Concussions Evaluation Among Young Athletes

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Table of Contents

Introduction
Problem Analysis
Solution
Benefits
Summary
References

Introduction

There is a trend in most schools where children as young as 13 have problems with their memory. A recent case was reported of a young man who was unable to continue with his education due to serious brain damage. The most likely cause for this condition is concussion. Young athletes are always under threat of suffering from these injuries as a result of their active participation in sports.

Purpose of the Study

The major objective of this study is to analyze the issue of how young athletes are the most affected when it comes to concussions. The specific objectives are as follows:

To establish the link between age and brain damage.
To establish the preventive initiatives among athletes
To outline the effects of concussions to young athletes
To recommend better healthcare management among athletes.

The sporting world is largely populated by young men and women. The youth have the anatomy and energy needed to undertake such strenuous activities. Unfortunately, it is noted that the pomp of the sporting culture comes with a certain amount of risk to the athletes involved. The performance of these individuals, for instance, is dependent on their health status and wellbeing. Their undertakings in sporting activities also have various impacts on their physical health. To this end, health hazards like concussions are some of the risks involved in sporting activities. According to Buzzini and Guskiewicz (2006), there is an increase in the number of concussions cases among athletes.

Importance of the Subject

The current research paper revolves around this issue of concussions among young athletes. The undertaking is prompted by the numerous findings from various peer reviewed studies (Nesmith, 2010). According to Lovell et al. (2003), children as young as those in high school suffer from concussions due to their athletic activities. The current study will describe concussions with respect to this group. In addition, the study will illustrate how schools and sporting institutions can reduce this condition among young athletes.

Thesis statement

The study will be guided by the following thesis statement:

The increase in the number of cases of concussions reported among young athletes is brought about by institutional failures.

A concussion is an injury that affects the normal functioning of the brain. According to Patel, Vandashana, and Baker (2005), it occurs when an individual encounters a blow or an impact to their head. In the case of athletes, the condition arises when they hit a hard surface. Instances of concussions can emerge in cases where one is still conscious. Such a situation requires attention from the relevant sporting authorities. Patel et al. (2005) hold the view that sport related injuries, such as concussions, are some of the most common clinical cases in the sporting world. Athletes of an adolescent age are at risk of failure in the neuro-cognitive development of their brains. Patel et al. (2005) argue that at the ages of 12-15 years, an individual is still undergoing brain development. To this end, an athlete of a similar age is at risk of brain damage due to concussions.

The problem can be solved through interventions from the various stakeholders in the sporting arena. One of the interventions includes equipping the athletes with safety equipment. The helmet reform will work since it is a simple but effective measure. Other alternatives include budgetary allocations and making safety central to decisions made by sport authorities.

Problem Analysis

Background

The neural health of young athletes is always at risk. Reports indicate that there is a spike in the number of concussion cases among athletes, especially in the American football sport. According to Lovell et al. (2003), mild concussions among high school children are a contributing factor to memory lapses.

A concussion can only be diagnosed by the symptoms presented by the individual. According to McCrea, Hammeke, Olsen, Leo, and Guskiewicz (2004), concussions are difficult to diagnose since they vary between individuals. McCrea et al. (2004) argue that the condition can go undetected for several days after an injury. Consequently, extreme medical care is necessary to help ascertain whether an individual has a concussion or not (Buzzini & Guskiewicz, 2006).

A study by Patridge and Hall (2014) evaluates some of the advancements made in the management of concussions. Patridge and Hall (2014) argue that difficulties in the diagnosis of the medical condition call for the application of advanced techniques. A similar opinion is held by Patel et al. (2005). According to Patel et al. (2005), brain analysis is needed to establish the damage caused by the condition. In this regard, Patridge and Hall (2014) recommend the use of neuropsychological tests in the diagnosis.

Causes of Concussions

Concussions are caused by injuries to the brain. The injuries are brought about by impacts on the head. According to Lovell et al. (2003), concussions have a direct impact on the health status of the brain. Patel et al. (2005) found that the injuries can lead to memory losses among young adolescent athletes. For instance, during ice hockey, a player can get hit on the head with a puck. The resultant impact is transferred to the brain. Considering the delicate nature of this organ, physiological functions can be greatly affected.

Effects of Concussions

The effects of concussions can be determined based on the existing symptoms. Some of the most common signs include headaches, confusion, and balance problems. Lovell et al. (2003) found that some athletes diagnosed with a concussion experienced blurry or double vision and sleep problems. Patel et al. (2005) found that some athletes suffered from depression. Patel et al. (2005) argue that nausea, memory loss, and a sluggish feeling are some other symptoms exhibited by concussion patients.

Figure 1: Concussion among young athletes

Figure 1 illustrates sporting activities that lead to concussions among young athletes. The brutal nature of some of these sporting endeavors results in physical injuries. Consequently, protective gear is necessary.

Solution

Overview

To minimize concussions among young athletes, authorities should invest in high quality safety equipment. A comprehensive insurance cover for the individuals is also recommended. Lovell et al. (2003) argue that teenage athletes experienced concussions due to the use of faulty equipment. McCrea et al. (2004) observe that while teenagers are at high risk of sustaining head injuries, older athletes also exhibit symptoms of concussions. In both cases, high quality equipment will reduce the problem. The best solution would be to increase budgetary allocations for the acquisition of better sporting tools.

The Helmet Reform

As previously mentioned, the age of an athlete determines the probability and effects of a concussion. Patel et al. (2005) argue that an evaluation of diagnostic procedures for concussion depends on age set. Patel et al. (2005) analyze how neuropsychological performance compares to the usual test performance with respect to the diagnosis of concussions. The findings indicate severity of brain damage among adolescent athletes. In light of this, there is a need to introduce quality helmets in sports like football and ice hockey.

