In recent years, the spotlight on sports-related head injuries has continued to grow. One of the most concerning conditions emerging from this discussion is Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy (CTE). CTE is a degenerative brain disease caused by repeated head impacts [1].
Athletes who participate in contact or collision sports: American football, ice hockey, rugby, soccer, boxing, mixed-martial arts, extreme sports, wrestling, and others, are more likely to be diagnosed with CTE. Members of the military are also at risk of CTE. All ages of athletes are susceptible to CTE as those as young as 17 years old have been diagnosed with CTE. Unfortunately, more research is needed to accurately diagnose CTE in living athletes and better understand CTE to find a cure or slow down the progression of the disease [1,3]. However, learning more about CTE and the symptoms associated with it can be a step in the right direction to help better protect athletes.
Research to date suggests that the amount of times an athlete is hit in the head and the strength of those hits is related to the risk of CTE more than the number of concussions an athlete has suffered. A study on CTE in American football players estimates that for every 1,000 head impacts, the odds of developing CTE increase by about 20% [2].
Odds ratio of developing CTE vs Number of head impacts
To help decrease the risk of athletes developing CTE, a focus should be on reducing the number hits both during practices and in games and reducing the strength of the hits by switching up or doing less reps of high intensity, high contact drills. Additionally, fewer kickoffs and penalties for targeting defenseless players in the head could help reduce the amount of hard hits [2]. Headers after punts and goal kicks in soccer, fighting in the NHL, plate collisions in baseball are other examples of head impacts that could cause CTE.
Reducing the amount head impacts in younger athletes can help reduce the risk of developing CTE later in life. A good goal would be to delay the repetitive head impacts until the age of 14 [2]. Some examples of steps that have been taken are body checking was delayed until the age of 13 by USA Hockey and Hockey Canada and heading in soccer was delayed until the age of 12 by The Football Association (UK). In American football, youth head impacts per season could be decreased if players were to play flag football instead of tackle until say the age of 12 or 13 [2].
Symptoms of CTE
Completely eliminating repetitive head injuries in sports may not be possible but reducing the amount of head impacts and strength of head impacts, especially in youth athletes, is possible. Continuing research on CTE and brain injuries and continuing to have conversations that shed light on the risk factors and symptoms of CTE is important [1,2]. Implementing different drills and/or new rules into contact sports to reduce the amount of head impacts is important to help keep athletes safe while playing their sport both now and in the future.
Be Smart. Take care of yourself. And check on your teammates.