With the ongoing investigation of brain injuries in the NFL a documentary titled “Blood Equity” looks to increase awareness on the formerly quiet subject. The purpose of the documentary is to educate and find solutions for improving the lives of former players after a career playing such a violent game. The documentary looks at how the NFL Player’s Union treats its players after their retirement from the game. Some players live in poverty while some end up in long term care facilities due to Alzheimer’s or other memory-related illnesses. Proceeds from the film will benefit the Gridiron Greats Foundation.
In the New York Times, October 28, 2009, Alan Schwarz reported that the National Football League was accused in front of the House Judiciary Committee of “neglect in its handling of active and retired players with brain injuries”. He also reported there is mounting evidence of a link between playing football and cognitive impairment, such as dementia later in life. Representative John Conyers Jr. said there should be federal scrutiny of football, particularly because the impact of injuries on “the millions of players at the college, high school and youth levels.”
According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, 1.4 million Americans receive treatment for traumatic brain injury (TBI) each year and 50,000 of these injuries result in death.
Most sports injuries are mild and do not result in treatment but there are an estimated total of 1.6 – 3.8 million brain injuries in sports each year. The CDC reports that ‘repeated mild TBI’s occurring over an extended period of time (months or years) can result in cumulative neurological and cognitive deficits. Repeated mild TBI’s occurring within a short period of time (days or weeks) can be catastrophic or fatal.”
Currently over 5 million people in the United States require long-term or lifetime assistance as a result of deficits from a TBI. These are the type of injuries incurred by football players over time resulting in the concern about the health and well-being of NFL players after their playing career is over.
The NFL may now start to take the long term health of their players more seriously after a study they commissioned was released. In a recent New York Times article, Alan Schwarz reported that “Alzheimer’s disease and similar memory-related diseases appear to have been diagnosed in the league’s former players vastly more often than in the national population – including a rate of 19 times the normal rate for men ages 30 through 49.”
The growing awareness about brain injury, dementia and Alzheimer’s as it pertains to playing in the NFL gives hope to many former players that they may see an increase in funding for care. Current players may have better medical care once doctors know more about preventing traumatic brain injury. The NFL is now requiring neurologists to examine and clear players to play. Companies that produce equipment worn by football players are developing a helmets and mouth guards to protect and cushion the brain better than those that are currently being worn. Increasing awareness through the documentary and ongoing studies will benefit everyone in the long run.
SOURCE: http://national-football-league-nfl.suite101.com/article.cfm/nfl_waking_up_to_danger_of_brain_injuries
http://sportsmedicine.about.com/b/2009/11/25/nfl-may-require-neurologists-to-rule-on-head-injuries.html