The Colorado State University (CSU) football team lost a significant piece of its offense when the its second-leading receiver sustained a possible concussion before the team’s game against Boston College.
Head coach Jim McElwain said that Joe Hansley suffered a head injury during a “practice mishap” earlier in the week and that he would rather “err on the side of caution” by keeping him out of the game.
“He got his eggs scrambled,” McElwain reported. “The [medical] tests are such that he probably could go and get something done, but I’m never going to do that to anybody.” The Colorado State Rams went on to win the game against the Boston College Eagles 24-21.
McElwain’s cautious approach signals a new era in football, as players and coaches alike become more aware of the long-term consequences of traumatic brain injuries (TBI). Unlike other injuries, TBIs can have permanent physical, emotional and psychological effects on a player long after he stops playing.
Is There a Link Between Football and Brain Injuries?
Recent studies have shown significant changes to the hippocampus in all football players, even those who have never sustained a concussion. The hippocampus plays an important role in emotional control and memory foundation.
Researchers noticed a 14 percent decrease in hippocampus size among subjects who played football but never sustained any form of brain injury. Players who had at least one concussion had a 25 percent decrease in hippocampus size, a significant change from subjects who did not play football at all.
Similar studies have shown an increased risk among professional football players for Parkinson’s, Alzheimer’s, chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE) and other degenerative brain diseases. The National Football League is currently facing several lawsuits from retired players who say the league never warned them about the dangers of head injuries.
Brain injuries are especially common among children, teens and young adults who play sports. Metier Law Firm is dedicated to protecting children and brain injury victims from negligence. For more information about our firm and brain injury research, follow Metier Law Firm on Facebook or Twitter.
[Did You Know: Teenagers with a history of concussions are more than three times as likely to suffer from depression as uninjured teens.]
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