Kickoffs: Running them right out of the game.

The growing concern for serious injuries in the game of football has led to more than just trying to improve and change all those things which affect it (equipment, safety awareness and medical advancements). It has begun to change the game itself.

From rule changes to referee adjustments nothing so far has presented itself as a more drastic change to football then the elimination of kickoffs. This is what occurs at the beginning of a game and after every score. Kickoffs are currently being reviewed and given more and more consideration to being taken out. The alternative is to simply start a side with the ball at a certain yard line. Just in the past few years the rules have changed to making the players kick further up so that it is more likely to go for a touch-back (no return occurs due to a dead ball and the ball is placed on the 20). The change has only momentarily subdued the controversy which has risen over this part of the game.

The reason that kickoffs are being so heavily scrutinized is because it is where so many of the injuries take place. One team is streaming down the field full speed smashing anyone in the way. The other side is basically standing there just to get in the way. Although these players don't just get in the way. Some peel back across and blind side unaware players. The hardest hits on average come during these plays. And more importantly they are happening to many more players than just one or two (as on a big hit on offense or defense).

The multitude of blind side hits and block backs are so high during this part of the game and these are the most dangerous of any hits. A blind side is a reference to when a player is unsuspectingly hit from the side by someone of the opposite team. The players are usually unaware it is coming and the impact is extreme. Those in charge of football at all levels are seriously considering eliminating this part of the game so they can reduce the amount of serious injuries and the probability of these injuries occurring immensely. This is still met with large amounts of opposition because of what a crucial part of the game it is.

My Take:
I myself do not want to see them go because they are one of my favorite special teams positions. It is a part of a game where either side can change the outcome. It is starting to seem more and more inevitable that kickoffs will eventually be removed from the game. When? No one is quite sure. The more important question is if it does happen, then it will be one more step towards the end of football all together. Once one serious contact sport falls, it can only be assumed that others may follow.

Posts coming soon:  MCL, ACL, PCL: Painful Acronyms and a Look into Knee Injuries.  

CTE: What it means to ALL Athletes

This may be one of the most specific, and most important posts on this site to any person that has some relationship to contact sports. For the purpose of the blog I will not get too technical, or in depth in most of the aspects so as not to bore or confuse all of you reading, but to give a general description and answer the primary questions. There are links if you want to see more about this issue and you can always post a comment asking a question.

Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy, otherwise known as CTE, is growing drastically in concern for all athletes in contact sports. The simplest description of CTE would be, a degenerative brain disease.

Specifically, it is the brain tissue degenerating and a build up of tau protein. How is this connected to athletes? This disease has been shown to primarily be in athletes who sustain constant blows to the head. So sports such as boxing, wrestling, hockey and probably the most likely, football along with any other contact sports are the most common areas in which athletes could get this disease.

Too little Too Late:
The biggest issues are that it cannot really be tested for or found (let alone treated) until the autopsy. Yes, I said autopsy. In other words....when the athlete is dead. The degenerative traits are not presentable in medical scans. The disease also does not really give an indicator that it is there. As far as medical studies have gone there are no apparent symptoms. Ones that are connected to CTE seem to be forms of dementia including memory loss and depression. The issue is these symptoms are connected to many other diseases or psychological problems as well.

Why is this not an issue to all people? Studies have shown that the disease comes from constant hits to the head and concussions (minor or major). In general it seems that those with a limited number of head blows (most people sustain one or no serious concussions in a life span) would not experience this disease.The scary issue for athletes (including myself) is that it is not like a concussion where the effects are immediate, and although dangerous, can be monitored and eventually you return to normal. This disease progresses over years and only worsens without indication until it is severe. I worry about this every time I take a blow to the head in a game or practice.

Over the years the newest find that is of concern is that it was originally found to have serious impact on former athletes that were well into their later years. Recently there have been multiple athletes diagnosed as young as early 30's and late 20's. These players committed suicide and showed the symptoms. This is posing a serious threat to athletes and the future of these sports because of the fact that athletes will become less and less inclined to risk the chance of getting this disease. Especially at younger ages where kids are beginning these contact sports earlier only increasing the chances of getting this disease.

The thing I assume you all are wondering about now is prevention. The reality is there is none. Not at least if you want to continue these sports. As a player, myself, I am taking the risk and face the worries myself.

My personal advice would be to avoid head contact as much as possible, including using good techniques, fundamentals and awareness that has been taught to you. If you have a concussion you really must be smart about protecting yourself since that is the leading issue to CTE. This disease is a terrifying and growing concern that everyone is having to look out for so contact sports do not become too great a risk.

http://www.bu.edu/cste/about/what-is-cte/
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chronic_traumatic_encephalopathy
http://espn.go.com/espn/otl/story/_/id/8867972/ucla-study-finds-signs-cte-living-former-nfl-players-first-time


Posts coming soon: Kickoffs: Running them right out of the game.
MCL, ACL, PCL: Painful Acronyms and a Look into Knee Injuries.
         

