Concusions: when is it enough - Research Paper Example

As per the study conducted by University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill researchers and colleagues, retired National Football League players faced a 37 percent higher risk of Alzheimer’s than other U. S. males of the same age (ScienceDaily). It is difficult to identify the injuries caused by concussions because of lack of physical evidences in most of the cases. “Recurrent concussions to several high-profile athletes, some of whom were forced into retirement as a result, have increased awareness among sports medicine personnel and the general public” (Guskiewicz et al, p.280). Mohammad Ali is one of the best recent examples or victim of multiple concussions.

Apart from Boxing, players of hockey, football, cricket, rugby etc are also facing the challenges of multiple concussions. The problem of concussion is that it is difficult to predict the future consequences and because of that it is difficult to take decisions about when should, athletes or sports personalities consider quitting the dangerous sports activities after repeated concussions. Some people believe that single or double incidents of concussions may not have many problems for the future life whereas some others believe that it is not the number of concussion, but the severity of concussion should be the criteria for such decisions.

This paper briefly analyses when is it enough to stop athletes from playing due to concussion. “Concussion may be caused by a direct blow to the head, face, neck, or elsewhere on the body with an "impulsive" force transmitted to the head” (Aubry et al,). In the diagram given above the first picture shows a normal neuron whereas the second one shows the injuries caused to the neuron due to the impact of collision. The third picture shows a dead neuron which may cause severe problems to the person immediately or in the near future.

Neurons are part of nervous system which is responsible for the