A History and Effects of Concussions in Football and Hockey

A History and Effects of Concussions in Football and Hockey A concussion is a mild traumatic brain injury which results from a bump blow or jolt to either the head or body causing the brain to move rapidly in the skull. A concussion affects normal brain function and can have severe and long-term health effects (McGannon, et al., 2013). In this regard, an individual should not ignore the slightest bump on the head as it can have serious long-term effects. The signs and symptoms of a concussion include headaches, nausea, fatigue, memory problems, confusion and sleep disturbances or even mood changes. Symptoms manifest right after the injury, but some are not recognized until later. It is estimated that 1.6 to 3.8 concussions occur each year in the US associated with sports and recreation. Concussions in Football and Hockey since the 1990’s Diehl (2010), asserts that the National Football League continues to have an increased number of retired players who have suffered concussions and developed memory and cognitive issues such as Alzheimer’s, depression and chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE). CTE is a degenerative brain disease associated with multiple head traumas. In 1994, Paul Tagliabue the NFL commissioner created the Mild Traumatic Brain Injury committee. He also asserts that concussions are a part of the profession and as an occupational hazard. In the same year, Troy Aikman a Dallas quarterback took a knee to head an event that landed him in the hospital. In the same year, Chicago Bears Merrill Hoge retires due to multiple injuries on the head which result into not being able to recognize anyone. The NFL commissioner dismissed the reports on the media that concussions were increasing as mere assumptions. In 1995, Pellman experimented with Boomer Esiason’s return from a concussion by using an unproven system involving QB’s sitting before a computer screen and concentrating. In 1997, The American Academy of Neurology published its guidelines recommending removal of players after having concussions, but NFL dismisses it. In 1999, NFL issued millions in disability payments to retired players. In 2,000, research indicates 61% of former NFL players have had concussions. 49% of the players had numbness or tingling, 28% had neck or cervical spine arthritis, 31% had memory loss issues, and 16% could not dress while 11% could not feed themselves (Macciocchi, 2001). In 2012 NFL reported 261 concussions, 229 in 2013, 206 in 2014 and 271 in 2015. In 2016, the NFL and NFL Players’ Association implemented a new policy to enforce concussion protocol. In Ice Hockey, total concussions are relatively small as compared to football. There is lower participation in the game at both high school and college level. Research indicates that since 1990 through to 2004, the rate of concussions in men who participated in the sport stood at 0.41 per 1000. Concussions in hockey players happen at 6.3% during practice and at 10.3% during the game. The relationship between age and shocks, however, remains unclear. Since 1995 to 1997, the concussion rate was higher in ice hockey players. Since 2006 to 2013, only 511 incidents were reported in 844 games (Iverson et al., 2001). How the media portrays concussions in football compared to Ice hockey? Slobounov and Sebastianelli (2014) cite that the concussion issues in sports have recently attracted considerable media coverage in the past few years. The media focused on professional football or Ice Hockey and such like high-speed games where there is full contact between powerful players. Despite there has been a dramatic improvement on how the media reports on the severity associated with serious brain injuries and concussions, more need to be done to improve the health of the players. It is of essence that the media reports on facts rather than sensationalizing issues that could lead to misinterpretation of such sports. Hockey and Football are the collision sports with the highest rate of concussions according to media reports. The discrepancy between reported cases and actual injuries are similar in football, which has the largest cases of concussions (Womble and Collins, 2016). The American media leaves the impression that TBI and violence are part and parcel of hockey and cannot be avoided. In the past, the media focused on TBI only when star players were affected, however, there is a shift in focus since all players are included. In both Ice Hockey and Football, the media would in the past indicate that protective gear was a way to ensure player’s safety, but they now say that protective gear is part of the problem since it makes the players feel invulnerable invoking risk taking in them. The media has been blamed for fanning fear of the long-term effects associated with head injuries. The NHL accused media of speculation and spreading fear rather than having scientific evidence (Niranjan and Lunsford, 2014). Further, the Commission denied media reports that concussions are likely to lead to CTE in the long run. The media has covered all players who have died in the NHL as being suspected of having CTE. The media has investigated all deaths of Ice hockey players by first assuming that they had brain related injuries, as a result of concussions