16 UCW JULY 16-22, 2014
WWW.UPANDCOMINGWEEKLY.COM
If you've been following
the World Cup at all, you
may have noticed that among
the blood, sweat and tears
were a myriad of player
injuries. But behind all the
pulled muscles and broken
noses lies a much darker
side to many of our favorite
pastimes: concussions.
Perhaps the most jaw-
dropping event of the World
Cup thus far occurred in the
game between Uruguay and
England when Uruguay's
midfielder Alvaro Pereira fell unresponsive on the field after taking a knee to the head. It
was clear that Pereira was unconscious when his teammates and trainers were trying to
slap him awake as he lay on his back. And if all of this weren't enough, when the team's
physician tried to signal for a substitution to take Pereira off the field, Pereira had come-to
enough to become outraged and insisted he be allowed to finish the game. In doing so,
he became part of an evolving discussion about the way his sport handles head injuries, in
a time when their effects are changing the way other sports are played.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention define a concussion as "a type of
traumatic brain injury caused by a bump, blow or jolt to the head that can change the way
the brain normally works" and can result from a blow to the head or body that causes the
brain to move quickly back and forth within the skull. Symptoms of a concussion may
begin immediately, and can last for days, weeks or longer. Symptoms include headaches,
dizziness, nausea, vomiting, malaise, difficulty with memory and concentration, and sleep
disturbances. Although concussions are deemed a "mild" head injury, in rare cases a
severe blow to the head can have more serious consequences. Those who suffer a head
injury who have a constant, worsening headache, weakness, poor coordination, repeated
vomiting or slurred speech are urged to seek immediate medical attention. It is also
important to know that once an individual suffers a concussion their risk of a second is
greatly increased, especially if the first has not fully healed.
Second impact syndrome (SIS) is a rare condition in which a second concussion
occurs before the first one has properly healed and can cause rapid and severe brain
swelling that may be fatal. The second blow may occur minutes, days or weeks after the
initial concussion, and even the mildest grade of concussion can lead to SIS. Experts
advise that those athletes who have suffered a concussion and still complain of symptoms
be prevented from returning to a game. Return-to-play guidelines have been established
in many sports, and recommend that an athlete not return to play until they are symptom
free during rest and exercise. The American Academy of Neurology recommends that
younger athletes be prohibited from returning to play for at least a week after an initial
concussion. This is why it was especially shocking when Uruguay's Pereira was allowed
to return to play not only in the England game, but then played soon after versus Italy,
where he was again struck in the back of the head by another player in a near-collision.
Soccer is not the only sport that has come under harsh scrutiny about how it handles
head injuries in players. We're all familiar with the head injuries in American football,
and the changes that teams have had to make on a local, college and national level to
protect the players. It's no secret that some of the sports best players are now suffering
from advanced dementia, and even committing suicide after facing severe mental health
disorders as a result of numerous head injuries during their days of play. The National
Football League is busy trying to figure out how to make the sport safer, while holding
tight to the speed, power and violence that makes it so appealing to the fans. These same
fears trickle down to the college and youth level, as parents question whether to allow
their children to participate in a sport that could potentially cause long term damage.
No matter the sport, concussions and other more serious head injuries that result from
sports are a growing concern, and a topic that needs to be taken very seriously by players,
coaches, parents, and the public. These sports are often glorified for their sometimes
violent plays, but we must remember that the injuries sustained may be more severe than
they look. So play smart, and remember that winning the game is not worth the price of
permanent damage.
Resources:
• http://www.cdc.gov/concussion/index.html
• http://www.nytimes.com/2014/06/21/sports/worldcup/uruguayan-player-debate-over-head-
injuries.html?_r=0
• http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Second-
impact_syndrome
• http://www.brainandspinalcord.org/
traumatic-brain-injury-types/second-impact-
syndrome/index.html%20
Concussions: the Dark Side
to Our Favorite Sports
by MARY EZZENDINE
ATTENTION!
Local
Businesses
Advertise and Promote Your Business All Year in
UP & COMING WEEKLY'S
Exclusive
"Best of Fayetteville"
• Special Edition •
September 17, 2014
Advertise, market and promote your business in the
most popular and most read edition of the year!
Published, Distributed and Online in the Fayetteville,
Ft. Bragg and Cumberland County area.
Be among the "best of the best" when this popular and valuable edition
and reflection of our community hits the streets on Sept. 17th.
RESERVE YOUR SPACE TODAY!
For more information, rates and deadlines call
(910) 484-6200 or visit our website at
www.upandcomingweekly.com.
Best of Fayetteville
2014 Special Edition
STAY TUNED FOR MORE INFORMATION...
MARY EZZENDINE, DPT at www.
ccrcnc.com . Contributing Writer,
COMMENTS? Editor@upandcomin-
gweekly.com. 910.484.6200.
Uruguay's midfielder Alvaro Pereira fell unresponsive on the
field after taking a knee to the head.
