To an athlete, the terms “hurt” and “injured” carry significantly, if not subtly, different meanings. If one is “hurt,” one may be in pain but one is not necessarily physiologically unable to keep competing or playing. Being “injured,” though, is a different story. A coach cannot or would not in good conscience encourage an “injured” player to take the field since a simple sprain may worsen or a pulled muscle could tear.
Pain felt and injuries to parts of the muscular system are more easily addressed because the athlete is obviously more aware that something doesn’t feel right or that for the love of Batman, something hurts like a m****f***r.
The consequences of a head injury, however, may not be apparent until much later. A player may be willing or strongly recommended to continue playing to the detriment of his neurological or cognitive health. According to NFL.com, the severity of head injuries is being taken seriously and the league is going to promulgate a program that would decrease the chances of a player being enthusiastically urged into playing after suffering from a minor or major concussion.
This “whistle-blower system” “allows anyone to anonymously report when doctors are pressured to clear players or when players are pressured to play.”
There’s a book I came across a few months ago about injuries in the NFL that would yield useful information on the topic. It’s called You’re OK, It’s Just a Bruise: A Doctor’s Sideline Secrets About Pro Football’s Most Outrageous Team by Dr. Rob Huizenga.
Reader feedback from Amazon.com written by a K.A. Goldberg:
“Doctor Rob Huizenga (MD) puts us on the sidelines as recounts his job as team internist for the L.A. Raiders from 1983-1990. Huizenga describes what he saw, including acohol abuse, steroid use, plus how some NFL players need pain killers to get through the season. The doctor describes treating players on the sidelines, injecting them with pain killers during breaks in the actions, and arguing with the team orthopedist about the extent of player injuries. Readers may smile at the author’s description of colorful defensive lineman Lyle Alzado, but not at receiver Bob Chandler’s hospitalization for an injured spleen. Chandler (46) and Alzado (43) both died young, the latter attributing his cancer to steroid usage and warning others to beware. We don’t know if football caused their demise, but Dr. Huizenga quit his job due to conflicts between medical ethics and the needs of his team.
This eye opening book makes us fans face the darker side of football. I liked that the author had suggestions for making the game safer, and one suspects that weight limits, better padding, and banning steroids might help .”
