Download or read book Exploring the Mental Health Experiences of Student athletes who Have Sustained a Concussion written by Sophia Mbabaali and published by . This book was released on 2020 with total page 0 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Background: Research on concussions and mental health/ illness among athletes has focused on the prevalence of mental health disorders in this population. There is currently limited amounts of research looking at the mental health experience of athletes who have sustained a sport-related concussion. Aim: The aim of this research was to conduct an exploratory study using the two-continua model of mental health as a guiding theoretical framework to answer the following research question: What is the mental health experience of student-athletes who have sustained a concussion? Methods: Semi-structured interviews using open-ended questions were conducted with eight student-athletes, and an inductive thematic analysis was used to analyze the transcripts. Results: Three themes emerged from the transcripts: a) it's not something you have control over, b) to be or not to be: navigating the unwritten rules of being an athlete, and c) finding a way through and moving forward. These findings highlight the challenges and mental health states student-athletes faced as they progressed through their concussion experience. Implications: This research can be used to help physicians, sport psychologists, athletic therapists, coaches, and educators better understand the lived experience of student-athletes who have sustained a sport-related concussion.
Download or read book Reintegration Experiences of Collegiate Athletes After Sustaining a Sport related Concussion written by Mary Catherine Lee and published by . This book was released on 2023 with total page 0 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Concussions are a public health concern that can affect many aspects of an individual's life from a physical, mental, and social health perspective. Additionally, student-athletes are often at a greater risk of sustaining a concussion than their fellow non-athlete classmates. Due to their roles as both a student and an athlete, concussed student-athletes often must successfully return to the classroom and to their sport. Thus, they must return to a level of high functioning cognitively, socially, and physically. While the research supports recommendations for the reintegration into school and sport following a concussion, there is little research that investigates the experiences of student-athletes as they navigate these processes. While there has been previous research to explore specific processes for a student-athlete's recovery after sustaining a SRC1-8, there has been very little research investigating the experience of student-athletes as they reintegrate into school and sport after SRC, specifically collegiate student-athletes. While most research involving RTL and RTP protocols has focused on establishing a set of guidelines for clinicians to follow, there has not been much attention given to determining if those guidelines truly benefit the student-athlete. The purpose of this qualitative research study is to investigate the experiences of NCAA student-athletes as they reintegrate into school and sport after SRC. The results of this study could significantly impact patient care and patient outcomes following SRC and promote future research to establish updated protocols that are focused more on the well-being of the student-athlete, instead of focusing on the processes used to return them to school and sport.
Download or read book Post concussion Experiences of Collegiate Student athletes written by Kaitlin Iris Singer and published by . This book was released on 2016 with total page 254 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Sports-related concussions are a major public health concern affecting a significant number of collegiate student-athletes. Medical and public health research has addressed every aspect of concussion management processes including concussion education, medical diagnosis, recovery, and returning to sport and classroom. This research has led to several best-practices for concussion management. Since 2010, the NCAA has mandated that its member institutions maintain concussion management policies and procedures. However, the current recommendations, based primarily on medical research, have been found in quantitative studies of the behaviors and practices of athletic trainers, coaches, and student-athletes to be ineffective. To date, no studies have explored the perceptions and experiences of student-athletes post-concussion. The purpose of this study was to understand student-athletes' experiences post-concussion and how their experiences compared to concussion management policy. A qualitative research design was utilized to allow for an in-depth understanding of the student-athlete's perspective on concussion management. Data were collected from interviews with seven current and former NCAA student-athletes from five member institutions representing Division I football, lacrosse, men's soccer, women's soccer, Division II football, and Division III football; and from publicly obtained concussion management documents. The data were analyzed using Tesch's (2013) organizing system and Love's (2003) methods for document analysis. Eight major findings emerged from the data: 1) Symptomology and its effects, 2) Pressure to return, 3) Lack of Knowledge, 4) Inadequate support, 5) No rest, 6) No policy, 7) Double-injury, and 8) Inconsistent alignment between student-athletes' experiences and their institution's concussion policies. None of the student-athletes' experiences aligned with the current best-practices in concussion management. Recommendations for cultural change, NCAA practices, and higher education practices include using warning messaging and PSAs, applying effective preseason education, enforcing implementation of concussion management guidelines, leveraging media partnerships, investing in concussion specialists, and creating a team of support.
