Power Slap

[KarateKen]

13 hours ago, Nidan Melbourne said:

Going to add, as by chance I ran into a few classmates from my university days (who went onto doing their Masters) and asked them about it. They did express concern surrounding risk of damage in the long run. Especially where some videos demonstrated a "change" in the persons appearance after a slap occurring. 

Outside of Brain Damage (Structural, Nerves, Circulatory etc), I wonder about: 

• Damage to Entire Skull 
• Damage to Facial Nerves
• Flow of Cerebrospinal Fluid to Spine (and vice-versa)
• Damage to Spine (likelihood of complete paralysis)

Brain Scans and on the slightly morbid side what the damage looks like on a Brain Autopsy? Like what has been occurring on the small percentage of NFL Athletes who have passed away and have donated their bodies to research. 

 

Mike Webster (50) Junior Seau (43) and Aaron Hernandez (27) all were found to have brain injuries when they died, with the Webster case being what lead to the CTE search of the NFL, and eventually a lawsuit and a change in the rules for player safety.  Both Seau and Hernandez committed suicide, questions remain about how the brain injuries impacted their decision making, especially Seau's decision to take his own life and Hernandez's decision to take others.  

I did not think about the other aspects, such as damage to facial nerves, those are fair to bring up.  

[Nidan Melbourne]

5 hours ago, KarateKen said:

Mike Webster (50) Junior Seau (43) and Aaron Hernandez (27) all were found to have brain injuries when they died, with the Webster case being what lead to the CTE search of the NFL, and eventually a lawsuit and a change in the rules for player safety.  Both Seau and Hernandez committed suicide, questions remain about how the brain injuries impacted their decision making, especially Seau's decision to take his own life and Hernandez's decision to take others.  

I did not think about the other aspects, such as damage to facial nerves, those are fair to bring up.  

To the Bolded; not many do. 

Unlike NFL Players; Rugby Players don't wear protective equipment (apart from Mouthguards and some players wearing the thinner helmets*) and we also have a huge rate of Cauliflower Ears. 

For those NFL Players, I do get concerned for their longevity as for what I've seen there is still "Match-Level" Contact occurring during their Training Sessions. And from what I've heard and seen it occurs at nearly level of the sport (including Grass-Roots). 

When I was a Rugby (Union) Player for School, our Trainings we had minimal contact to the head. So our Forwards (Numbers 1-8) when we did our Scrum Training,  either focused on correct binding techniques or using the Scrum Machine. Even when we did 1 on 1 Partner Drills for it, the risks were a lot lower. But when we were practicing our set manouevres, and there were "rucks" there often weren't opposing players to cause impact. 

But on Match Day, the Officials and First Aiders were so strict on head contact and any player who potentially has a Concussion. Medically Cleared or Not; they are required to sit out 2 Matches and Trainings.