Josh Kalin
Prof. Partica
Paper #2
10/16/14
The Evolution of Football Helmets: Decreasing Traumatic Brain Injuries Traumatic brain injuries (TBIs) have always been a problem in sports and especially in contact sports like football. Since the beginning of football there has been different styles of head protection, from no helmets at all in very early stages to the modern day helmets we have today. In order to know how the evolution of the football helmet has made head injuries less common than they originally were, we have to know what is a concussion and how someone gets one. A concussion is a type of TBI that is caused from an impact to the head or from a jolt of the head which can be caused by a fall. A person receives a concussion when the brain hits the side of the inner skull due to the blow. This causes the brain to become more sensitive to some aspects of life. There are three different levels of a concussion mild, moderate, and severe. All three of these forms all have different symptoms (although some overlap) and different lengths of recovery. Mild concussions are the least severe, lasting only for a couple hours to days. The symptoms that go along with mild concussions are minor symptoms that are self-limiting for a couple days but aren 't incredibly dangerous. A common problem associated with mild concussions is when players get a concussion and continue playing their sport anyway. This can cause something called second
Concussion is a brain injury caused by movement of brain within the skull due to external forces that may cause sudden acceleration or decoration of a person such as collisions. It is a traumatically induced transient disturbance to the functioning of the brain caused by complex pathophysiological process (Harmon et al.). A bump, blow, or jolt to the head may cause concussion. Concussions also emanates from a blow to the body that causes the head and hence the brain to move quickly back and forth, causing the brain to bounce around or twist within the skull. Many people/studies refer to concussions as mild traumatic brain injuries (MTBI) (Harmon et al.).
Concussions are well known in the sporting world from football to hockey and from volleyball to track. Most concussions happen while this sport is taking place. A concussions is defined by any bump, blow, or jolt made to the head. A concussion can also occur from a blow to the body that causes the head to move rapidly back and forth. They can range from mild to severe and can disrupt the way the brain normally works. Even a “ding” or a bump on the head can be serious and result in a long-term or lifelong disability. Most concussions do not result in losing consciousness when the concussion occurs. Even though concussions are better known to happen in sports, they can also happen to people who do not play sports. A bad fall can even result in being diagnosed with a concussion outside of playing any sports whatsoever.
A concussion is medically defined by a traumatic injury to the brain. An athlete that has a concussion may experience signs of confusion, may lose consciousness, disorientation, or have a dazed look. Concussions occur due to an impact with the ground or another player. The skull is stopped by the impact, but the brain continues to move inside the skull in a shaking or spinning manner. Medical experts state that, “Violent shaking caused the brain cells to become depolarized and fire all their neurotransmitters at once in an unhealthy cascade, flooding the brain
A concussion is caused by a bump or blow to the head or by a jolt to the body that causes the head to move more rapidly back and forth (Kohn, 2010).
Concussions are common due to the fact that there is not much protection between the skull and the brain. The medical definition of a concussion is, “ A traumatic brain injury—or TBI—caused by a bump, blow, or jolt to the head or by a hit to the body that causes the head and brain to move rapidly back and forth,” ( What is a Concussion). Concussions can cause temporary loss of consciousness due to the bruising of the brain and the force of the impact. During the impact, “The brain [may] bounce around or twist in the skull, creating chemical changes, sometimes stretching and damaging brain cells” (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention). That is why concussions can have such a lasting impact. Depending on the extent, most concussions only last for a few days to a week, but some can last for months due to the damage. Concussions are put into categories based on how long they are believed to last so doctors know how long to keep athletes out from strenuous activity. “Concussions are graded as mild (grade 1), moderate (grade 2), or severe (grade 3), depending on such factors as loss of consciousness, amnesia, and loss of equilibrium” (Lava ). With each grade, there are different symptoms and differences in how long they last.
