Question description
Discussion Requirements: Please respond to each discussion post below in a minimum of 50 words.
Participating in discussion does not necessarily mean posting dozens of times or showing everyone what you know or that you have studied all night. Good discussion participation involves people trying to build on comments from others, and on showing appreciation for others’ contributions. Discussion also involves inviting others to say more about what they are thinking. Below are some specific examples of strong participation:
- Ask a question or make a comment showing that you are interested in another person’s post and encouraging him or her to elaborate.
- Post a resource (a reading, web link, video, quote, etc.) not covered in the syllabus but adding new information or valuable perspectives to the learning.
- Make a comment underscoring the link between two people’s posts and make this link explicit in your comment.
- Make a comment indicating that you found another person’s ideas interesting or useful. Be specific as to why this was the case.
- Contribute something that builds on what someone else has posted. Be explicit about the way you are building on the other person’s thoughts.
DISCUSSION POST #1
There are several brain injuries that patients sustain while playing sports. Contusions and TBIs or traumatic brain injuries are the most common. Contusions results in the brain swelling and bleeding, thanks to our plasma from the cardiovascular system, it clots (hematoma). When our brains suffer from a traumatic brain injury, our neurons and glial cells are pushed to their limits. Macroscopic features of chronic TBIs include diffuse brain atrophy. Ventricular dilatation, cavum septum pellucidum with or without fenestrations, cerebellar scarring and depigmentation and degeneration of the substantia nigra.”(Ling, Hardy, & Zetterberg, 2015) I think that due to all the studies and the movies about sport injuries, it brings attention to brain injuries that athletes suffer from. There are several new rules that keep in injuries in check. There are nationwide guidelines that the NFL must follow, as well as schools. One of the rules is mandatory checks on the player that is down for a certain amount of time. I don’t think that sports will ever be 100% safe. The rules and guidelines that are in place are a great place to start. I think there could be improvements made to the uniform. The helmet could be sturdier when taking hits to the head and the pads could be a bit more substantial, when taking body shots. Coaches and support staff should offer more lecture ways on protecting themselves more from hits. I would make sure that TBI information and data is constantly posted everywhere. According to the articles that was suggested for the reading, kids and teens are more prone to TBIs during sports. I would let me friend know that full contact sports are dangerous. I would be sure to be open with the signs of concussions, to ensure they are safe.
Thanks, Alaina
References:
Ling, H., Hardy, J., & Zetterberg, H. (2015). Neurological consequences of traumatic brain injuries in sports. Molecular and Cellular Neuroscience, 66, 114-122. Retrieved from http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S104474311500041X?via%3Dihub
DISCUSSION POST #2
Many different types of brain injuries occur in high-impact sports such as boxing, soccer, football and ice hockey. We see a growing concern with brain injuries in athletes that have put the discussion about this issue at the forefront. Concussions are the most common and widely known type of mild traumatic brain injuries. Helmet-to-helmet contact in football or heading the ball in soccer can cause a concussion. A Subdural hematoma is the most common cause of death due to increased blows to the head that lead to severe bleeding in the brain, causing increased intracranial pressure. Other types of brain injuries include skull fractures and cerebral contusions, with the progression of these conditions leading to severe brain injuries such as chronic traumatic encephalopathy. At the cellular level, the neurons and glia are believed to be affected by traumatic brain injuries due to the repeated blows to the head. According to Ling et at (2015), “neurons, glial cells and blood vessels are stretched, which may disrupt their normal functions.” Being exposed to continuous trauma over an extended period affects the brain structure. Neuropathology of chronic traumatic brain injuries include atrophy in the brain, scarring of the cerebellum and frontal lobe and ventricular dilation; all of these conditions affect the cells and their ability to produce and carry out their functions. A brain that consistently receives direct trauma is unable to perform at its capability which breaks down the brain tissue and make it fragile.
In my opinion, I believe that all athletes regarding of the sport or age should be protected. The NFL, due to the increase in findings from studies, has taken the right steps to protect its players such as rules changes and protocols being put in place. A player that is believed to have suffered a brain injury is put under the league’s concussion protocol and is examined by an independent neurologist that is assigned during every game for every team. Once it clears the necessary tests under this protocol, the player may return to a game or practice; this should be the standard practice across all high contact sports. Coaches in youth football are required to be certified in identifying concussions and their symptoms to keep their players safe. I think enough is being done to protect players, but the process needs to continue to find new ways to improve. Protective gear is crucial to keep players safe. Regardless of the price, it should be mandatory for counties, schools and leagues all over the country to fund concussion tested helmets. I do not think rules and regulations should be modified or eliminated because it hurts the sports in a way to where fewer people will participate. It is important to educate athletes, parents, and coaches about the long-term consequences of concussions and reiterate that a healthy brain is more important than a game. Professionals and amateurs should be protected regardless of their sport or level of skill. Organizations such as the NFL should continue to lead the efforts in protecting all players. Studies are being conducted with helmets wired with sensors that will send alerts to the sideline or the referee when a player suffered from a hit to the head. Coaches need to continue to teach the fundamentals of the games and focus on proper techniques being applied by players. If I were in a situation where I had to advise a friend regarding participation in high contact sports, I would educate them about the short term and long term consequences and train them in identifying signs and symptoms of brain injuries. The goal is for concussion education to be collective throughout the sport.
Ling, H., Hardy, J., & Zetterberg, H. (2015). Neurological consequences of traumatic brain injuries in sports. Molecular and Cellular Neuroscience. Amsterdam, Netherlands: Elsevier. Article in Press.
