When I first discovered NHL ice hockey as a teenager, I thought the fighting was kind of cool. These goons were willing to beat each other up and risk losing a tooth or ten, just to defend the honor of their teammates. Now that I’m a physician and public health researcher, it’s decidedly less charming to me. We’ve all learned about the
"The Deadly Toll", thank you for your important medical questions. As a survivor of a TBI categorized as "severe", I am quite aware that the brain can get bounced back & forth if you will, coup & counter coup if you won't. Competent studies need a cohort with data on the different intentsity of repeated impacts on the brain. I would think (as a JD not a MD) there may be some data on "headers" in soccer or NFL defensive backs who did plenty of "checking" bouncing off blockers & tackling helmet first. Thank you again for your medical observations.
An important post, thank you for sharing. I have counseled multiple boys and young men to give up hockey after repeated concussions produced neuropsychiatric and cognitive problems, some of which affected life trajectories and potentials. The contact sports can still be fun without the checking, heading in soccer, tackling in football, etc. etc.
Testosterone and other factors drive many towards violent sports, both in terms of participation and observation, but as we age, the folly of that behavior becomes more apparent and hard to watch.
Assuming the data on the increased risk of early death in “enforcers” holds up, it will be essential and challenging to figure out what factors contribute to this. For example, the number and degree of repetitive head traumas from fighting, non-fighting aggressive play, personality traits associated with being an “enforcer,” lifestyle outside hockey, etc., and how effective interventions to address the problem are.
I believe there has been an increase in “blood lust” by many fans for several collision sports. The Recent acceptance of “slap fighting” as a sport in some jurisdictions attests to this unfortunate situation.
"The Deadly Toll", thank you for your important medical questions. As a survivor of a TBI categorized as "severe", I am quite aware that the brain can get bounced back & forth if you will, coup & counter coup if you won't. Competent studies need a cohort with data on the different intentsity of repeated impacts on the brain. I would think (as a JD not a MD) there may be some data on "headers" in soccer or NFL defensive backs who did plenty of "checking" bouncing off blockers & tackling helmet first. Thank you again for your medical observations.
An important post, thank you for sharing. I have counseled multiple boys and young men to give up hockey after repeated concussions produced neuropsychiatric and cognitive problems, some of which affected life trajectories and potentials. The contact sports can still be fun without the checking, heading in soccer, tackling in football, etc. etc.
Testosterone and other factors drive many towards violent sports, both in terms of participation and observation, but as we age, the folly of that behavior becomes more apparent and hard to watch.
Assuming the data on the increased risk of early death in “enforcers” holds up, it will be essential and challenging to figure out what factors contribute to this. For example, the number and degree of repetitive head traumas from fighting, non-fighting aggressive play, personality traits associated with being an “enforcer,” lifestyle outside hockey, etc., and how effective interventions to address the problem are.
I believe there has been an increase in “blood lust” by many fans for several collision sports. The Recent acceptance of “slap fighting” as a sport in some jurisdictions attests to this unfortunate situation.