The brain of a young individual develops up to the time they get to the age of 15. According to McLeod et al. (2004), most athletes in hockey and football are teenagers. A survey carried out by Kent (and cited in Patel et al., 2005) found that adolescents experience the most injuries when hit on the head. Considering the developmental stages of their brains, adolescent athletes face the highest risk of sustaining concussions. To this end, McLeod et al. (2004) advocate for the use of a Balance Error Scoring System (BESS). Such a technique is crucial in repairing the damage done to young athletes in the event of a concussion.

A possible solution to the high cases of concussions entails improving healthcare systems within the sporting industry. Young athletes should be provided with protection. To this end, the quality of helmets worn during sporting tournaments should be reviewed (Patel et al., 2005).

Distinguishing Factor

Some sporting associations neglect protective measures when dealing with young athletes. The research by Patel et al. (2005) found that schools are not doing enough to manage the healthcare of their athletes. The helmet reform will ensure that all athletes are fitted with the necessary gear and provided with insurance cover.

There have been previous attempts to reform the healthcare systems for athletes. According to Lovell et al. (2003), lobby groups have come up with various initiatives to deal with the rising cases of concussions. However, McLeod et al. (2004) point out that sporting agencies lack the goodwill to implement these reforms. For instance, athletes taking part in games where participants come into sharp contact with each other are required to put on protective gear. Failure to wear high quality safety equipment is not taken seriously in some instances. The solution proposed will be legally binding. The helmet suppliers will be bound to provide medical cover in the event that a young athlete experiences concussion

There are two main deliverables in this study. The first involves quality assurance. McLeod et al. (2004) argue that lack of proper quality assurance mechanisms negatively affects safety in sporting. Secondly, there needs to be systems in place to ensure that only certified kits are used in sporting activities.

Benefits

The benefits of using quality equipment in sport are many. According to Patridge and Hall (2014), brain damage among athletes can be drastically reduced if the participants adopt the culture of using the proper safety equipment. From the literature review conducted in this research, it is apparent that adolescents sustain the most injuries when they receive a severe impact to the head. The study by Patel et al. (2005) adds more substance to the subject. Consequently, adolescent athletes are the individuals who are at high risk when it comes to suffering from concussions. The proposed solution will encourage more individuals to take part in sports given the guarantee on their safety.

Implementation of quality standards in sports will ensure that brain damage among athletes is reduced. Lovell et al. (2003) establish that mood swings and insomnia are the common symptoms associated with this condition. The findings are supported by McCrea et al. (2004), who observe that age is an integral factor with regards to the severity of concussions. The use of certified safety equipment will address this problem and enhance the sporting culture.

The literature review revealed that both teenagers and older athletes are at risk of suffering from concussions. However, a comparison between the two age groups found that younger athletes were affected more by the condition than their older counterparts. As previously mentioned, the age of an athlete determines the extent and effects of a concussion. Patel et al. (2005) support this position by arguing that the brain activity of young athletes is at constant threat. It is one of the reasons why they suffer the most from concussions.

A cost-benefit analysis of the proposed solution reveals that it is viable. The figure below supports this position:

The chart illustrates the cost of the current sporting budget for a model school in millions of dollars. The operating costs will continue to go high unless proper measures are put in place to minimize concussions among the athletes. The proposed budget will see a huge reduction in the cost of treatment. Consequently, a reduction in operating costs will be witnessed in the five year plan proposed.

Summary

In this study, the author found out that cases of concussions are common among young athletes. It was also found that it is important to address this problem to safeguard the health of the youthful individuals. The author challenges sporting agencies and other stakeholders involved in this industry to be more proactive in dealing with cases of concussions among the youth. It is important to safeguard the health of these individuals by improving the medical services provided to them during sports.

A number of studies in this field have come up with similar recommendations. For example, McLeod et al. (2004) concluded their study with a reminder of the missing links that require additional research in efforts to address the problem of concussions among athletes. To this effect, it is important to evaluate whether or not institutional failure is to blame for the rising cases of concussions among young sports persons.

References

Buzzini, S., & Guskiewicz, K. (2006). Sport-related concussion in the young athlete. Current Opinion in Pediatrics, 18(4), 376-382.

Lovell, M., Collins, M., Grant, I., Field, M., Maroon, J., Cantu, R.,…Fu, H. (2003). Recovery from mild concussion in high school athletes. Journal of Neurosurgery, 98(2), 296-301.

McCrea, M., Hammeke, T., Olsen, G., Leo, P., & Guskiewicz, K. (2004). Unreported concussion in high school football players: Implications for prevention. Clinical Journal of Sport Medicine, 14(1), 13-17.

McLeod, T., Perrin, D., Guskiewicz, K., Shultz, S., Diamond, R., & Gansneder, B. (2004). Serial administration for clinical concussion assessments and learning effects in healthy young athletes. Clinical Journal of Sports Medicine, 14, 287-295.

Nesmith, J. (2010). Sports concussion in the child and adolescent athlete. Journal of the Arkansas Medical Society, 107(6), 111-114.

Patel, D., Vandashana, S., & Baker, R. (2005). Management of sports related concussion in young athletes. Sports Medicine, 35(8), 671-684.

Patridge, B., & Hall, W. (2014). Conflicts of interest in recommendations to use computerized neuropsychological tests to manage concussion in professional football codes. Neuroethics, 7(1), 63-74.

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