they acquired from the field. It is no different with football players in the NFL. Despite numerous reports associating head injuries to brain damage, the NFL still denies the connection. The media reports about the players who are reluctant to report injuries for fear of missing play time. Such players do not realize the long term effects until they retire from the field. Concussions in Ice hockey and football Both football and hockey are physical contact sports that can have strenuous effects on the body. In respect to concussions or overall injuries, football appears to be affected than hockey. The American Sports data carried out research in 2006 that indicates that in every 100 participants of ice hockey 9.5 received concussions while the number doubled in football. Other determinants of injuries include the position of the players in both games. Defensemen and forwards in hockey are likely to sustain concussions since they spend a lot of time skating and in contact with others In football, however, goalkeepers are less liable to sustain injuries as compared to other players in touch with the opposition. Concussions are similar in both sports with most of them resulting from T-bone hits or between the eyes. The hit rattles the brain’s center of gravity. Further, the run makes the mind to rock dangerously forward and backward such that it hits the skull. In younger players, the brain is flush with the bone making the effect less severe. What’s more, helmet to helmet hits can cause serious injuries. Bumps to the side of the head are far more serious since the spinning of the brain during a rotational concussion can lead to serious injuries. Experts assert that rotational forces result in breakage of nerve cells and fibers eventually causing a stretch in the blood vessels beyond their ability to stay intact. After a hit, the brain gradually accelerates releasing neurotransmitters which eventually become chaotic and useless. The cell fails to transmit nerve impulses since it’s impaired and not –functional. Protocols for football and hockey athletes Throughout history, considerable information has been accumulated regarding the psychological and physical attributes of high profile players. Based on the present information, desirable fitness profiles are laid out for elite players particularly in hockey, and the patterns are used to compare future players. The protocols are necessary to identify a player’s weaknesses, fitness and physical or physiological capability of a player. There is a model for sports injury prevention which follows a conceptual process. The model determines the extent of harm; it also determines the mechanism of particular injury that needs to be prevented, developing and implementing interventions as well as reassesses the injury incidence to determine whether the process was a success. The NHL and NLF have come up with measures to prevent concussions likely to lead to brain damage in the future. They organizations have established concussion management protocols which entail baseline testing that requires all athletes to complete an Impact Neurocognitive as well as a Biodex balance system baseline test before they are cleared as first-year athletes. The test includes checking concussion history, cognitive assessment, and symptom evaluation. The NHL and NFL have made significant strides in reducing the number of a concussion occurring in the field. While concussions cannot be eliminated, they can be reduced. In this regard, technological advancements in finding solutions have been adopted. The NFL, for instance, introduced protective gear and new helmets, therefore making profound changes progressively and quickly. The newly introduced helmets have a cut out at the front meant to make it flex more but at the same time maintain an overall stiffness. Additionally, the thick padding that is behind the free space makes it move less, but just enough such that the player can take big hits. The impact from any side allows flex in the helmet such that it can dissipate the hit before the impact is felt on the head. Those are just a few of the features relating to new helmets and mouth guards intended to reduce injuries. It is worth noting that the new initiatives introduced before there are significant reduction and significance to the athletes. Besides new improved attire, the league implemented two rule changes with an objective of augmenting athlete’s safety. Firstly, an offensive player intending to catch a ball that has already been intercepted will be ruled as defenseless, therefore, cannot be attacked in the neck area or head by the opposition as possession changes and a penalty will be enforced. Moreover, the league has issued certified players trainers who are located in sky boxes in every game the mandate to stop play at the touch of a button once they see a player exhibiting injury signs even if he sustained the injuries in previous games. What’s more, the NFL is liaising with Canadian football league to improve concussion treatment. NHL, on the other hand, recommends the use of standardized helmets to reduce incidents of skull injuries besides issuing proper training to determine head and neck injury. The NHL concussion protocol stipulates that players must get approval from the team doctor before r eturning to play. They