Most Common Sports That Lead to Brain Injuries
June 14, 2024
Sports-related traumatic brain injuries, known as TBls, are a serious concern. Symptoms of brain injuries include physical, cognitive, and behavioral effects. Specific effects on a person who has suffered a sports-related brain injury include sensitivity to light or sound, blurred vision, hearing problems, inability to concentrate, feeling anxious or depressed, mood changes or swings including unusual behavior, combativeness, fatigue or drowsiness, dizziness, or light-headedness.
It is important to recognize when a head trauma is severe or has resulted in a traumatic brain injury because it is crucial to seek immediate medical attention. While most brain injuries are resolved within a week, a growing amount of research has now established that recurrent minor impacts are significant in the long term.
Common Sports That Lead to Brain Injuries
The following are the most common sports that lead to brain injuries.
Football: Football, especially American football, is notorious for its high risk of head injuries. The nature of the game, with players colliding at high speeds, often leads to concussions and other traumatic brain injuries (TBIs). Both amateur and professional players are at risk despite efforts to improve helmet technology and safety protocols.
Soccer: While soccer is often regarded as a non-contact sport, head injuries are common. Heading the ball, collisions with other players, and falls can all result in concussions or other head trauma. Continued research is shedding light on the long-term effects of repeated heading in soccer.
Ice Hockey: Ice hockey is another contact sport where players face significant risks of head injuries. Collisions with the boards, fights, and falls on the ice surface contribute to concussions and other head trauma. Despite efforts to improve player safety, head injuries remain a concern in hockey at all levels of play.
Rugby: Rugby is a physically demanding sport known for its intense physical contact. Tackling, scrums, and rucks all carry a risk of head injuries, including concussions. Players in rugby leagues around the world are increasingly aware of the importance of proper tackling techniques and concussion protocols.
Boxing: Boxing is perhaps the most obvious sport associated with brain injuries. The objective of the sport is to punch opponents in the head to score points or knock them out. Consequently, boxers often suffer from chronic traumatic brain injury (CTBI) due to repeated blows to the head. The long-term effects of boxing-related brain injuries are well-documented.
Mixed Martial Arts: Similar to boxing, Mixed Martial Arts involves striking and grappling techniques that can result in head trauma. Knockouts and ground-and-pound techniques are particularly concerning for brain injuries. Despite safety regulations and medical screenings, Mixed Martial Arts fighters remain at risk of concussions and other head trauma.
Martial Arts and Combat Sports: Martial arts and combat sports such as Taekwondo and Karate pose risks of head injuries due to strikes, kicks, and throws. While protective gear such as headgear and mouthguards can offer some protection, participants are still vulnerable to concussions and other traumatic brain injuries. Proper training and supervision are essential for reducing the risk of head trauma in combat sports.
Wrestling: In both amateur and professional wrestling, competitors are at risk of head injuries due to the physical nature of the sport. Throws, slams, and takedowns can result in concussions, especially if proper techniques are not followed. While headgear may offer some protection, it does not eliminate the risk entirely.
Basketball: Although basketball is generally considered a non-contact sport, head injuries can still occur due to collisions with other players, falls, or contact with the floor or equipment. Repeated head impacts from jumping, blocking, or attempting to score can lead to concussions over time.
Cheerleading: Cheerleading is often overlooked as a high-risk activity for brain injuries. Despite its portrayal as a sideline activity, cheerleading involves acrobatics, tumbling, and stunts that can result in falls and head trauma. Improved safety measures, such as proper spotting and training, are crucial for preventing injuries in cheerleading.
Cycling: Cycling, whether on-road or off-road, carries a risk of head injuries in the event of crashes or collisions. Wearing helmets is essential for reducing the severity of head trauma, but cyclists can still suffer concussions and other injuries in accidents. Proper bike handling skills and awareness of road conditions can help mitigate risks.
Skiing and Snowboarding: Winter sports like skiing and snowboarding involve high speeds and the potential for collisions with obstacles or other participants. Falls on hard snow or ice can result in head injuries, including concussions. To protect against head trauma, skiers and snowboarders are strongly recommended to wear helmets.
Gymnastics: Gymnastics involves acrobatic maneuvers and high-flying stunts that can result in falls and head injuries. While safety measures such as landing mats and spotters are in place, gymnasts are still at risk of concussions and other traumatic brain injuries, especially during training and competitions.
When to Seek Medical Attention
After an accident, it is generally best to seek out immediate medical attention. Internal injuries like those to the brain are also not always immediately obvious, so expert diagnosis is helpful and important. If you have been in an accident or incident that may have caused a TBI, it is important to seek out immediate medical attention if you experience any of the symptoms listed above.
Contact a Santa Ana Brain Injury Lawyer
In some instances, sports injuries that result in brain trauma are the result of negligence by another party. These other parties can include sports equipment manufacturers, sports venue owners, coaches, league and competition organizers, and other players. If your sports-related brain injury was caused by the negligence of another party, you may be entitled to compensation for your personal injury.
Determining who is liable for a sports brain injury can be difficult. Every case is different, with unique factors and situations leading to and following the injury. In the event of a catastrophic injury, the sooner you have a Santa Ana brain injury lawyer on your team helping you with your claim, the sooner you can focus on recovering from your injuries. At the Law Offices of Benjamin Arsenian PC, we have deep experience in brain injury litigation and can help you and your loved ones obtain the compensation to which they are entitled if another party’s negligence caused the injury. Call us at 714-400-2000 or contact us to schedule your initial consultation.