The Risks of a Modern Sport: Boxing - Essay Example

?Is Boxing Safe? The Risks of a Modern Sport As a sport and as a hobby, is boxing safe? The thought of boxing often conjures images of blood and sweat, with victory determined by points or by knockout. The safety of boxing has always been a matter of debate and the answer is by no means a simple one. The sport has been a part of society for many centuries, although it has evolved considerably throughout the time. Understanding the risks involved in boxing involves looking at both amateur and professional boxing, considering what the risk factors are, and what limits the likelihood of injury. Specifically, brain injury will be examined, as this is one of the largest concerns surrounding boxing as a consequence of the repeated blows which the combatants take to the head. Injury is a common and accepted component of boxing. Certainly, it seems logical that a sport that involves a physical contest between two people would result in injuries on both sides. One study estimated that the rate of physical injury was around 17.1 per 100 matches. Of these, 51% were facial lacerations, with the remainder including hand, eye and nose injury . An article in 2010 highlighted the potential for injury within boxing and there is debate about whether boxing should remain an Olympic sport. However, this debate is by no means new, although rules and equipment has changed much since the inception of the sport. . The sport involves substantial physical contact between two individuals. The contact can often be bloody and violent, and there is significant concern by researchers, neurologists, advocates and other parties that the sport is dangerous and can result in permanent damage to the brain. The outcome of this debate is substantially different depending on whether amateur or professional boxing is considered. In amateur boxing, the risk of injury is significantly reduced by the use of rules and equipment. Conversely, in professional boxing the risk is much higher. One of the major concerns about the risks of boxing is the potential for brain injury. Throughout a bout of boxing a fighter takes many blows to the head, and in many times they are knocked out. In many fights the boxer is subjected to repeated blows to the head many of which are strong there is a high potential for physical or mental damage . Many neurologists consider that the sport puts the brain at such risk that it should be banned . A distinction needs to be made between amateur and professional boxing. The rules and equipment used in amateur boxing have been designed to decrease the chance of serious injury. They fight less rounds, normally three or four per fight rather as opposed to the 12 round fights that are often present in the professional leagues. Furthermore, the rounds which amateurs fight are shorter than professional boxers lasting two minutes instead of three. This adds up to a significant different in time spent in the ring. Headgear is worn that protects much of the face in order to decrease the risk of injury. Finally, a medical examination is required before any boxer enters a bout so that any problems can be detected early. Many studies have examined the effect that amateur boxing has on neurological activity. One study examined three groups of men, one group that were field and track athletes, one group that were soccer players and the third that were former amateur boxers. No signs of serious brain damage were detected in any of the groups . A review of observational studies that had been conducted between 1950 and the present was examined, the authors found that in less than a quarter of the studies there was evidence of chronic brain injuries, and these were mostly small. The authors concluded that there was no strong evidence supporting amateur boxing causing chronic traumatic brain injury . However, this is not the case in professional boxing. While the studies above indicate that chronic traumatic brain injury does occur in amateur boxing, the rate is much lower than for professional boxers . Studies have shown that chronic traumatic brain injury occurs around a fifth of professional boxers. The effect of this injury appears similar to Alzheimer’s disease . In 1984, significant evidence was put forward for the theory that boxing caused brain damage, with a study that examined 18 either active or former professional boxers. The authors found that all of the boxers that were examined showed abnormal results on one or more of the neuropsychological tests, while 87% showed evidence of brain injury. Although compelling, the results of this study must be taken with caution, as no control group was analyzed . A 2003 study looked at determining the brain integrity of professional boxers to see whether there was any evidence of brain injury. This was done by measuring the level of diffusion across the brain. It was found that boxers showed significantly higher levels of diffusion than the control subjects . Thus, research shows strong support for professional boxing causing brain injuries. An important factor in the debate of safety of boxing is relativity. How does the likelihood and severity of injuries which occur with boxing differ in comparison with other contact sports? One study examined the neuropsychological differences between active soccer players and athletes who participated in non-contact sports. They found that soccer players showed a significant decrease in performance across a number of subjects, indicating that their performance was inhibited . One suggestion that has been made to increase the safety of boxing has been to integrate medical research and supervision into the boxing arena. Some neurologists suggest that this could the sport safer . Although, ultimately reducing the risk in this area would involve fundamentally changing the nature of the sport. Any decisions concerning the future of sport must differentiate between amateur and professional boxing, as well as taking into account the fundamental nature of the sport. Whether boxing is safe depends on the definition of safe that is applied. Certainly even at the amateur level there are risks associated with the sport, but likewise risks are associated with sports such as football and even normal events such as driving a car. For amateur boxing, studies have shown that the risk of brain injury is minimal. In addition, the medical tests that are an required part of the sport mean that any injury will be detected early, especially if it is physical. At the professional level, the fighters are much less protected and are in the ring for a much longer period of time. As a consequence, the risk is higher. For someone who spends their career in the ring, then there is a substantial chance of injury. Works Cited Read More