Football is one of the greatest American pastimes. Many a Sunday have been dedicated to the great sport; it's rich history, storied rivalries, and camaraderie of the sport all combine to make an enticing and engaging sport to be viewed and followed extensively. Many also understand the dangers inherent in the game. Oftentimes, athletes experience a host of physical ailments later in life, though many develop problems during and soon after they stop playing. Complications involving player's knees, elbows, shoulders, necks, backs, and extremities often require a serious and dedicated regimen of physical therapy to keep these players at a basic level of bodily functionality.
This last week, the NFL Players Association announced that they would form a committee to investigate the serious nature of one of the most common and potentially serious injuries. The council will investigate the effects of concussions and head trauma on players, both in the short term and long term. Studies have been planned to take into account several factors surrounding the concussions, including diagnosis, treatment, and prevention, as well as the level and type of rehabilitation used by the players. The ultimate goal is an attempt to see if brain injuries due to concussions suffered while playing can be reduced or eliminated.
These studies are not the first of their kind. Several studies completed at both the collegiate and professional levels have investigated the level of force sustained by a typical player throughout their games. Some estimates put the amount of force of an average hit around 40G, 40 times the force of gravity. Some hits players suffer can be as high as 120G, approximately as much force as a serious car crash. Often, players suffer at least a few of these extreme hits per game. It is worth noting that with these types of injuries, the effects are cumulative; the more hits on the same area, the greater the ultimate damage is sustained. Players are often not back on the field within minutes of receiving a minor concussion, putting their bodies and their brains at serious risk for permanent damage.
These effects are not to be taken lightly either. Some early symptoms can memory loss, feelings of confusion, depression, or limited range of motion. Latent effects include extreme memory loss, difficulty concentrating, confusion, further depression, and limited mobility. Essentially, all of the early effects present themselves later, only the body is not as young or healthy and able to deal with the side effects of a traumatic brain injury.
To this end, the NFL Players Association hopes that this commission will be able to provide effective research and insight into these types of injuries. Traumatic brain injuries are often severely debilitating injuries, causing many restrictions on a person's daily life. Often, there are several expensive medical treatments available, but these may be prohibitively expensive. Many individuals affected by a brain injury seek to develop a brain injury lawsuit to properly receive monetary compensation for their pain and suffering.
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