Injuries sustained during football in children last longer than you think – details inside

Washington DC: A recent study has revealed brain damage in football players since a young age. More and more cases confirm that repeated blows to the head have lifelong consequences for professional footballers, but a new study has shown lasting effects of head injuries at a much earlier age than expected. The study tested biomarkers in the blood, called micro-RNAs, and found that college football players had high levels of these biomarkers, indicating concussions even before the start of the season.

Linda Papa, lead author of the study, said, "It was very shocking to learn that biomarkers were high even before they were involved in a single stroke or tackle for the season. This suggests that the effects of head injuries in the past persist over time. "

The researchers also performed cognitive tests with each study participant before and after the season and found that those with balance and memory problems had higher levels of biomarkers. "Some of these players had never been diagnosed with a concussion, but their blood levels of biomarkers were still high, indicating that they probably suffered head injuries that were not not serious enough to be the subject of a clinical diagnosis, but that still caused injury, traumatic injury, "said Papa.

Dad also mentioned that these biomarkers could potentially help identify less severe head injuries so that players can get the proper treatment.

Although concussion protocols and equipment improvements have helped in recent years, this new research shows how important it is to monitor players' brain health and understand how continuous shooting can lead to chronic problems. "Injuries to the head are much more aware than before, and it really belongs to each parent to do his research and talk to coaches and sports coaches," Papa said.

The health problems were part of Austen Rankin's decision to suspend his cleats in the middle of his college football career. He was sidelined by a concussion once at the university, but claims to have probably suffered concussions while playing football and having grown up without being diagnosed.

"Being injured was considered part of the game," Rankin said. "When you took a hard blow, you just got up, shake it and go on, maybe the next day you could not think clearly or the light might bother you, but when I was younger, there was no procedure in place to deal with that. "

Austen is now a trainer and coach and helps other players learn to protect themselves and play smartly. "It can be very difficult to put aside your love for sport and your health, I did not want to be 40 or 50 and have memory problems, so I decided to stop playing and to focus on my future career, "said Rankin.