Download or read book Sports Related Concussions in Youth written by National Research Council and published by National Academies Press. This book was released on 2014-02-04 with total page 215 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: In the past decade, few subjects at the intersection of medicine and sports have generated as much public interest as sports-related concussions - especially among youth. Despite growing awareness of sports-related concussions and campaigns to educate athletes, coaches, physicians, and parents of young athletes about concussion recognition and management, confusion and controversy persist in many areas. Currently, diagnosis is based primarily on the symptoms reported by the individual rather than on objective diagnostic markers, and there is little empirical evidence for the optimal degree and duration of physical rest needed to promote recovery or the best timing and approach for returning to full physical activity. Sports-Related Concussions in Youth: Improving the Science, Changing the Culture reviews the science of sports-related concussions in youth from elementary school through young adulthood, as well as in military personnel and their dependents. This report recommends actions that can be taken by a range of audiences - including research funding agencies, legislatures, state and school superintendents and athletic directors, military organizations, and equipment manufacturers, as well as youth who participate in sports and their parents - to improve what is known about concussions and to reduce their occurrence. Sports-Related Concussions in Youth finds that while some studies provide useful information, much remains unknown about the extent of concussions in youth; how to diagnose, manage, and prevent concussions; and the short- and long-term consequences of concussions as well as repetitive head impacts that do not result in concussion symptoms. The culture of sports negatively influences athletes' self-reporting of concussion symptoms and their adherence to return-to-play guidance. Athletes, their teammates, and, in some cases, coaches and parents may not fully appreciate the health threats posed by concussions. Similarly, military recruits are immersed in a culture that includes devotion to duty and service before self, and the critical nature of concussions may often go unheeded. According to Sports-Related Concussions in Youth, if the youth sports community can adopt the belief that concussions are serious injuries and emphasize care for players with concussions until they are fully recovered, then the culture in which these athletes perform and compete will become much safer. Improving understanding of the extent, causes, effects, and prevention of sports-related concussions is vitally important for the health and well-being of youth athletes. The findings and recommendations in this report set a direction for research to reach this goal.
Download or read book Mind Body and Sport written by NCAA and published by . This book was released on 2014-11-01 with total page pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt:
Download or read book Concussion Help Seeking and Mental Health Outcomes in Collegiate Athletes written by Brandon Tyler Cooper and published by . This book was released on 2021 with total page 0 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Recently, there has been an increase in the awareness of sport concussion and its potential deleterious effects as progressively more research has been conducted within the past few decades. Despite this increase, there is much about sport concussion and the consequences of sport concussion that are still unknown. The current study aims to examine the prevalence of sport concussion in NCAA collegiate student athletes. Furthermore, this study seeks to investigate the prevalence of underreporting sport concussions as well as the factors that may lead athletes not to seek help for their concussion. To better understand mental health outcomes that follow sport concussion, this study attempts to understand the potential impact sport concussion has on mental health outcomes of depression and suicide ideation. Altogether, 964 student athletes across all three NCAA divisions were surveyed about their experiences in college with sport concussion. Results of this study indicate that there may be a long-term impact of sport concussion on depression and suicide ideation. Additionally, the leading reason student athletes reported they chose to not seek help for their sport concussion was being unsure of the signs and symptoms of concussion. Implications for future research, practice, and advocacy of sport and counseling psychologists are discussed.
Download or read book Psychological Aspects of Sport Related Concussions written by Gordon Bloom and published by Routledge. This book was released on 2019-03-13 with total page 320 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Recognition of concussion as a serious injury, informed by neurological and physiological research, is now commonplace in sport. However, research on the psychology of concussive injury—its psychological implications and outcomes, and psychological interventions for prevention and recovery—has largely been overlooked. This is the first book to explicitly and authoritatively set out the psychological aspects of sport-related concussion from a multidisciplinary and global perspective The book attempts to offer a global understanding of the injury by presenting an historical overview; exploring the psychological implications of sport-related concussion and the influence of gender and sociocultural context on concussive injury and recovery; setting out practical guidance on working with special populations suffering from concussive injuries; and discussing the theoretical and methodological considerations for research on concussion and future directions for this research. Written by a group of leading international experts and offering a hitherto underdeveloped perspective on this crucial area of sports injury research, this book is crucial reading for any upper-level student, researcher, sport scientist, coach, or allied health professional working on sport-related concussion. It is also valuable reading for students and researchers interested in the psychosocial processes that impact injury and recovery or general professional practice in sport psychology.
