NFL and Under Armour to battle brain injuries from football
The National Football League (NFL) and the sports equipment maker Under Armour have joined with General Electric to start a campaign against traumatic brain injuries incurred during the sport. The campaign will cost approximately $60 million, and it will go on for four years. The NFL and Under Armour hope to reduce the occurrence of traumatic brain injuries in football by improving the speed of diagnosis and treatment for concussions. Over $40 million of the campaign’s budget will be spent on medical research for imaging technology to improve the medical community’s ability to diagnose brain damage. $10 million will be handed out in prizes to entries for new diagnostic techniques and for new ways to protect against and prevent sports injuries. This campaign comes in the wake of allegations made against the NFL by players that it did not adequately safeguard players against brain injuries incurred during football games.
This campaign is a necessity due to the high occurrence of traumatic brain injuries within the sport of football. A campaign to help with the diagnosis and treatment of injuries and concussions caused by playing the sport would help protect future players as well as increase popularity for the sport which has taken a hit recently due to criticisms of the organization and its link to brain injury.
One of the most severe consequence of sports brain injuries is a disease called chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE), which results from multiple head injuries. Its symptoms include memory loss, dementia, and depression. CTE results when a player suffers multiple brain injuries over time and these injuries go untreated. Perhaps the most prominent case of this disease is the NFL linebacker Junior Seau, who committed suicide while suffering from this disease.
Traumatic brain injuries can have lasting consequences. These injuries may require around-the-clock medical care for the victim for the rest of his or her life. Fortunately, anyone injured in a sports-related accident is entitled to worker’s compensation benefits to pay for lost wages and medical expenses. He or she may also be entitled to damages if negligence can be proven. Those injured playing sports are entitled to an appropriate monetary compensation.
Source: Wavenewspapers.com, “NFL, GE, Under Armour team up to fight head injuries,” Chris Isidore, March 11, 2013.