are taken to a calm place to be evaluated; their memories, balance as well as general awareness are assessed. However, the NHL and NFL need to do much more to reduce incidents of injury in the field. Firstly, there should be mandatory sit out periods for concussed players. Additionally, there should be independent doctors to examine the players. The NHL and NFL should ensure retired players are taken care of with proper remuneration as well as medical covers. Evolving Technologies likely to prevent concussions Lots of focus has been placed on developing technologies and equipment with an objective of preventing head injuries. Since 1990’s, helmets were designed to minimize head injury resulting in morbidity and mortality. Such helmets were nothing more of leather padding, therefore, were slowly replaced with metal helmets with plastic to reinforce protection. Although helmets can assist players to minimize the extent of the injury sustained, recent innovations such as the Q-collar made by Q-30 innovations utilizes a radical approach to determine the extent of injuries on a player (Fainaru-Wada and Fainaru, 2014). The device lightly clamps down a player’s jugular veins causing the brain to swell and fit more appropriately within the skull. The idea is to create a backfill in the brain such that the volume of blood increases. The device, therefore, assists in determining the actual number of hits a player sustains. Current technologies seem to concentrate on improving helmets b y redesigning them such that they can displace the force of a blow or minimize the impact for the part of the face or head that takes the most hit. NFL and NHL health care plan for players Health and wellness entail much more than the emotional or physical well-being. It means having resources and support to ensure stability and productivity in all areas of life. Players need health care benefits as well as specialized treatment programs. What’s more financial assistance and career building are imperative. The NFL offers a comprehensive wellness program to its athletes (Webbe, 2011). The program involves providing free consultation on a medical issue for the players and their family. Players are checked before games and have a health insurance package. Moreover, retired players have access to a neurological care program that provides access to comprehensive tests in six hospitals across the US. The players also have access to the spine treatment program across selected hospitals in the US. Moreover, they have a joint replacement program, prescription drug card program, priority access to assisted living as well as a vested inactive life insurance. NHL, on the other hand, provides medical cover for the players on a contractual base of seven years and beyond that if a player sustains injuries. Moreover, the league provides insurance to some players through a temporary total disability program where each team pays a premium according to the salaries of the five top paid players but it can administer the coverage in a manner it sees fit. Effects of Concussions on NHL and NFL players Concussions, as established earlier, have long become part of hockey and football. However, minimal concussions can be experienced through recommended precautionary measures combined with the recent technologies. It is imperative that players maintain their well-being for the sake of the game as well as their lives in the long haul. Concussions have led to a loss of talented athletes or long term irreversible injuries. Once a player sustains a head injury, the resulting effect is that he gets pulled out of the game, sometimes never to play again which is a costly affair to the team. Benefits packages offered to players who have had concussions can affect the associations negatively such that they may fail to have enough resources for the active players. Concussion issues have led to numerous lawsuits that are costly for both leagues (Robidoux, 2001). Long-term effects of multiple concussions Exposure to concussions can cause an individual player to have mild cognitive impairments (MCI’s), CTE as well as other adverse outcomes. Additionally, multiple concussions can lead to post-concussion syndrome (PCS) (Robidoux, 2001). As such, it is paramount that a player fully recovers from a single concussion rather than risking a subsequent concussion. Failure to adhere could lead to severe neurological damage. With such an understanding, managing concussions calls for comprehensive, specialized and state of the art methods. Conclusion The media has taken personal interest researching and reporting on concussions experienced in football, ice hockey, and all contact sports. Despite the growing awareness about the long-term effects of concussions from contact sports, calls by the media and the public to burn such sports may be premature. Collision sports expose individuals to neurological dangers, but they come with a host of benefits as well. The media has sensitized the public about the dangers linked to concussions prompting the NHL and NFL to take appropriate actions to reduce concussion rates. As such, one could argue that the media has played a significant role in saving the lives of individual players or highlighting their plight. Many athletes have received treatment and benefits due to media exposure.

