Slide show on Football Concussions

1. The Football Concussion
Epidemic
BY ADAM SONDUCK

2. Webster defines a concussion as;
 a : a stunning, damaging, or shattering effect from a
hard blow; especially : a jarring injury of the brain
resulting in disturbance of cerebral function
 b : a hard blow or collision

3. About.com defines, more specifically, sports
concussion as;
 Concussions are traumatic head injuries that occur
from both mild and severe blows to the head. Some
head injuries may appear to be mild but research is
finding that concussions can have serious, long-term
effects, especially repeat head injuries or cumulative
concussions. A concussion is typically caused by a
severe head trauma during which the brain moves
violently within the skull. The brain cells all fire at
once, much like a seizure. Some studies show that
patients who suffer a concussion appear to have the
brain activity of people in a coma.

4. Common
Concussion
Symptoms
Imbalance
Headache
Confusion
Memory Loss
Loss of Consciousness
Vision Change
Hearing Change
Mood Change
Fatigue
Malaise

5. Concussions
Levels of Severity Guidelines for Athletes
 Grade 1: Confusion
lasting less than 15
minutes.
 Grade 2: Confusion
and amnesia lasting
more than 15 minutes
 Grade 3: Brief
unconsciousness, more
serious amnesia.
 Grade 1: May return to
sport after 15 minutes
if symptoms are gone.
 Grade 2: May return to
sport after one
symptom-free week.
 Grade 3: May return to
sport after two
symptom-free weeks.

7. Concussions and Football
 A professional football
player will encounter
900 to 1500 blows to the
head during a season.
 Impact speed of a
football player tackling a
stationary player: 25mph
 A college lineman
experiences over 1,000
sub concussive head hits
in an average season.
 Football is the most
common sport with
concussion risk for males
(75% chance of
concussion)
 Chronic Traumatic
Encephalopathy (CTE) is
a degenerative disease of
the brain and is
associated with repeated
head traumas like
concussions.

8. NFL Facts
 The NFL was founded in
1920, and consisted of 10
teams.
 The NFL is a 10 Billion
dollar a year business.
 Today 32 teams make up
the National Football
League.
 Roger Goodell is the
current NFL
commissioner.

9. NFL Concussion Settlement Facts
 The NFL has agreed to a settlement of $765 million.
 The lawsuit was filed by more that 4,500 former
players
 $75 million designated for baseline testing
 $10 million designated for medical research and
education
 Remaining disbursements are as follows: $5 million
to young retiree with ALS, $1.6 million to 50 year old
with Alzheimer’s disease, and $25,000 to 80 year old
with early dementia.

10. NFL
Concussion
Stats
2013: 228 diagnosed
concussions, and only
152 were reported on
the NFL’s official injury
report
2012: 261 diagnosed
concussions, and only
171 were reported on
the NFL’s official injury
report
2012/2013 combined:
49.5% of players never
missed a game after
suffering a concussion.

11. The Shocking Truth

12. ATTEMPTS AT SAFETY
Steve Wallace, who
suffered countless
concussions through his
career, was required to
wear a Styrofoam cap on
top of his helmet to
reduce the impact of
concussions

13. RIDDELL
REVOLUTION
Originally released in
2002, Claimed to
reduce chances of a
concussion by 31%.
Currently Used by 83%
of NFL players.
Helmet is designed
around the head’s
center of gravity.
Now come equipped
with Head Impact
Telemetry Systems
(HITS) technology.

14. Head Impact Telemetry Systems (HITS)
Technology
 The HIT system is able to
measure how hard, how
often, and where on the
helmet the impact
occurs, as well as
recording the
acceleration of the head,
to enable researchers to
determine head impact
exposure.

15. THE BOTTOM
LINE
Advancements in
helmet technology
cannot eliminate
concussions.
Once you have had a
concussion, your more
likely to get another one
if you suffer an
additional brain injury
– and the brain is more
susceptible to to long
term damage if you do.