THE IMPACT OF CONCUSSIONS ON YOUNG AND PROFESSIONAL ATHLETES

Date of Award

Summer 8-1-2016

Thesis Access

Open Access Honors Thesis

Thesis Location

Honors College Thesis

Degree Name

B.S.

Department

Kinesiology and Pedagogy

Faculty Advisor

Mario Vassallo

Abstract

When signing up for little league sports, many parents do not think twice about the impacts these sports could have on their child’s health. Whether it is a fall from a cheerleader, an elbow to the head in soccer, or a helmet-to-helmet hit in football, concussions occur every single day. My thesis will look at the scientific look at concussions and the preventative measures being taken to stop future concussions. In my thesis I will first talk about what a concussion is and how to spot a concussion, the impacts concussions have on children and teenagers in sports, and equipment changes that are occurring to prevent future concussions. I will also dive into specific examples of professional athletes being impacted by concussions and a few specific examples of illnesses and deaths caused by concussions.

As a Kinesiology major, concussions are one of my favorite topics to learn about. As a future medical student, I know I will diagnose concussions many times in my career. This topic will not only allow me to educate myself, but also bring more attention to the problems we are having with sports and injuries. The next time you allow your child to play a sport, wouldn’t you want to know what could go wrong?

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