Lecture on Race Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Lecture on Race - Essay Example However, in the Revisionist School of Thought during the 1950s and 1960s, these teachers were considered protagonists - heroes actually, who were active in fighting for education and for the right to vote. One of the early demands of the freed slaves after the war was the right to education. This was heard by the Northern commanders occupying the South - and this led to the Port Royal Experiment. Furthermore, one of these Freedmen teachers, Mary Peake put up a school in 1861 in Virginia. 2. What was the Supreme Court Decision concerning segregation in the case, Plessy V. Ferguson. What was the Supreme Court Decision concerning segregation in the case, Brown V. Board of Education of Topeka, Kansas. The Supreme Court, accordingly after the Civil War, ruled in favor of the segregation policy in the South, where public places were segregated into different areas for blacks and whites. The rule being followed was "separate but equal" doctrine. In Plessy V. Ferguson, the Supreme Court ruled that Homer Plessy, who was colored yet by blood lineage, more white than black, was fallacious in his thinking by refusing to ride a train coach for colored people in Louisiana because in his view it rendered black people inferior. In its decision, the Supreme Court ruled implicitly that inferiority is a matter of feeling or point of view - "it is not by reason of anything found in the act, but solely because the colored race chooses to put the construction upon it". In Brown v. Board of Education of Topeka, Kansas, the Supreme Court, on the other hand ruled against the segregation policy, when it said that segregation had no place in public education - "separate educational facilities are inherently unequal". The case arose as black children challenged the decision of the Topeka Board that put up separate facilities for black and white children. 3. What was the difference in their view of native Americans between men authors and women diarists Men and women authors differed when it came to the portrayal of native Americans. Men authors, who were white, were coming from a point of view on which American Indians were the enemies and white men who searched and fought for settlement areas in the West, were the heroes. Their source of information was their experience as white men and those of others who were also like them, white men. They of course emphasized that part of history when men had to conquer the lands, and in that way gave focus to the danger and treachery posed by the native Americans who were the enemies and of the heroic adventures of the settlers. This point of view became the basis for the hostile policy against native Americans. Women authors on the other hand, saw behind the wagon train tales of hostile action and adventure. American Indians, according to the diaries and recollection of women were recorded as friendly and of service. It was as not much of the danger posed by the native American that the women authors spoke of - but of other difficulties such as disease, drowning and death in the move towards the West. Moreover, the women authors portrayed men who were their husbands as not necessarily good hunters or providers. They humanized their men,

Management (social, environmental, human and other factors) Essay

Management (social, environmental, human and other factors) - Essay Example So we are talking here of the social, environmental, human and other factors that are beneficial to the workers, the community, the organisation or business, and the consumers. In this situation, business is not just earning more and more money, but also looking after the welfare of the people. Sometimes, we refer to employees as the workforce and the consumers as partners. Business becomes an ordinary part of life - to say the least - and people might get used to it. Everyone becomes a part of the family, giving inputs and suggestions for the good of the organisation, until success is not far behind. Social responsibilities of ship management business managers evolved through the years. From mere spectator taking simple passive roles (for example, giving small donations or philanthropies), they now take active roles in promoting social responsibilities, instituting programmes that become part of their business. These responsibilities or programmes are focused on the employees, the workplace, the consumers, and the community in general, promoting programmes for the advancement of each of these stakeholders by regarding them as partners in building a strong and coherent organisation. In the traditional sense, organisations and businesses regard employees as mere workers. Now they point to them as partners because they are building an organisation or business which their lives depend on. Ship management business relies upon an effective and efficient workforce therefore its management skills and programmes and objectives should be more focused on them. Corporate social responsibility is applied on the workplace. Job design also has to be positioned in such a way that the workers or employees can work with ease and safety. Moreover, the workers are encouraged to give suggestions or inputs on how to improve the workplace. Job designs are patterned after the workers' suggestions. Corporate social responsibility or CSR is defined as a concept that states that organisations, especially commercial businesses, have a duty of care to all of their stakeholders in all aspects of their operations. This duty of care is seen to go beyond their statutory obligation to comply with legislation.1 Promotion and protection of the environment are concerns of ship management. In a ship, voluminous goods are being processed, and if there are no environmental measures taken, there might be environmental disaster. We have heard of oil spills in seas which endanger sea life, the fishes and coral reefs. They could have been avoided if there were environmental and safety measures done in the first place. Safety measures are one of the social responsib

