Sports Injury Research Paper

Sports injuries occur frequently throughout college football and other professional sports and although they may all seem different; they also have numerous similarities. In today’s society it is extremely common to see an athlete tear their anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) or receive a concussion. While both injuries are viewed as completely different, surprisingly they can be tied together through multiple factors. Although the harm is done to opposite parts of the body, coaches must remain equally aware of the injuries and how it may affect the player.

In fact, an important similarity that takes place with both ACL tears and concussions is the how the injuries can psychologically affect athletes the same. As referenced in an article discussing

A concussion is a traumatic brain injury which is caused by a massive blow to the head causing the brain to shake inside of the skull. As a result, bruises and cuts may be visible; however, there may be no other signs of a brain injury from the outside. Symptoms of a concussion vary in numerous ways. Although one may lose consciousness to determine they have a concussion, another athlete may simply forget what happened before the injury occurred. Sleeping has been one of the best ways for someone to successfully recover. However, some athletes may only need a couple hours of sleep to recover and others may require multiple weeks to recover. One important thing that coaches and players must remember is that once an athlete receives a concussion, their brain is more sensitive to damage. Concussions come in all different levels and can cause serious, long term problems if not treated correctly. Although some athletes may not believe that concussions have a huge impact on their lives, all athletes must stay aware of the possible

Claimed by NCAA, “Thus, based on the nonspecificity of symptoms, there is some controversy about the validity of a “post-concussion syndrome.” In general, when athletes continue to be significantly symptomatic beyond the three- to four-week recovery period, the symptoms could be more influenced by psychological factors than the original physiological factors associated with the injury.” (Putukian). Multiple tests are demanded to be completed by doctors before athletes can begin playing on the field again. Many athletes get disappointed and angered that they aren’t allowed to participate in sports, but concussions occur throughout the head causing athletes to take it out on themselves more mentally. While both injuries are unfavorable, ACL tends to focus on more physical effect more than mental. As indicated in a journal, “A 2006 American Journal of Sports Medicine study showed that 21% of NFL players never return to play after ACL injury. A 2010 study published in that same journal showed more discouraging numbers, with only 63% of professional football players returning to the sport. Stiffness of the knee, continued instability and other physical factors can certainly impact success rates after ACL reconstruction.”(Geier). Although the injury will affect the athlete mentally, a torn ACL is proven to reduce the chances of athletes returning to the sports they