Concussions: More than Just a Bump on the Head

On an Autumn Friday night thousands of fans gather to watch the boys of Flint Powers Catholic take on Oxford in a high school football game. All the fans are on the edge of their seats, but they sit in complete and utter silence, watching in horror as the events unfold near midfield.
A 16-year-old boy lie unconscious after taking a vicious hit moments earlier. Worse yet, the boy’s body begins convulsing violently. His hysterical mother runs to his side, pushing her way through concerned teammates and trainers. The horns of an ambulance resound and the injured player is hurried away on a stretcher.
In Michigan, as well as in most areas of the country, football is a major part of many young men’s lives. However, until recently, many players and fans were unaware of the dangers of the game and the precautions that must be taken. Several recent articles in the New York Times, as well as on ESPN.com have discussed the long-term effects of multiple concussions received while playing football. Most of these articles have focused on the former NFL players Andre Waters and Ted Johnson.
Waters, a former Philadelphia Eagle, committed suicide last fall at the age of 44 and Johnson, a former linebacker of the New England Patriots, claimed he saw signs of depression and Alzheimer’s disease. According to an Alan Schwarz article in the Times, repeated concussions had caused Waters’ brain tissue to resemble that of an 80-year-old with Alzheimer’s. And doctors of Johnson said he was exhibiting depression and memory lapses associated with oncoming Alzheimer’s. Johnson’s neurologist told the Times that his symptoms were probably the result of a postconcussive syndrome and that the damage to his brain is thought to be permanent.
While one concussion might seem as harmless as a bump on the head, multiple concussions, especially in a short period of time, can be very dangerous to one’s health.
In Ronald Pfeifer and Brent Mangus’ book, “Concepts of Athletic Training,” the authors cite Dr. Robert Cantu, the same neurologist who is treating Ted Johnson. Cantu’s research says that, “in some concussions there is some level of structural damage and that brain cells not destroyed remain extremely vulnerable to subsequent trauma...”
Pfeifer and Mangus also cite Dr. Cantu when they discuss Second Impact Syndrome, which is something that occurs when an athlete sustains an initial head injury, most often a concussion, then sustains a second head injury shortly after. Second Impact Syndrome is a very serious condition because it involves swelling of the brain which can put pressure on the brain stem, leading to a coma and/or rapid respiratory failure.

For these reasons, Mike Strong, 21, was told by trainers and doctors that it was time to hang up his cleats before his senior football season at Kalamazoo College.
Strong, the player mentioned in the opening of this story, received his first concussion in his junior year while playing running back at Flint Powers Catholic High School. It was a grade three concussion – the most severe.
Strong said he was unconscious for eight minutes before he woke up in the ambulance and he said he definitely felt the effects of the postconcussive syndrome. “I had headaches and nausea for a while afterward,” he said. “I also had vertigo for like a week. I couldn’t participate in any physical activities for six months and I wasn’t allowed to drive. I also only went to school for half a day for a month afterwards.”
Strong returned to play for his senior year and continued his career at Kalamazoo College. He said he had three or four minor concussions between his senior year of high school and junior of college, but didn't think any of them were too serious.
However, more than four years after his first concussion, Strong received his second grade three concussion. “It was at Olivet College,” he remembered. “It was either a trap or a dive. I took the handoff and saw the linebacker overflowing, so I cut back. But I got sandwiched there by the defensive end and the linebacker. My vision flickered in and out like in the beginning of those old movies and then I passed out for a few seconds. They checked me out and told me I had another grade three concussion so I had to sit out the rest of the season.”
Strong tried to return to play for his senior year, but on the first day of hitting he received another concussion and was told his playing days were over. Over the years he had played through at least six concussions and had developed a slight stutter from taking so many hits.
Despite all of the pain he went through Strong enjoyed his football career and is thankful that his symptoms are not any worse than they are. He is also thankful for the careful attention from the trainers and doctors that consulted him through his playing days. If it weren’t for caring and knowledgeable medical staffs, Strong knows he may have ended up in a similar condition to some of the former football players that have been making news as of late.
“I’m sorry that I couldn’t finish up my career, but I know it was what I had to do for my health,” Strong said. “I’m just happy I got to play for as long as I did.”