As a professional football player, Dominique Easley (defensive tackle for New England Patriots) is used to being in pain. But his sister, Destinee, wasn’t. When she was 11, she developed fibromyalgia, a condition that affects more than 12 million Americans. It causes muscle or skeletal pain throughout the body, as well as exhaustion, problems with...Continue reading
Tag: football
Stop the Invisible Injury–Parents and Coaches Share the Responsibility, Part 1
Suffering from a concussion can occur in any sport, and at all levels of play, from little league to the major leagues. In fact, the US Center for Disease Control estimates 1.6 million to 3.8 million concussions occur in sports and recreational activities each year. Early education and a shift in the “tough it out”...
Redefining Masculinity: NFL Star Takes the Lead
When I hear the term “macho,” sports immediately come to mind, specifically football and the collection of modern day gladiators that play in college and the National Football League (NFL). These athletes have spent most of their lives honing their skills while simultaneously fortifying their bodies in preparation for physical distress, wear and tear. One...Continue reading
“New” Assistive Technology Improving the Lives of TBI Survivors
It used to be that the only option for TBI survivors to work with their injury was through a notepad and a pen. Whether their injury was mild or more severe, there was almost nothing for them to help keep track of dates, notes, and thoughts other than that piece of paper with notes scribbled...Continue reading
TBI and Technology: Diagnosing the Initial Injury with a Smartphone
When head injuries occur in youth sports, there isn’t a doctor waiting at the sidelines for the next mild TBI case to happen. Players often feel the need to get back in the game and “man up,” as long as there is no visible damage after a tough hit; they’re young and looking to do...Continue reading
Acknowledging Brain Injuries in the NFL: Are We Taking Away Our (Super)heroes?
February 5, 2012 set a new record for American television. According to the NFL, approximately 111.3 million people tuned in to see the New York Giants defeat the New England Patriots in Super Bowl XLVI, making it the most watched primetime telecast in American history. Two weeks from Sunday, the next NFL season begins. Fans...
TBI: Back To The Basics
It’s time to take a step back in order to fully comprehend how traumatic brain injuries impact people differently, from the types of impairment experienced to the severity of the injury. One of the more difficult aspects for people learning about traumatic brain injury (TBI), whether they are a survivor, caregiver, friend, or someone who...Continue reading
Rising Cases of CTE in Athletes: Is There Anything We Can Do?
Derek Boogaard. That name sends shivers down the spines of the many who read the three-part series on the former NHL player’s life published last December in the New York Times. The former New York Ranger’s left wing was on the team for one main purpose: to be an enforcer, to throw the punches and...Continue reading
Head Injuries in the NFL and Beyond
There are few things more satisfying than watching a rival quarterback receive a blind-side sack or seeing your team’s DB lay out a receiver on an incomplete pass in slow-mo. Of course, this is only true as long as the recipient is able to get up and walk off the field, as nobody would actually...Continue reading