Download or read book Exploring the Relationship Between Team Characteristics and Mental Health Symptoms Amongst Student Athletes written by and published by . This book was released on 2018 with total page 45 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Depression and anxiety are disabling conditions that are particularly prevalent amongst young adults (Wolanin, Hong, Marks, Panchoo, & Gross, 2016). Student athletes must cope with extensive time demands that go beyond those of ordinary young adults, consequently putting them at increased risk to experiencing mental health issues. Numerous factors may influence an athlete's well being, such as gender, injury, and type of sport. This study tests these various factors but also extends previous literature by analyzing the effects of team dynamics on student athlete mental health. An anonymous multi-part questionnaire was sent out to all JMU athletes in the Fall of 2017. Chi square statistical tests were used to determine whether there was a mathematical association between team characteristics and the presence or absence of mental health symptoms. There was a significant correlation between 'pressure' and anxiety (X2 = 13.403, p = .009). In addition, 'inability to trust teammates' and 'not sharing goals of personal improvement' also contributed to increased levels of anxiety. There was a significant correlation between serious injuries and depression (X2 = 4.325, p = .038). Lack of time for social life and inability to effectively manage conflicts within the team both contributed to increased levels of depression as well. Fortunately, the data showed that JMU's student athletes had higher mental health scores than American college students as a whole, according to prior research, and they do feel as though the resources available to them are adequate.
Download or read book Routledge International Handbook of Sport Psychology written by Robert J. Schinke and published by Routledge. This book was released on 2016-02-05 with total page 947 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Contemporary sport psychology is a rapidly developing and theoretically rich discipline, and a sophisticated and challenging profession. The Routledge International Handbook of Sport Psychology offers a comprehensive and authoritative guide to contemporary sport psychology in all its aspects. Written by a team of world-leading researchers and practitioners from five continents, including both established scholars and the best emerging talents, the book traces the contours of the discipline of sport psychology, introducing fundamental theory, discussing key issues in applied practice, and exploring the most important themes, topics and debates across the sport psychology curriculum. Uniquely, the book presents comparative studies of the history and contemporary practice of sport psychology in ten countries, including the US, UK, China, Japan, Brazil, Russia and Israel, helping the reader to understand the cultural and contextual factors that shape international practice in sport psychology. As well as covering in depth the core pillars of sport psychology, from motivation and cognition to group dynamics, the book also includes a full section on cultural sport psychology, a vital but under-explored sub-discipline that is having a profound influence on contemporary theory and practice. With 56 chapters and unparalleled range, depth and currency, the Routledge Handbook of International Sport Psychology is an essential addition to any library with a serious holding in sport psychology.
Download or read book Bone Stress Injuries written by Adam S. Tenforde, MD and published by Springer Publishing Company. This book was released on 2021-07-17 with total page 219 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: “This book gives a nice summary of the current state of diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of bone stress injuries. It is particularly useful for sports medicine fellows and residents with an interest in athletes and active patients." ---Doody's Review Service, 3 stars Bone stress injuries are commonly seen in athletes and active individuals across a full spectrum of physical activity, age, and gender. While most overuse injuries can be addressed through non-operative care, injuries may progress to full fractures that require surgery if misdiagnosed or not correctly managed. Written by leaders in sports medicine including physical medicine and rehabilitation, orthopaedics, endocrinology and allied health professionals of biomechanics, physical therapy and dietetics, Bone Stress Injuries offers state-of-the-art guidelines and up-to-date science and terminology to practitioners. Using a holistic approach to understand the management of bone stress injuries, this book highlights specific considerations by injury, gender, and risk factor to ensure that a comprehensive treatment plan can be developed to optimize bone health, neuromuscular re-education, gait mechanics, and injury prevention. Organized into four parts, opening chapters cover the general need-to-know topics, including clinical history, imaging, and risk factors including biological and biomechanical factors. The book proceeds anatomically through the body from upper extremity to foot and ankle injuries, with each chapter underscoring diagnostic and treatment strategies specific to that region. Chapters dedicated to special populations discuss the differences in injury evaluation and management according to age, gender, and military background. Final chapters