{"id":3508,"date":"2022-11-28T20:10:05","date_gmt":"2022-11-28T20:10:05","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/soc.hamiltonlits.org\/sharingsociology\/?p=3508"},"modified":"2022-12-11T12:26:18","modified_gmt":"2022-12-11T17:26:18","slug":"the-backstage-of-the-nfl-the-lingering-effects-of-concussions","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/soc.hamiltonlits.org\/sharingsociology\/fall-2022\/the-backstage-of-the-nfl-the-lingering-effects-of-concussions\/","title":{"rendered":"The Lingering Effects of Concussions"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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Chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE) is the long-term neurologic consequences caused by repetitive concussive and subconcussive blows to the brain (Omalu et al. 2010<\/a>). “99% of the National Football League (NFL) players’ brains showed signs of neurodegenerative disease when autopsied” (Smith 2021: pg 3492<\/a>). This deadly disease was first discovered in 2002 in the brain of Mike Webster, a deceased member of the Pittsburgh Steelers of the NFL (Abreu et al. 2016<\/a>). <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Video: Miami Dolphins quarterback, Tua Tagovailoa, receives a devastating hit. He briefly left the game before returning in the 4th quarter to lead the Dolphins to victory (https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=d5c_zR85ca4<\/a>)<\/em>.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Miami Dolphins quarterback, Tua Tagavailoa, was allowed to return to this game after receiving this vicious hit shown in the above video clip. In the following game, he received a similar hit and was carted off on a stretcher. The Dolphins then reported that Tagavailoa sustained a concussion (Benson et al. 2022<\/a>). This event depicts a serious issue within the NFL. The cognitive health of these athletes is less important than the team’s success. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

This pressure stems from management of NFL organizations relying on their star players to bring success to the franchise, which drives up merchandise and ticket sales. Playing through these injuries leads to a life of memory loss, mood swings, increased aggression, and many other detrimental effects (Siegel 2019<\/a>).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Playing through Injury<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Why would an athlete, who suspects that he may be concussed, not remove himself from the game? In football, a stigma of exiting during the heat of competition has long existed (Siegel 2019<\/a>). In the New England Patriots organization, all players are expected to follow the standards of their organizational culture the – “Patriot Way” -demanding that players put the team ahead of themselves (Siegel 2019<\/a>). In an interview with Gisele Bundchen, Tom Brady’s ex-wife, she discusses how even though her husband has had concussions, “they don’t talk about it” (Siegel 2019: pg 551<\/a>). The ability to gain more autonomy over decisions regarding head injuries may have been part of his shocking decision to leave the New England Patriots and join the Tampa Bay Buccaneers (Siegel 2019<\/a>).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

How Concussions Effect Performance<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The short-term outcomes of severe concussion are<\/p>\n\n\n\n