Written by Jalen Moore, Denver CO
It’s an athlete’s nightmare: Concussions and anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injuries.
Courtesy: HogsHaven.com
Concussion and ACL injury rates are on the rise and have made their presence in youth, college, and professional sports. Athletes worry about head injuries and potential long-term consequences. And they worry about injuries to their legs, mostly their knees, which can end careers.
An ACL injury occurs when athletes make sharp cuts. Athletes, who have a narrow tunnel within their leg, are 26 times more likely to tear an ACL when moving quickly and changing directions. In response to an NFL survey Chicago Bears running back Michael Bush said: “If you get hit in your knees, that’s your career.”
Courtesy: drgreene.com
Concussions are a common injury in sports, too, especially in football. Most athletes recover quickly and fully, but some have signs and symptoms that can last for days, weeks, and even longer.
Some football players won’t tell coaches or trainers that they’ve suffered a concussion. They want to stay in the game.
Concussions can cause brain bleeding, head trauma, and carry risk of serious side-effects, even death. The NFL has commissioned studies, including fitting players with sensors that flag dangerous hits in real time. The NFL has also enacted rule changes, intended to make the game safer.
Courtesy: plus.google.com
USA TODAY surveyed NFL players, asking them if they felt that new rules make the game safer. 39% percent said yes; 53% said it was about the same; and 8% said the game was less safe. New Orleans safety Kenny Vaccaro had this to say: “Fans come to see us bang, see us hit. Now it’s almost like flag football. I think it has changed the integrity of the game.”
Irrespective of what some athletes might believe, all athletes, sports, and leagues need to be concerned about safety.
Safety and health go hand-in-hand. Sports are fun–for the players and the fans–but only if safety comes first.
