabilitation. The mental discomfort one experiences from injury is complex, as the person is being affected cognitively, emotionally and behaviorally. To make sure a rehabilitation program will fully heal the mind along with the body, the intricacy of the mental aspect needs special consideration. The rate at which the body recuperates and the amount of influence psychological properties affect that rate depend on if the injury is short term, moderate or severe. When the injury is more severe, more modifications potentially need to be made when returning to the sport which were not concerns before...
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...Concussion Awareness Among Athletes The packed stadium all holds their breath. Everyone except the player who is about to catch the ball sees what is going to happen. Then just like that it happens, the loud collision of two bodies slamming into each other, helmet to helmet. The player who just tried to catch the ball drops it on impact and now lays motionless on the field. He gets up with help and walks slowly off to his sideline. This athlete has just suffered what professionals in the medical field call a concussion. This article will be taking a deeper look into what happens to a players brain during a concussion, signs of a concussion, and what rising athletes can do to prevent these concussions. Concussions have been an ongoing controversy as of late in the world of sports and it comes with good reason. Though concussions are most prevalent in football, they are common across the entire sports spectrum. A concussion occurs when the head is hit directly or indirectly, causing a chemical disturbance within the brain that can have immediate consequences. An estimated 1.6 to 3.8 million concussions occur each year (CDC 2012). The numbers will always be very broad when it comes to concussions because so many athletes refuse to take themselves out of their games and a majority of the time they neglect to report any concussion symptoms to a trainer or coach. Lets take a look at some of the factors that contribute to athletes neglecting their concussions. A university study...
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...The Effect of Repetitive Muscle Strain Injury (RSI) on the Game Performance Among the Varsity Players in Silliman University Generosso, Xian Aiby O. BS Physical Therapy- II Roja, Jayra R. BS Physical Therapy- II Tomales, Coleen Caryl V. BS Physical Therapy- II Prof. Joan C. Generoso BC 25 - B (Sept 27, 2016) Topic: The Effect of Repetitive Muscle Strain Injuries on the Game Performance Among the Varsity Players in Silliman University Thesis statement: The game performance of the varsity players in Silliman University can be negatively affected due to the effects given by Repetitive Strain Injuries in different aspects: physical, mental, and emotional. 1.Introduction Repetitive strain injury (RSI) seems like a relatively modern condition. Repetitive strain injuries (RSI) is a general term used to describe the pain felt in muscles, nerves and tendons caused by repetitive movement and overuse. This condition seems to be most common among athletes these days. So, The researchers especially wanted to sought for information on its effects on the game performance among the varsity players in Silliman University. As a result, the researchers believe that Repetitive Strain Injury (RSI) negatively affects the game performance among the varsity players in Silliman University due to its effects in different aspects: physical, mental, and emotional. 2.Body 2.1Repetitive Muscle Strain Injuries affects the athlete physically. 2.1.1. It causes prolonged and chronic muscle pain...
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...The Facts Of Concussions Concussions are a surprisingly common occurrence in sports. Sports-related concussions often result in mental and physical symptoms. For many athletes, the symptoms disappear after about 10 days, and they typically do not last more than several months. In some cases, though, concussions lead to persistent complaints of physical, mental, emotional, and behavioral symptoms, sometimes referred to as post-concussion syndrome. We do not know whether persistent post-concussive symptoms result from primarily medical or psychological causes. In rare cases, when repeated concussions occur over a brief interval, athletes may suffer from second impact syndrome, a pathological response of the brain that can be life-threatening if not treated promptly. Concussions are typically managed according to their severity. Immediately after a concussion, medical evaluation is needed to determine a child's vital signs and level of consciousness and to rule out any other injuries, such as those to the spine. Can neuropsychological assessment help with concussions? Well, Neuropsychological assessment is widely regarded as the most sensitive way of detecting disturbances in brain function associated with concussion. The National Football League and the National Hockey League have both instituted systematic programs of neuropsychological testing, as have many colleges. Athletes are administered brief tests of attention, memory, and speed of information processing before the season...
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...Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy CTE is a deterioration of the brain and can also be defined as a progressive neurodegenerative disease, which is caused by repetitive head trauma. CTE first came along in 1928 and was described by New Jersey medical examiner, Dr. Harrison Martland. Martland began to notice a group of related symptoms in boxers (confusion, speech problems, tremors, and slow movement). He published an article entitled “Punch Drunk,” in which he describes the boxers as, “cuckoo,” “goofy,” “cutting paper dolls,” or “slug nutty” (Journal of the American Association, 1928). Later, this was termed dementia pugilistica, which actually means dementia of a fighter. With the growth of our sports like American football, symptoms of CTE were being reported in a number of athletes other than boxers and in the 1960s, it was renamed Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy. CTE has become a very popular topic because of its close association with American football, soccer hockey, boxing, and professional wrestling. Several of the affected athletes are retired, but have struggled in their late years with anger, depression, substance abuse, memory/motor disturbances, and suicide. Autopsy results from these particular athletes have proposed a link between these cognitive, emotional, and physical manifestations and CTE. In addition to athletes, soldiers have become another group of concern being that many are returning from the battlefield and have brain injuries along with blast...
