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Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy in Football The Effects of Technology and Rule Changes in Reducing Concussions and Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy
Anthony Montelione
Kean University
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Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy in Football Introduction This paper will explore the rate of concussions within the National Football League (NFL) and the long-term consequences that can come with repeated blows to the head causing concussions to the player. In the United States football is an extremely popular sport. Concussions in football have also become an extremely hot topic as more and more people show concern for players and if they are properly protected against concussions while playing football.
While awareness is very important and one of the first steps in preventing head injury, new rule changes and technology also come into play are these being used to their full potential to protect players from concussions? These factors as well as the newest data, and neurological factors will
be reviewed. Literature Review The Physical Effects:
Concussions by definition is described as a mild traumatic brain injury that alters the way
the brain functions (Ferry & DeCastro 2022). Concussions are caused by a blow or impact which
causes the brain to swell. Symptoms of a concussion include irritability, change in mood, confusion, fogginess, headache, dizziness, visual changes and sleeping pattern disturbances (Ferry et al. 2022). According to Teramoto, Cross, and Willick (2015) article which discussed whether a determination can be made if the style of play with in defensive and offensive positions led to an increase in the concussion rates in players (Teramoto et al. 2015). Over a three-year span there were 437 concussions reported in the NFL regular season. It was reported out if all the players most of them that were in positions that involved in passing plays were at a higher risk for getting a concussion (Teramoto et al. 2015). Once determined that the
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Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy in Football style of play increases the risk for concussion, we must now look at the physical effects that the brain will sustain during the duration of the concussion. The player may or may not be immediately affected by the impact and continue to play the game, but once his adrenaline wears off the symptoms may start to appear. Research and Studying of Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy: By definition Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy (CTE) is a neurodegenerative disease associated with repeated head trauma (Teramoto et al. 2015). Research on CTE unfortunately has
been limited due to the lack of data in presenting evidence that the risk of developing CTE is due
to playing a contact sport (Teramoto et al. 2015). In the article “Is There Chronic Brain Damage in Retired NFL Players” Casson et al (2014) he studied 45 retired NFL players and concluded that chronic brain damage is known to be a frequent result of a long career in the NFL (Casson et
al. 2014.) The study was in depth and examined players ranging in age of 30-60. Players who were retired reported 6.9 concussions during their career. In 2017 a larger study done and published by JAMA. The findings were from 2013 in which neuropathologist Ann C. McKee of Boston University and her colleagues published a post mortem report which highlighted 68 male athletes with CTE. In McKees report it associated two distinctive clinical symptoms involving behavior and mood disturbances. These disturbances can be seen in the athletes at their younger age as well as when they were older (Costandi, 2017). The research also involved the study of 202 deceased football players of the 202 brains studied they were able to conclude that 177 were diagnosed with CTE based off of pathological characteristics. These players had a minimum of 15 years playing the game of football. Behavioral and mood symptoms seemed to be a common thread in all of the former NFL players who were diagnosed with CTE (Costandi, 2017).
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Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy in Football Positions and Technology: In an article titled “Concussion Incidence in Professional Football: Position-Specific Analysis” Nathanson et al., (2016) studied the rate of concussion in football by basing it on different positions. “When looking into concussions scientist tend to look at it as a whole without
investigating which positions may be a higher risk” (Nathanson, 2016). The study looked at the 292 concussions that were acquired in 480 games. A position play metric was used and the results determined that offensive skill players were at a significantly higher risk of getting concussions then defensive players (Nathanson et al. 2016). The technology of football has increased vastly over the years. Back in the day football players did not even have metal helmets they had leather. This made the leading cause of death for a player severe head injury due to the lack of protection. Over the years different companies began to make helmets to better protect players. Helmets have been revamped over the years to be able to withstand hard impacts to the head. The most popular helmet worn by players today is the Ridell helmet in fact it is mandatory that all players in the NFL wear this helmet due to studies showing Ridell helmets were number one in lowering the percentage of players suffering a concussion (Rowson & Duma 2013). New Rules: Players in the NFL put their bodies on the line every time they walk out on the football field. In earlier days of football, the rules were not based on the safety of players. Today the rules
have changed in order to protect the players. The NFL has been more diligent in ensuring that the
players are protected. The NFL is using a new tool called “Return-to-Participation Protocol” It is a five-step process that works to get players back to the game safety. One of the rules is designed
to take the head out of the game. This rule involves two athletic trainers, and a neurotrauma
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Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy in Football consultant who are all on the sidelines while the game is in play. If a player is identified as possibly having a head injury, they are to immediately be assessed for symptoms. If they are showing symptoms of a concussion they are not allowed to play the rest of the game and they will be taken to the locker room for a more thorough evaluation (Armour, 2017). Teams who do not follow the protocol face hefty fines. Conclusion
In conclusion, it is important for players to acknowledge the risks of concussion when playing in the NFL. Unfortunately, there is supporting and contradicting evidence in regard to whether technology and new rules are being fully utilized to help stop concussion in players. New rules cannot determine the extent of the problem. More research on these topics need to be conducted to promote awareness.
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Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy in Football References
Armour, Nancy Columnist & USA TODAY. (n.d.). NFL must beef up concussion policy. USA Today https://search-ebscohost-com.kean.idm.oclc.org/logi
Costandi, M. (2017). Striking Evidence Linking Football to Brain Disease Sparks Calls for More
Research. Scientific American Mind, 28(6), 9-11. https;//doi-
org.kean.idm.oclc.org/10.1038/scientificamericanmind1117-9
Ferry B, DeCastro A. Concussion In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing; 2022 Jan-.
Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK537017/
Nathanson JT, Connolly JG, Yuk F, Gometz A, Rasouli J, Lovell M, Choudhri T. Concussion Incidence in Professional Football: Position-Specific Analysis With Use of a Novel Metric. Orthop J Sports Med. 2016 Jan 27;4(1):2325967115622621. doi: 10.1177/2325967115622621. PMID: 26848481; PMCID: PMC4731682.
Rowson S, Daniel RW, Duma SM. Biomechanical performance of leather and modern football helmets. J Neurosurg. 2013 Sep;119(3):805-9. doi: 10.3171/2013.3.JNS121735. Epub 2013 May 7. PMID: 23651012.
Teramoto, M., Petron, D. J., Cross, C. L., & Willick, S. E. (2015). Style of play and rate of concussions in the National Football League. Orthopaedic Journal of Sports Medicine
, 3
(12), 232596711562036. https://doi.org/10.1177/2325967115620365
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