  

Head Strong: Current changes in the Helmet.

Following up from last week's post about the dangers that come with contact sports, I will try to shed some light on one piece of gear that is undergoing the biggest changes of any. You will recall that the equipment of contact sports is continuing to evolve and advance to try and keep pace with the increase of injuries and their severity. Probably the most rapidly advancing and most studied piece of equipment is the helmet. All helmets, whether baseball, hockey, lacrosse or any other sport, are being analyzed to try and protect better. Currently the most studied helmet is the football helmet. Why is this equipment gaining the most attention? Simple, it protects the most important part of humans (the head/brain). Injury to this part of the body is nearly always the most dangerous. Even beyond helmets, sports like baseball are finding ways to protect the head through padded baseball caps (see link) (possible follow up post on this). You may further ask why football helmets get the most attention. Due to the higher likelihood of contact to the head, the more severe force that contacts the head and the growing dangers to these players, these helmets are being put to the test the most. When looking at the big picture, however, advancement in one will probably carry over to the other.The main goal is to protect players of all sports from concussions and other head (possibly neck) injuries. This has become even more of an issue as the question of keeping these sports around due to their dangers has arisen more often. These sports draw in so much revenue that it is no surprise that so much money is going into development of better gear, so as to protect the sports.

The helmet has advanced over the years from leather shells at the beginning, to simple hard plastic shells on to the more recent polycarbonate and padding combinations to line the head. One of the most looked at pieces of helmets is the padding inside the hard shell. This not only has to fit reasonably to the player but must provide cushion for the blow as well as stability to resist it. The padding must resist constant minimal blows as well as massive sudden ones. On top of that, the padding needs to not wear down over months of use. Constant research is being done on different materials that may be used inside these helmets. Several different foams and pads are currently being used and studied such as urethane or thermoplastic for shock absorbency. The other aspect is not just the padding but the design. Currently helical rows of these paddings lined with foam/air filled sacs are the most popular in stability and comfort. The idea is like a stress ball that you can give small or large force and it breaks the immediate impact as well as cushions on the further impact. Keeping the head from jolting is also an improvement in these helmets.

Other companies are taking another approach to protection. Schools such as Virginia Tech are utilizing helmets with several hundred sensors that provide readings of any jerks or blows that may be dangerous. The testing as well that is done on all helmets is extreme and in depth to make sure they are suitable. Research is ongoing in trying to find better materials to protect players and the advancements that have been given so far are a crucial step, however some serious advancements are still needed to stop the talk of getting rid of these contact sports.     

Follow up blog: CTE: what it means to all athletes who sustain head trauma

http://www.nytimes.com/2007/10/27/sports/football/27helmets.html?pagewanted=all&_r=0

Padded baseball caps http://espn.go.com/mlb/story/_/id/8755180/pitchers-try-mlb-examined-padded-caps   

Protection: Play it Safe

Football primarily and several other contact sports are currently under constant analysis for the sustained hits that players are taking. While there are always going to be sprains, broken bones and minor tears, it's the life altering injuries that are taking precedence. Serious tears and injuries to the knees (acl and mcl), ankles (achilles) and, first and foremost the head/neck (concussions) area, are what really is troubling about the contact sport. The critical tears that constantly plague athletes cripple them to surgery and often to the point of not being able to ever move the same. The most frightening of injuries is any near the head or neck. We have seen players become nearly or partially paralyzed, lose consciousness, and even die to these traumatizing injuries. The constant blows to the areas above the shoulder are cause for serious concern. Even further now are studies showing long term dangers to players who spend a life taking malicious hits to the head. The growing finds of CTE (Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy) the degenerative brain disease is the fastest growing concern. Even players that make it through the dangerous career are not safe when they hang the pads up. The dangers to the brain are ever growing and the life of the athlete is becoming more valuable and further in danger.

What is to stop the continued escalation of these injuries and even the possible dismissal of these sports from the entertainment world. Create stricter rules for protecting? Accidents (or targeting) will still happen. Medical advances to fix or fight the problems? Why not prevent them, and who knows how effective any of those things will be? One aspect that seems to be attempting to advance as fast as these injuries are progressing is protection. Companies are rapidly investing in studies and research teams to find new and better protective equipment for these players. Just because surgeries are becoming more efficient and recovery techniques more effective, does not mean that these injuries are becoming less dangerous. That is why equipment, such as braces, are advancing rapidly. Padding and protective gear are changing constantly. Most importantly the helmet is under constant revisions and additions. Companies are investing more and more into advancing head gear that will protect players better from the vicious hits. If we are able to gain enough ground in protective measures, and start to taper off the dangerous injuries, the future of contact sports may not be as dim as it seems.

Follow up post: Head Strong: Current changes and progressions in the Helmet.

Other Posts coming soon: CTE: what it means to all athletes who sustain head trauma

Kickoffs: Running them right out of the game