review the prevention of injuries and examine both common and novel treatment strategies, such as medications, nutrition, gait retraining, orthobiologics, and other interventions. Invaluable in its scope and approach, Bone Stress Injuries is the go-to resource for sports medicine physicians, physiatrists, and primary care providers who manage the care of athletes and individuals leading active lifestyles. Key Features: Promotes evidence-based practice for diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of bone stress injuries Covers specific anatomy that is prone to bone stress injuries with dedicated chapters on upper and lower extremities, pelvis and hip, spine, and foot and ankle Considers evaluation and management differences according to specific populations of pediatric, male, female, and military personnel Discusses emerging strategies to treat bone stress injuries, such as gait retraining, orthobiologics, and other non-pharmacological treatments
Download or read book Changes in Mood State Subsequent to Concussion in Collegiate Student athletes written by Denise Vagt and published by . This book was released on 2016 with total page 144 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Objective: This study examined mood changes that occurred in student-athletes after they sustained a sports related concussion (SRC). Previous research has demonstrated an increase in depressive symptoms following SRC and other non-head related injuries. However, the prevalence and relative intensities of these depressive symptoms in student-athlete populations have not been fully investigated. This study will provide athletes, trainers, physicians, and other related staff with additional information about expected mood changes following injury that will allow swifter and more targeted interventions. Method: All athletes at an NCAA Division II university completed baseline assessments that included both cognitive and affective measures. Athletes who sustained a SRC during the following academic year completed the assessment battery again, including affective measures, at 24-48 hours post trauma, approximately 7-10 days post-trauma, and in follow-up evaluations as needed. A control group of same aged college peers who did not experience a concussion during the time period they participated in the study also completed a brief mood measure at three time points during the study year. Differences among the mood measure scores between the concussed student-athlete group and the control group were examined. The Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9), a brief depression screener, was the primary mood measure used. Results: Initial baseline PHQ-9 scores were significantly higher for the SRC group than the control group. Relative change from baseline to post-trauma was significantly different between the groups, with the SRC group demonstrating an increase in depressive symptoms after concussion injury compared to non-injured controls. However, this increase in depressive symptoms resolved and PHQ-9 scores returned to baseline levels for the SRC group at follow-up; PHQ-9 score for the control group remained stable over time. Examination of a brief three item list of mood related symptoms from a larger symptom inventory revealed the same pattern of performance: individuals in the SRC group tended to endorse more negative mood changes with greater severity during their post-trauma evaluation than they did at baseline or follow-up. Conclusions: There is an increase in student-athlete endorsement of depressive symptoms after sustaining a concussion as compared to non-injured controls. However, this increase is not great enough to increase the mean PHQ-9 score into the clinical range, indicating post-trauma depression screening scores, on average, are still in the non-clinical range. After sustaining a concussion injury student-athletes are more likely to report depressive symptoms during the window of 24 hours to 7-10 days post-trauma. This indicates interventions targeted at alleviating mood change after concussion need to be implemented within 1-3 days post-trauma and emphasizes the importance of early detection in this population.
Download or read book Mental Health in the Athlete written by Eugene Hong and published by Springer Nature. This book was released on 2020-05-30 with total page 299 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This unique book provides a practical framework for and coverage of a broad range of mental health concerns applicable to the care of athletes, including depression, suicide, mood disorders, substance abuse and risk-taking behaviors. To this end, it presents content relevant to the care of athletes, including doping and the use of performance-enhancing drugs, the mental health impact of concussion, bullying and hazing, the impact of social media and exercise addiction, among other pertinent topics. Current basic and translational research on behavioral health and the relationship of brain to behavior are reviewed, and current treatment approaches, both pharmacological and non-pharmacological (including mindfulness training), are considered. This practical resource targets the stigma of mental in athletes in order to overcome barriers to care by presenting a definitive perspective of current concepts in the mental health care of athletes, provided by experts in the field and targeting sports medicine providers, mental health providers and primary care physicians involved in the direct care of recreational and competitive athletes at all levels.