On fall Friday nights everywhere, high schools are buzzing for one thing: football. The players have practiced all week and are excited to get on the field. Students, parents, and fans alike are all counting down the minutes until kickoff. However, in one play all that excitement can be taken away. One helmet-to-helmet hit is sometimes all it takes for a player to sustain a concussion. Concussions happen frequently in football. Many people do not realize the risks associated with this type of injury. High school coaches need to be better trained on how to recognize potential concussions, athletes need to be better educated on concussions, and stricter concussion
Concussions are a very frightening and dangerous injury. A concussion is a traumatic brain injury in which your brain rattles around in your skull. When you sustain a concussion, your brain may jolt as a result from the impact. This form of brain injury can cause bruising, damage to the blood vessels, and injury to the nerves. Concussions are the most common brain injury. Although concussions are the least serious, they should not be taken lightly. Back in the day, people were unaware of concussions and the symptoms associated with them. As a result, people today especially former athletes are dying from past concussions. (Cantu, R. & Hyman M., 2012) Many people have seen, heard of, or had a concussion and they are relevant to everyone’s life.
Concussions can occur on any play in football, two opponents could hit each other with their helmets or an opponent could tackle the other. Effects of concussions can be long term some of the long term effect are; headache, dizziness, difficulty concentrating or completing tasks (“Long-Term”). These are just a few of the long term effects the most dangerous effect is chronic traumatic encephalopathy. CTE is a progressive degenerative disease which affects the brain of people who have suffered repeated concussions and traumatic brain injuries (“What Is CTE”). The most common effects of CTE include loss of memory, difficulty controlling erratic behavior, behavioral disturbances including aggression and depression and difficulty with
Concussions are a major injury in contact sports. A concussion is a traumatic brain injury. This injury will affect your brain function. Major blows to the head can cause concussions. The neck and upper body can cause your brain to slide back and forth in the inner walls of your skull. There are many major and minor symptoms for concussions. Some of the symptoms are headaches, difficulty with concentration, loss of memory, hard time balancing, ringing in the ears, temporary loss of conscious, nausea, vomiting, and delayed responses. There are many treatments, preventions, and care for concussions.
A concussion is a type of traumatic brain injury (TBI) that results from a bump, blow, or jolt to the head or body that causes the head to move quickly. The sudden movement can cause the brain to move in the skull. This movement can result in stretching and damaging the brain cells and create chemical changes in the brain. A young brain may more susceptible to the chemical changes that occur in the brain after a concussion. These changes may lead symptoms that affect their cognitive, physical, emotional, and sleep functions. While concussions affect people differently, most people will have symptoms that last for a few days to a week. More serious concussions may last for weeks, months or even longer. (Davies,
A concussion is traumatic brain injury, usually caused by a person hitting their head on something or sudden movement that can cause the brain to rattle in the skull. A way a person gets a concussion is a mishap due to an uncommon move with the neck and brain. Sports
A concussion is a type of mild traumatic brain injury. Over 3,800,000 concussions were reported in 2012, double of what was reported in 2002 (“Stats on Concussions”). A concussion is mild, but serious, brain injury. Traumatic brain injuries (TBI) happen when the brain bounces off the inside of the skull. The brain is shaken, causing the brain to function in different ways.
Football is a sport beloved by Americans. Millions of boys from a young age enjoy playing football from recreational to dreaming of the NFL. Whether these boys end up play for their school team or the NFL, all levels of players experience head collisions. Recently, many people have questioned the severity of these head injuries, or concussions, induced by playing football and their lasting effects.
According to the CDC, a concussion is a type of traumatic brain injury. Concussions are usually caused by an impact or blow that thrusts the brain back and forth inside the skull. The impact can happen to the head, or it can be the result of a blow to the body. When the brain shifts in the skull, it can twist, stretch and impair healthy brain cells.
There has been extraordinary improvements of helmets from the old leather to the modernized-plastic football helmets along with the face mask and energy- absorbent padding. In addition, the concern over preventing concussions, have led to helmet changes, impact testing methods and reconstruction of injuries during play helping to provide insight on concussions(4). Helmets have been successful in decreasing the risk of traumatic brain injuries, but there is much concern over concussion; therefore, scholars argue the importance of technology development to address concussion(5). As the author(s), David Viano and David Halstead discusses, there is room needed for understanding the types of collisions associated in youths and the impact condition addressing collisions. There are many variables to consider addressing concussion and where they occur.