Table of ContentsConcussions in Football and Hockey Since the 1990sHow Do the Media Present Concussions in Football Compared to Ice Hockey?Concussions in ice hockey and footballProtocols for football and hockey athletesEvolving technologies that may prevent concussionsNFL and the NHL's health care plan for playersEffects of concussions on NHL and NFL playersLong-term effects term multiple concussionsConclusionAmong the dozens of videos you watch every day, how many do you actually remember? [1] The goal of this PSA video is to be one you remember. A good PSA is strong, authentic and powerful enough to leave an impression.[2] To raise awareness and change people's lives, a PSA needs three things: creativity, a slogan and a compelling purpose. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on “Why Violent Video Games Should Not Be Banned”? Get the original essay People misunderstand concussions. They believe that all people who develop a concussion will have seizures or instant fainting. People who sustain a concussion can recover quickly, but it can take up to weeks, months, or even years, with long-term effects, for a full recovery.[3] However, this is a common myth: only 10% of the most diagnosed concussions occur with loss of consciousness [4] . Those who are misinformed on this topic may not realize they have a concussion. Therefore, the most important message of the PSA is that it may be there, but you just can't see it. And as a member of the Northview High School HOSA club, I want to avoid this misunderstanding in order to raise awareness and protect students who participate in sports. [5]People who sustain a concussion often overlook or fail to notice more subtle symptoms such as nausea or headaches. Just like the invisible message in the video cannot be seen without black light, concussions cannot be "seen" or diagnosed without a doctor, which is one of the steps I want the public to recognize[6 ] . Diagnosis is key to any medical condition. Without proper treatment by a doctor, concussions can lead to serious brain damage such as memory loss, concentration problems, and even, in some extreme cases, physical disabilities, which can be permanent. Concussions can and should be avoided by taking safety precautions before engaging in risky activities. Especially since every concussion injures the brain to some extent. can get worse without medical attention and the brain is susceptible to damage [8] . Viewers may quickly notice strange aspects of the video and assume something is wrong. We must immediately trust our instinct, because it may one day save a life. It's simply under-recognized as a medical problem. This public announcement will properly inform people about a common injury, whether from sports or an everyday accident, and may save a life one day. [9] Hopefully this PSA was designed in an interesting and memorable way so that viewers can remember the symptoms when necessary. This encourages them to take initiatives toprotect since, as previously mentioned, every concussion injures the brain to some extent. So the best way to proceed is to be careful and remember that a concussion may be there, but you just can't see it. A concussion is a mild traumatic brain injury that results from a blow or jolt to the head or body. causing rapid movement of the brain within the skull. A concussion affects normal brain function and can have serious and long-term health effects (McGannon, et al., 2013). In this regard, an individual should not ignore even the slightest bump on the head as it can have serious long-term consequences. Signs and symptoms of a concussion include headache, nausea, fatigue, memory problems, confusion, and trouble sleeping or even mood changes. Symptoms appear right after the injury, but some are not recognized until later. An estimated 1.6 to 3.8 concussions occur each year in the United States in association with sports and recreation. Concussions in Football and Hockey Since the 1990s Diehl (2010) states that the National Football League continues to have an increasing number of retired players who have suffered concussions and developed memory problems and cognitive problems such as Alzheimer's disease, depression and chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE). CTE is a degenerative brain disease associated with multiple head injuries. In 1994, NFL Commissioner Paul Tagliabue created the Mild Traumatic Brain Injury Committee. He also says concussions are part of the profession and an occupational hazard. That same year, Troy Aikman, a Dallas quarterback, knelt down to lead an event that landed him in the hospital. The same year, Chicago Bears Merrill Hoge retired due to multiple head injuries that left him unable to recognize anyone. The NFL commissioner dismissed media reports that concussions were on the rise as mere speculation. In 1995, Pellman experimented with Boomer Esiason's return from a concussion using an unproven system involving QBs sitting in front of a computer screen and concentrating. In 1997, the American Academy of Neurology issued its guidelines recommending the withdrawal of players after a concussion, but the NFL rejects them. In 1999, the NFL paid millions of dollars in disability benefits to retired players. Out of 2,000 people, research indicates that 61% of former NFL players suffered a concussion. 49% of players suffered from numbness or tingling, 28% suffered from arthritis of the neck or cervical spine, 31% had problems with memory loss and 16% could not dress themselves while 11% could not not feed (Macciocchi, 2001). In 2012, the NFL reported 261 concussions, 229 in 2013, 206 in 2014 and 271 in 2015. In 2016, the NFL and the NFL Players' Association implemented a new policy to enforce concussion protocol. concussions. In ice hockey, the total number of concussions is relatively low compared to football. Participation in the game is lower at the high school and college levels. Research indicates that from 1990 to 2004, the rate of concussions among men playing the sport was 0.41 per 1,000. Concussions among hockey players occur at 6.3% during training and 10.3% during the match. The relationship between age andshocks, however, remains unclear. From 1995 to 1997, the rate of concussions was higher among ice hockey players. Between 2006 and 2013, only 511 incidents were reported during 844 matches (Iverson et