Download or read book Exploring Female University Athlete Experiences of Coping with Protracted Concussion Symptoms written by Rebecca Steins and published by . This book was released on 2019 with total page pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: "Concussions present a multitude of somatic, cognitive, and emotional symptoms that may persist for extended periods of time. In response to stressful situations, such as concussion, athletes engage in an appraisal and coping process that results in a coping outcome, and consequent behavioral or emotional responses. The severity of a protracted concussion injury, compounded with daily life stress, has lasting psychological implications that can be mediated through the use of different coping mechanisms (André-Morin, Caron, & Bloom, 2017). The purpose of the current study was to explore the coping process used by female collegiate athletes who suffered concussion symptoms that lasted for longer than 6 weeks. Individual semi-structured interviews were conducted with five female university athletes to identify and describe coping outcomes, as well as factors that facilitated or prevented adaptive coping responses. Interviews were transcribed verbatim and thematic analysis was used to organize data into themes and subthemes, which provided a complete understanding of each participants’ experience (Sparkes & Smith, 2014). Results from the analysis suggest athletes in this study experienced a multitude of emotional outcomes that have not previously been explored with the sport concussion literature, including the psychological implications of severe headaches, weight concern, and perceived loss of control. Furthermore, the athletes engaged in emotion-focused styles of coping such as avoidance behaviors and acceptance. Athletes felt that their lack of control over treatment protocol negatively impacted their recoveries, therefore they engaged in avoidance behaviors. However, social support played a key role as a facilitator of effective coping behaviors and helped athletes to accept their injuries. These results add to the growing body of literature on the psychology of protracted concussion. Additionally, this study continues emerging research on coping and sport-related concussion, including identifying what resources athletes need to cope properly"--
Download or read book Concussion and Sports written by Mansi Vakil and published by Independently Published. This book was released on 2019-02-15 with total page 202 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Concussion is now recognized to be a major public health threat. The National Institutes for Health has determined that by 2020, Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) will surpass many diseases worldwide and will become the leading cause of disability and death. The current calculation reports that over ten million people globally suffer from the long-term effects of TBI. Once thought to be something you just needed to "get over," we now certainly know it can be much more serious, with long lasting consequences. There is a steady downward spiral of physical and mental health due to the general lack of awareness of the consequences amongst young athletes, parents and large organizations alike. However, with advances in research, our understanding of what is precisely happening to the brain is reaching new heights. A multitude of treatment options is now available, aiding recovery for those with ongoing symptoms. This book will serve as your one-stop guide to concussion science, research and recovery. Here stands an opportunity to open your eyes and broaden your perspective to the modern world of concussion expertise and treatment.About the Author: With a master's degree in physical therapy from the University of Pittsburgh and a post professional doctorate from Arcadia University, Mansi Vakil, is a physical therapist with nearly a decade of experience working with young and old athletes. Her patients are her constant source of inspiration as they navigate their injuries and its consequences. As she explores the world of sports injuries through their eyes, as she addresses their myriad fears, as she steadies them in her reassuring manner, their journeys interlink and their stories become hers.Armed with patient experiences and backed with extensive research, she forays into the literary world lending voice to a narrative that is both intuitively empathetic and authoritative.When not busy with her research and her patients, she can be found exploring the outdoors with her husband and their 4 year old son. She currently resides in a populous town in Westchester County, New York.
Download or read book A Case Study Examing Student athletes Returning to the Classroom After Suffering a Concussion mild Traumatic Brain Injury written by Sheila Jackson Benton and published by . This book was released on 2019 with total page 198 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The purpose of this qualitative case study was to explore how a student-athlete suffering a concussion/mild traumatic brain injury copes academically in a high school environment. This case study sought to answer the question of how these student-athletes cope with their return to the classroom and are affected academically, physically, socially, and emotionally from multiple perspectives. Guiding this instrumental case study was an analytic generalization of the theory of planned behavior, social norm theory, Bandura’s social learning cognition theory, and the theory of mind. This bounded case study included one participant who had suffered a concussion and was returning to a high school educational environment in South Carolina. In addition to the case study participant, data were collected from teachers, family, friends, coach, school nurse, and others who were involved during the student’s concussion recovery. This data were collected through interviews, documentation, journaling, and focus groups. Data analysis includes coding for themes and triangulation of data to establish trustworthiness through credibility, dependability, confirmability, and transferability. The results of this case study revealed how the student was affected by her concussion in all areas researched: physical, academic, social, and emotional. The findings demonstrate the need for support as concussed student-athletes return to the classroom through better communication with all involved in the return to learn process, homebound instruction, and continuous reassessment of concussion protocols. Additionally, cognitive assessments should be developed to assist in determining timing for concussed students to return to the learning environment.
