When Miami Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa left the sphere throughout Thursday night time’s sport in opposition to the Buffalo Payments following one other violent hit, many consultants had been fast to notice that adopted the fencing posture after he scorching the bottom – which means he was unconscious and the hit impacted deeper components of his mind, an indication of a extra critical concussion. It was a chilling flashback for a lot of followers. In 2022, Tua was carted off the sphere after struggling a concussion simply 4 days faraway from a earlier suspected concussion.
Over the previous couple of days, the soccer group has had many questions. What number of concussions is simply too many? Ought to the NFL drive Tua to retire? What are the dangers for his long-term well being?
Concussion Legacy Basis CEO Dr. Chris Nowinski was fast to deal with a few of these questions. His insights are under:
What number of concussions can an athlete undergo earlier than eager about retirement?
There is no such thing as a magic variety of concussions to require retirement. Having too many concussions, nevertheless, can result in continual signs and is correlated with an elevated danger of cognitive points, psychological well being issues, and even hypertension.
Does having extra recognized concussions improve your danger for CTE?
There isn’t a statistical correlation between the variety of recognized concussions and CTE. Nevertheless, CTE continues to be a priority. It’s brought on by repeated traumatic mind accidents and 91.7% of NFL gamers studied have had the illness. Lots of these athletes by no means had a recognized concussion.
Would the state of affairs be totally different if Tua wore a Guardian Cap?
A Guardian Cap wouldn’t essentially have fastened this drawback. Tua’s head was going to maneuver it doesn’t matter what he was sporting, and a research on the NFL Guardian Cap has but to be printed. We’ve to assume past Guardian Caps; tools alone isn’t going to save lots of gamers from some of these critical mind accidents.
Ought to Tua Tagovailoa retire from soccer?
That call will probably be Tua’s, based mostly on conversations together with his docs and his household. Whereas many are calling for his retirement, he doesn’t have loads of clear science on which to base this determination. If he recovers shortly, based mostly on public info, I personally wouldn’t counsel he must retire. Different athletes – Boston Bruins legend Patrice Bergeron is a superb instance – have lengthy, profitable careers after main concussions. However I’d strongly counsel a dialog together with his household the place he opinions the present science and considers whether or not the dangers are nonetheless value the advantages.
He ought to contemplate the dangers that include concussions, together with growing post-concussion syndrome or a brand new psychological well being dysfunction. Past concussion, annually of taking part in soccer will increase the percentages of growing CTE – however we are able to’t inform him his private danger of growing CTE. It’s essential to do not forget that we solely have one mind, and as soon as it’s broken, we don’t essentially know the way to repair it.
Tua is an excellent soccer participant, and he’s an grownup who can and can select his personal path. I want him one of the best, and hope this second helps educate the general public so we are able to proceed to unravel the sports activities concussion disaster.
It’s essential to recollect Tua will not be the one athlete in concussion restoration proper now. The CLF HelpLine is a free useful resource right here for all sufferers and households navigating life after mind harm.