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...injuries. We go into depth about five different brain injuries that include blood clots, hematomas, concussions, strokes and cerebral edema. Once we have covered brain injuries we discuss the functions of neural plasticity in brain injuries. An important thing that is discussed with neural plasticity is the recovery from a brain injury, what is required during recovery and how long recovery from a brain injury can take. The last thing that is discussed in this paper is the limitations of neural plasticity with brain injuries. Keywords: brain, injuries, plasticity, neural “Each year, traumatic brain injuries (TBI) contribute to a substantial number of deaths and cases of permanent disability. TBI is a contributing factor to a third (30.5%) of all injury-related deaths in the United States.” (cdc.gov) Robert has experienced a traumatic brain injury that is going to affect him for the rest of his life. Brain injuries are serious, and should be treated as such. For some people brain injuries go unnoticed and untreated leaving it to be deadly, but for others it is caught and treated but the healing process is extensive. In this paper we will discuss different kinds of brain injuries, the functions of neural plasticity and the limitations of neural plasticity. Blunt trauma often causes many different types of brain injuries. Some of these injuries are blood clots, hematomas, concussions, strokes and cerebral edema; all of them can damage nerves, neurons and brain tissue. Most of...
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...young and prove to usually be very healthy at the time of their participation. In high school football many boys are relinquished to hold back from there competitive drive. They many times strive as hard as they can for as long as they can unfortunately not knowing the costs that their dedicated could possibly have on their lives. The definition of a concussion is “a traumatic brain injury that alters the way your brain functions. Effects are usually temporary, but can include problems, with headache, concentration memory, judgment, balance and coordination and are also called “shell shock” symtoms.” Many young men that are participating in the sport of football are unknowingly putting themselves at risk for major issues concerning their health. Concern for young football players is rapidly growing according to newfound evidence that these young men are suffering from these injuries without anyone knowing it. Some of these head injuries are very serious and more importantly they often go without notice or diagnosis. Also many times people tend to think that it is the big hits that many times cause the concussion, however it can also be from the number of times that one is hit. Many times others that are hit are overlooked because they do not “look dazed, or who later look dazed, or who can’t keep their balance, or who suffer from slurred speech and vision.” High school football players have an average of about 150 impacts with their head every week that they are...
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...OUTCOME OF PLYOMETRIC AND CORE TRAINING ON THE VARIABLES OF EXPLOSIVE POWER AND RESTING HEART RATE AMONG MEN FOOTBALL PLAYERS *Mr. S. Binthu Mathavan, Ph.D Scholar, **Dr. A. Praveen, Assistant Professor, Department of Physical Education and Sports, Pondicherry University, Kalapet, Puducherry-605014, Email: coolbinthu@gmail.com praveencjis@gmail.com, Mob:-09750647970, 09789948333 ABSTRACT In this investigation Thirty six college level men football players were selected based on the availability, who had participated in district /inter collegiate level football tournament) as a subjects, from Pondicherry university campus on the academic year of 2011-2013. Since this study involved following variables such as vertical jump and resting heart rate. The subject’s age ranged from 18 – 28 years as per their college/university records. The subjects chosen for the study were divided according to their age and pre test performances into three equal groups and designated as two experimental groups and one control group each consisted of twelve men football players. The group such as group 1 underwent the training of plyometric, group 2 underwent core training group 3 were not having any special training programme. The training was applied for only 12 weeks training for 3 days per week one session 45- 90 minutes programme. The data were collected from the following variables explosive power (vertical jump), resting heart rate (resting pulse beat numbers/ minute) and before and...
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...Injuries to the head can be one of the most harmful aspects of professional sports. Many types of sports around the world involve physical contact throughout play. One of the main victims of trauma to the head is America’s own football. Play after play, these athletes throughout the game are constantly tackling or blocking one another. This tackles can include head to head contact, which ends up giving these athletes many concussions. These men have to smash into each other down after down throughout an entire season. Going through the constant hitting of the head even if small, takes toll on these players who have long careers in the NFL. Us fans must look beyond the of the game and more for the health of athletes worldwide. A study shown...
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