Download or read book Youth Athlete Sport Commitment Following Multiple Concussions and Persistent Symptoms written by Scott Hancock and published by . This book was released on 2018 with total page pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The purpose of this Master's research was to explore factors involved in youth athletes' sport commitment decision following multiple concussions and persistent symptoms. Individual semi-structured interviews were conducted with 11 pre-adolescent and adolescent athletes (three males, eight females) between 12 and 18 years of age (M = 15.25). Participants were involved in a variety of sports including soccer (n = 3), hockey (n = 3), basketball (n = 1), cheerleading (n = 1), gymnastics (n = 1), jiu-jitsu (n = 1), and rugby (n = 1). Based on the data emanating from the interviews, two articles were written. In article one, the sport commitment model (SCM) (Scanlan, Chow, Sousa, Scanlan, & Knifsend, 2016) facilitated the exploration of the determinants of youth athletes' sport commitment following multiple concussions and persistent (i.e., lasting beyond 28 days) symptoms. A further objective was to expand upon the current SCM by exploring other potential determinants specifically related to return to play after multiple concussions. Findings indicated that sport enjoyment, valuable opportunities, and the desire to excel were the most salient sources of sport commitment. Constructs pertaining to social influences were the least influential in athletes' sport commitment. Findings also supported the addition of athletic identity as a new construct in the SCM. Article two uncovered the psychosocial challenges faced by youth athletes during recovery and return to play following multiple concussions and protracted symptoms. The findings revealed that athletes with concussions experience concerns about persistent symptoms, re-injury anxiety, a diminished perceived ability, lack of social support, and emotional turmoil and mental health problems. Finally, findings provided insight into the potential role concussions and ensuing psychosocial challenges may play in mental health and wellbeing. Collectively, this research improves the understanding of difficulties experienced by youth athletes following multiple concussions and supports the need to improve concussion education and foster a more supportive environment.
Download or read book League of Denial written by Mark Fainaru-Wada and published by Crown. This book was released on 2014-08-26 with total page 457 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER • The story of how the NFL, over a period of nearly two decades, denied and sought to cover up mounting evidence of the connection between football and brain damage “League of Denial may turn out to be the most influential sports-related book of our time.”—The Boston Globe “Professional football players do not sustain frequent repetitive blows to the brain on a regular basis.” So concluded the National Football League in a December 2005 scientific paper on concussions in America’s most popular sport. That judgment, implausible even to a casual fan, also contradicted the opinion of a growing cadre of neuroscientists who worked in vain to convince the NFL that it was facing a deadly new scourge: a chronic brain disease that was driving an alarming number of players—including some of the all-time greats—to madness. In League of Denial, award-winning ESPN investigative reporters Mark Fainaru-Wada and Steve Fainaru tell the story of a public health crisis that emerged from the playing fields of our twenty-first-century pastime. Everyone knows that football is violent and dangerous. But what the players who built the NFL into a $10 billion industry didn’t know—and what the league sought to shield from them—is that no amount of padding could protect the human brain from the force generated by modern football, that the very essence of the game could be exposing these players to brain damage. In a fast-paced narrative that moves between the NFL trenches, America’s research labs, and the boardrooms where the NFL went to war against science, League of Denial examines how the league used its power and resources to attack independent scientists and elevate its own flawed research—a campaign with echoes of Big Tobacco’s fight to deny the connection between smoking and lung cancer. It chronicles the tragic fates of players like Hall of Fame Pittsburgh Steelers center Mike Webster, who was so disturbed at the time of his death he fantasized about shooting NFL executives, and former San Diego Chargers great Junior Seau, whose diseased brain became the target of an unseemly scientific battle between researchers and the NFL. Based on exclusive interviews, previously undisclosed documents, and private emails, this is the story of what the NFL knew and when it knew it—questions at the heart of a crisis that threatens football, from the highest levels all the way down to Pop Warner.