Goebbels George Bush , propaganda on the American media Essay

Goebbels George Bush , propaganda on the American media - Essay Example The government of the US has been portraying these military officers as experts in the field of war but little did the American public realize that these officers had liaised with the government. Most of them would be paid for their opinions. (Barstow, 2008a) It has also been revealed (New York Times, 2008) that there are certain personalities in the Bush administration specifically trained to deal with issues such propaganda. One such example is a certain lady called Victoria Clarke. She had a lot of prior experience in the public relations field and has been responsible for crusading about the war in Iraq. She came up with the idea of using journalists in the war live/. She argued that this was good fro democracy as it gave Americans first hand information about the goings on in Iraq. She formed a team that would assist in the process of implanting the propaganda and also hand picked some so-called ‘analysts’ to tell Americans about the war. (Barstow, 2008b) The pentagon made sure that the analyst chosen would appear frequently in media outlets this was especially common during the first phases of the war. News images were constantly splashed with the faces of these analysts (employed military men). Whenever there was a threat against the government concerning the war, the analysts would always meet Pentagon official and then counter the claims made by other military officers concerning the war. The Pentagon propaganda group decided to use military officers as their propaganda tool because they knew that most Americans respected expert opinion especially if those experts came from positions of authority. People in the United States trust groups or persons who seem independent thus getting a group of people who do not seem directly linked the White house is the best way to sway opinion. (Barstow, 2008b) The

Barnes and Nobles Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Barnes and Nobles - Essay Example The mission of the company is to operate the best specialty business in America, regardless of the product they sell; a value statement of the company is that as a bookseller they are determined to be the very best in the business regardless of the size, pedigree, or inclination of their competitors (Barnesandnoblesinc, 2011). The company wants to serve its customer and become a valuable resource to them. The vision, mission, and value statements of the company will be validated in the research paper utilizing various techniques. The first step in the investigation will be thoroughly analyzing the information the company offers in its corporate website. The corporate website of a corporation is a valuable resource that provides important and relevant information for users of financial information and the other stakeholders of the company. I will research secondary sources to validate the company’s claim that the firm is the top bookseller in the world. Obtaining information re garding the market share of the company is a good way to determine how much reach and business activity a company has. To test whether the company’s customer are happy with the level of service they receive from Barnes and Nobles the use of primary research would be very useful. Two techniques that can be used to test the customer service the firm provides are questionnaires and mystery shoppers. Even though I do not work for the company which inhibits my ability to actually perform the primary research the strategic paper will include a template of the questionnaire and an action plan of how to implement the mystery shopper research. The week six strategic plan will include both internal and external environmental analysis. One of the primary sources that will be used to perform the internal analysis of the company will be the annual report of the firm. The annual report is a business report that must be filed by all public companies once year as mandated by SEC regulations. The annual report discusses the financial, operating results, and strategic path of the company. The corporate website of the firm is also a good resource to evaluate the internal environment of the company. Other secondary research will be performed on the company using the internet and other professional databases. I will search within the firm’s website to see if the firm published a corporate social responsibility report. The external environmental analysis will use various sources. One of the sources that will be used is the expertise of Team C. During week two for our team’s innovation project I suggested a company called Papyrus Australia that everybody liked. I suggested the company hoping it would be chosen because I foresaw how the product this company developed would be an excellent opportunity for Barnes and Nobles. Papyrus Australia invented a new type of paper called banana ply paper made up of the truck of banana trees. The week 2 team paper will be used as a source document to develop an alternative solution for Barnes and Nobles. I will investigate using secondary research the status of the industry in 2011. A database that might very useful for this task is the Plunkett Research database. Another technique that might be useful during week six to facilitate the external environmental analysis is benchmarking. Benchmarking allows an investigator to compare the best practices in other industries to find solutions for the company.

