Risks of competitive sports There are many physical, social and health benefits to practicing competitive and contact sports. However, despite the benefits of playing sports, the decision to play contact sports like football should not be taken lightly. Often overlooked, playing contact sports like football can lead to multiple concussions, which can ultimately lead to short- and long-term head injuries. These concussions occur when a person receives a violent blow to the head from an outside force. The short- and long-term effects of contact sports-related concussions have been a controversial topic of discussion over the past decade in football, particularly after the unexpected death of former San Diego Chargers linebacker, Junior Seau, who was diagnosed with chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE). ), a degenerative brain disease seen in athletes with a history of concussions. Based on the alarming statistics of concussions in football, it is imperative that football communities at all levels of play firmly discuss the various effects of concussions and impose appropriate regulations in order to create a more health-promoting environment. and the safety of football players. and their families. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on “Why violent video games should not be banned”? Get original essay Chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE) being the main concern for the effects of long-term head injuries in football players , it is crucial that rules that further help protect football athletes from concussions are strictly enforced. CTE, resulting from multiple concussions, is a disease for which there is currently no reliable process for proper diagnosis and requires evidence of "brain degeneration and deposits of tau and other proteins that do not can be seen only upon inspection after death” (Mayo). Currently, there are only two methods of diagnosing CTE, namely various forms of magnetic resonance imaging and position emission tomography (Abreu 5), both of which have been shown to not be completely accurate. Because the devastating consequences of CTE are life-threatening, it is essential that the rules that prevent concussions from occurring in the first place or prevent their recurrence are strictly enforced, as the only methods available to diagnose this condition are inaccurate, further putting no longer the lives of athletes in danger. danger, as they may not notice the effects of their concussions until it is too late. The increasing frequency of concussions in football at all levels does not help or justify the problem currently plaguing the sport. Due to the increasing rate of head injuries among football players, rules regarding player safety must become of greater concern and must be strictly adhered to by everyone involved in the football community. For example, a study published earlier this year assessed the frequency of concussions in football. Study results showed that forty-seven percent of all reported sports concussions occur during high school football and that one in five high school athletes will sustain a concussion during the season (Harmon). In addition, a total of 169 concussions were reported at the.