al., 2001). How does the media portray concussions in football compared to ice hockey? Slobounov and Sebastianelli (2014) cite that concussion issues in sports have recently attracted considerable media coverage in recent years. The media has focused on professional football or ice hockey, as well as high-speed games where there is full contact between powerful players. Although the way the media discusses the severity of serious brain injuries and concussions has improved significantly, there is still much work to be done to improve player health. It is essential that the media report facts rather than sensationalist topics which could lead to misinterpretation of these sports. Hockey and football are the collision sports with the highest rate of concussions, according to media reports. The gap between reported cases and actual injuries is similar in football, which has the highest number of concussion cases (Womble and Collins, 2016). The American media gives the impression that head injuries and violence are an integral part of hockey and cannot be avoided. In the past, the media focused on head injuries only when star players were affected. However, there is a change in focus since all players are included. In both ice hockey and football, the media once reported that protective gear was a way to keep players safe, but now they claim that protective gear is part of the problem because it makes players feel invulnerable by invoking the risk-taking within them. The media has been accused of stoking fear of the long-term effects associated with head injuries. The NHL accused the media of speculating and spreading fear rather than having scientific evidence (Niranjan and Lunsford, 2014). Additionally, the Commission denied media reports that concussions are likely to lead to CTE in the long term. The media has covered every player who has died in the NHL as being suspected of having CTE. The media investigated all deaths of ice hockey players by first assuming that they had suffered brain injuries, resulting from concussions suffered on the field. It's no different with NFL football players. Despite numerous reports linking head injuries to brain damage, the NFL still denies the connection. Media reports indicate that players are reluctant to report their injuries for fear of missing playing time. These players do not realize the long-term effects until they retire from the field. Concussions in Ice Hockey and Football Football and hockey are physical contact sports that can have intense effects on the body. When it comes to concussions or overall injuries, football seems to be affected more than hockey. Data from American Sports conducted research in 2006 which indicated that out of 100 participants in ice hockey, 9.5 suffered a concussion, while that figure doubled in football. Other injury determinants include player position in both matches. Hockey defensemen and forwards are susceptible to concussions since they spend a lot of time skating and being in contact with others. In football, however,Goalkeepers are less likely to suffer injuries than other players in contact with the opposition. Concussions are similar in both sports, with most resulting from hits to the T-bone or between the eyes. The blow shakes the brain's center of gravity. Additionally, running causes the mind to swing dangerously back and forth, to the point of hitting the skull. In younger players, the brain is flush with the bones, making the effect less severe. Additionally, helmet-to-helmet impacts can cause serious injury. Bumps on the side of the head are much more serious because the rotation of the brain during a rotational concussion can lead to serious injury. Experts say rotational forces cause nerve cells and fibers to rupture, ultimately causing blood vessels to stretch beyond their ability to remain intact. After a hit, the brain gradually speeds up, releasing neurotransmitters that eventually become chaotic and useless. The cell fails to transmit nerve impulses because it is altered and nonfunctional. Protocols for Football and Hockey Athletes Throughout history, considerable information has been accumulated regarding the psychological and physical attributes of high-performance players. Based on current information, desirable fitness profiles are established for elite players, particularly in hockey, and the models are used to compare future players. Protocols are necessary to identify a player's weaknesses, fitness, and physical or physiological capabilities. There is a sports injury prevention model that follows a conceptual process. The model determines the extent of harm; it also determines the mechanism of a particular injury that must be avoided, develops and implements interventions, and re-evaluates the incidence of injuries to determine whether the process was successful. The NHL and NLF have developed measures to prevent concussions that could lead to injuries. brain damage in the future. These organizations have established concussion management protocols that involve baseline testing requiring all athletes to complete a baseline Neurocognitive Impact test as well as a baseline Biodex Balance System test before being cleared as a first-year athletes. The test includes a concussion history check, cognitive assessment, and symptom assessment. The NHL and NFL have made significant progress in reducing the number of concussions occurring on the field. Although concussions cannot be eliminated, they can be reduced. In this regard, technological advancements in the search for solutions have been adopted. The NFL, for example, introduced protective equipment and new helmets, making profound changes gradually and quickly. The newly introduced helmets have a cutout in the front intended to make them more flexible while maintaining overall rigidity. Additionally, the thick padding behind the open space makes it move less, but just enough for the player to take big hits. Impact from either side allows the helmet to bend in such a way that it can dissipate the blow before the impact is felt on the head. These are just some of the features of new helmets and mouthguards intended to reduce injuries. It should be noted that the new initiatives introduced before result in a significant reduction and importance for athletes. Along with new and improved clothing, the league has implemented two rule changes.