Football is more popular than any other sport in America. Unfortunately, it is also one of the most(if not the most) dangerous. This would not have been a big deal if players received immediate treatment after getting hurt, but that is not what is happening right now. In fact, professionals tend to hide their injuries rather than tell the medical staff for a variety of reasons. There are unforeseen consequences of these actions. To show the true scale of this issue, a fifth of National Football League (NFL) players surveyed by the Associated Press(AP) stated with honesty that they had attempted to hide the effects of a concussion in the past. The AP interviewed 160 players and 80 said that they had suffered at least one concussion, and 61 of them stated that they have missed some playing time as a result.
Players try to hide their injuries as much as possible for income, to avoid losing their position, and to not appear weak. For example, Rock Cartwight said that he “went back out there and played football” five minutes after he recovered from a wound. In professional sports, those who play on the field earn the most money. Others, meanwhile, have to sit on the bench as substitutes for those who get tired. Since this is also an important role, subs have an income. However, if somebody is injured, they are sent straight home and cannot even be at the field. So, people try to cover up their symptoms so that they can receive more paychecks. Additionally, if somebody is shown to be hurt, their place in the team will be taken up by somebody else with a comparable skill level. When they have recovered, they might have to start all over, since their role is occupied by a teammate. The third reason people do not tell the medical staff about their wounds is that they do not want to appear weak. If somebody reports, others may see he/she as a person who cannot handle any sort of damage. Football players avoid showing their wounds so that they can earn better wages, keep their place within the team, and avoid being seen as weak.
There are three common types of football injuries. The first is an overuse wound. Football contains a lot of repetitive movements, especially during practices. This is not a sport that can be easily learned, and so, players may stress their muscles so much during drills that they will not have enough time to recover. As a result, muscle tissue will literally have unpatched holes in them, which is not great for sports. Another injury that is well known in football is concussions. While helmets do protect a player’s head, it does not stop all the damage. Signs of concussions include confusion, dizziness, nausea, and etc. In these cases, it would be wiser to seek a doctor’s advice. However, that isn’t even close to being the worst type of wound. Since football seasons begin in the summer, players might get heat stroke. In some extreme cases, it could even lead to death. Consequences of these injuries include Alzheimer's, dementia, confusion and gibberish talk at times. The three most common types of wounds in football are those caused by muscle overuse, direct hits to the head, and being out in the heat for a long time. Each of them has nasty results unless quickly treated.
The good news is that there is a light at the end of the tunnel. Two thirds of NFL players state that they believe concussion rates are falling. This is, in no small part, thanks to new rules that prevent excessively violent tackles. Plus, the league takes football injuries more seriously compared to before. Prior to when a new season starts, each player has to be tested by doctors. These results are then compared to those recorded after a person has suffered a concussion. This way, the league can identify who might have been wounded previously. Also, there is a very easy way to deal with heat injuries, and that is to remain hydrated. While concussions cannot be taken down easily, the new measures push us one step closer to our ultimate goal: completely eliminating serious football injuries.
The problem with football is that it is among the most dangerous and violent sports in the US. Despite serious injuries, players are not reporting what is happening to medical staff. Instead, they are actively trying to cover up their wounds to avoid appearing weak, to keep their spot on the team, and to make sure that they get paid more. These behaviors are detrimental towards their health, leading to overuse, heat, and head injuries. Luckily, there are solutions. For example, the most dangerous football injury, heat stroke, can be dealt with by drinking more water. Players could also be offered a portion of their weekly salary while they are away so that they will not be afraid to report their injuries. Plus, several measures have been installed, such as new rules, and mandatory pretest for concussion symptoms before the season starts. These factors will greatly aid the NFL on its quest to guarantee the safety of professional footballers.
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