Long Term Injuries Due to Football, Article Critique Example

According to research studies that were conducted at Cleveland Clinic, it is evident that players in college are exposed to vulnerabilities of long-term damage to the brain as a result of hits on their head when playing football though they may not necessarily suffer from concussions. Concussions have however been a center of interest among majority of the former professional football players as the first potential cause of injuries associated with playing football which may lead to brain diseases and chronic traumatic encephalopathy which subsequently may be a cause of dementia as well as depression (Ken, 2012).

The author also documents some studies conducted in the Centers for Disease Control & Prevention at Mayo clinic that indicated the possibility of high risk among football players in high school in suffering from degenerative neurological ailments at a later stage in their life as compared to the same individuals who engaged in choir, band or even glee club. Parents are faced with scary moments when their adolescent children are actively involved in football at school more that they are worried while driving (Weir, Jackson & Sonnega, 2009).

The author also indicates that football is a game that is associated with physical brutality commonly involving collisions among the players. This has therefore led to many people who have played football for a long time to suffer from serious bodily injuries especially head related injuries. Research has indicated significant elevations in the level of serum S100B that is a symptom which has been linked to the flow of blood to the brain among the players exposed to sub-concussive hits on the heads which falls short of the threshold for concussion diagnosis.

References

Ken, B., (2012). “Roger Goodell, N.F.L. Commissioner, Speaks on Concussions”. The New York Times.

Weir, D. R., Jackson, J. S. & Sonnega, A, (2009). “Study of Retired NFL Players” (PDF). Institute for Social Research, University of Michigan.