More young athletes are stepping away from sport due to concussion-related concerns than ever before, and it’s causing growing anxiety among rising players.
Alex Kourakis, a 22-year-old park AFL player, has had 4 concussions since he was 13. One particularly serious incident occurred while he was studying for the HSC. Kourakis says the effects lingered, making it hard to study for weeks or even months afterwards.
Unfortunately, this isn’t uncommon. Many people report ongoing symptoms long after a concussion, including dizziness, headaches, and short-term memory loss.
What has doctors most concerned, however, is a progressive brain disease known as Chronic
Traumatic Encephalopathy (CTE). This condition typically surfaces in athletes decades after their careers have ended and is caused by years of repeated concussions. The symptoms include severe memory loss, aggression, anxiety and depression.
With awareness growing, more players are either choosing to retire early or being advised to do so by medical professionals, often after sustaining multiple concussions.
“The idea (of CTE) scares me” Kourakis admits, but “young athletes are far more aware of the potential dangers than they used to be”.
This year, the federal government have put $12.5 million towards CTE awareness to hopefully teach young people how they can participate in physical activity safely, while protecting their brain.
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