A Voyage to America Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

A Voyage to America - Essay Example The south had an agriculturally sustaining economy that made a majority of the profit off the growth and sale of cash crops. Some of the cash crops that were sold were tobacco, sugar, and cotton (cotton was the most profitable of all the crops). In order to fuel the massive agricultural economy, both unskilled labor as well as slaves was used in order to harvest the crops. As a result, I would be able to gain employment on a farm or plantation to work either in exchange for living conditions or for a portion of the crops that I can sell for profit. In addition, depending on the governor of the territory, land was given for Englishmen to develop in exchange for a percentage of the profit that was made from the sales of crops. Owning land means that I would have power, therefore by working for the crown, I would be gaining status through the owning of land, but also profit by the sale of cash crops. In addition, the religious tolerance in the south was more lenient than that of the North. The Puritans who followed a strict, non-semantic view of religion colonized the Northern colonies. Therefore, religious conformity was expected and religious tolerance was at a minimum. In addition, the south had citizens that were loyal to the crown. Thus, the system of government in the south was more traditional as well as represented one of the oldest ruling bodies in the thirteen colonies. The south represented the best alternative for those in England that were not wealthy and did not have the skills to be profitable in other parts of the new world. The sale of cash crops provided economic stability that would extend even past the original thirteen colonies all the way through the civil war. Unlike other portions of the colony, the south offered opportunities that were better due to the style of government and the cultural forces that were at

Cases Analysis Part 3 Coursework Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Cases Analysis Part 3 - Coursework Example In this specific case, stating that if Williams ever missed a payment, the store could repossess all the items that Williams had ever bought from Walker, regardless of how long ago they were purchased is a strong example of unconscionable clause. If the clause referred only to that one purchase to which the missed payment referred, it would not be considered unreasonable and unfair. I believe that in this case, the bargaining power of the parties was definitely unequal, placing the consumer in a disadvantaged position. Therefore, Williams should ask the Court not to enforce this specific clause, based on its unconscionability and unfairness. Moreover, in multiple previous cases, it was held that a court can refuse to enforce a clause, if it considers it unconscionable. For example, a leading case in this is Scott v. United States2, where it was held by the Supreme Court that: â€Å"If a contract be unreasonable and unconscionable, but not void for fraud, a court of law will give to the party who sues for its breach damages, not according to its letter, but only such as he is equitably entitled to.† Also, the Uniform Commercial Code provides exact stipulations on this matter in paragraph 2-302, where it stipulates that: â€Å"(1) If the court as a matter of law finds the contract or any clause of the contract to have been unconscionable at the time it was made the court may refuse to enforce the contract, or it may enforce the remainder of the contract without the unconscionable clause, or it may so limit the application of any unconscionable clause as to avoid any unconscionable result. (2) When it is claimed or appears to the court that the contract or any clause thereof may be unconscionable the parties shall be afforded a reasonable opportunity to present evidence as to its commercial setting, purpose and effect to aid the court in making the determination. â€Å"3 This means that by law, Courts are entitled to refuse to enforce a contract or a clau se, if it finds it unconscionable, which is the case of Williams. CHAPTER 12 CASE 3 There are several issues that Horizon House Microwave Inc. can use in its favor. First of all, it refers to Hall’s reasons to getting a job for HHM. If Hall decided to become an employee at HHM only because of the promise he was made by Bazzy, it is one thing. BUT, if Hall had been working for HHM for a period prior to the promise, the situation changes. This means that while being employed at HHM, Hall received a full salary package and he was actually fairly remunerated for his work and he suffered no material loss for not purchasing company stocks. Therefore, no material damages can be claimed by Hall from HHM. Another important issue that could be used by Bazzy to refuse to sell stock to Hall as agreed may be the lack of a written agreement on this, that would confirm Bazzy’s intention to be bound to the verbal promise he has made. I would advise Bazzy to refer to the General Statut es, specifically  § 42a-8-319 where it is expressly stipulated that "A contract for the sale of securities is not enforceable by way of action or defense unless (a) there is some writing signed by the party against whom enforcement is sought or by his authorized agent or broker sufficient to indicate that a contract has been made for sale of a stated quantity of described securities at a defined or stated price; or (b) delivery of the security has been accepted or payment has been made but the contract is