Although the long term side effects of concussions sustained while playing football has been known for decades, only in recent years have football organizations made an effort to address this problem. After enormous pressure from the medical community and former athletes, sports organizations finally met to discuss how concussion protocols could make football safer for both college and professional athletes.
Discussing Concussion Protocols
Members of the medical staff from the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC), Big Ten Conference, PAC-12 Conference, Southeastern Conference (SEC), the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA), and the National Football League (NFL) met for two days to evaluate best practices for player safety. The organizations spent part of their time meeting discussing concussions and the appropriate prevention and treatment. While the sharing of research and ideas can help make the sport safer as a whole, it comes entirely too late for thousands of athletes.
The NCAA and the NFL knew for decades that concussions sustained during play could lead to degenerative neurological diseases such as dementia, Alzheimer’s, and Parkinson’s, among others. Their reluctance to address the issue for many years has cost many former athletes their health and some their lives.
Dr. Cantu, of Boston University’s Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy Center, has found Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy or CTE in 79% of all autopsied brains of former football players. CTE is a progressive degenerative disease found in the brains of individuals who suffer repeated concussions. When a concussion occurs, brain cells die. When a brain cell dies, it releases a protein that causes further brain cell death. This is normally not something to be concerned about, but when an individual suffers many concussions, the volume of brain cell death they experience can increase exponentially and lead to other serious medical conditions.
Get Help With Your Concussion Claim
The NCAA had a responsibility to safeguard the health and wellbeing of its athletes, but put profits ahead of players. If you played college football for an NCAA team, Raizner Law can explain your legal rights and options. Contact us today for a free consultation to discuss how we can help.
