Brain injuries are in the news a lot these days. San Francisco 49er linebacker Chris Borland, a third-round draft pick out of Wisconsin, retired this spring after playing just one season in the NFL, over concerns about head trauma. The NFL and NHL have both been involved in lawsuits involving traumatic brain injuries among players. But brain injuries are not just the concern of pro athletes–studies indicate that children who play football between the ages of 9 and 12 experience between 240 and 585 head hits per season, with a force that is comparable to that experienced by high school and college players. The long-term effect of these hits is not yet known. And brain injuries are not limited to football, hockey and boxing—sports such as soccer carry risks of permanent brain injury.
Continue reading “When Playing Sports is Bad for Your Brain”