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