Narrowed Topic
The study focuses on the rising cases of concussions among young athletes. The sporting culture is largely populated by young men and women. The youth have the anatomy and energy for such strenuous activities. Unfortunately, the pomp of the sporting culture comes with a certain amount of risk. The performance of athletes, for instance, is dependent on their health status. To this end, health hazards like concussions are some of the risks involved in a sporting activity. According to Buzzini and Guskiewicz (2006), there is an increase in the number of concussions cases among athletes. In this regard, the current proposal a research on current study is prompted by the numerous findings from various peer reviewed studies.
Audience
The primary audience is sporting organizations and schools. The same is driven by the fact that brain development is at threat among young athletes. The rise in such cases is prompted by the fact that athletes deserve protective gear to minimize the chances of brain injury due to concussions. The short coming in this respect is that, there are some sporting associations that neglect such protective measures. The research initiative carried out by Patel et al. (2005) found that schools are not doing their best to manage the healthcare of their athletes.
To this end, the audience stands to benefit from the information on treatment. The study will be evaluating concussions among young athletes. To this end, the target audience will be college administrators and athletes. Patel et al. (2005) argue that institutions are the best audience for similar studies. The same allows for comprehensive policy development.
Thesis Statement
The study will be evaluated based on the thesis statement that, “the rise of the concussions culture is brought about by institutional failures”. The study will evaluate young athletes who are in danger with respect to the status of their brain activity. According to Lovell et al. (2003), mild concussions among high school children were found to be a contributing factor for their memory lapses. In this regard, the thesis statement will seek to synthesize the information around this subject
Topic Sentences
A concussion is an injury that affects the normal functioning of an individual’s brain. According to Patel et al. (2005), a concussion is brought about when an individual encounters a huge blow or impact to their head. In the case of athletes, concussions result when they hit a hard surface. Patel et al. (2005) point out that concussions can emerge in cases when one still has their consciousness. Such a situation requires serious attentions from the relevant sporting authorities.
The study will evaluate the thesis statement and affirm the sentiments based on the discussion. The conclusion will avoid repetition by outlining the necessary recommendation.
The problem statement will be solved using an analytical research design. The study will adopt an exploratory and descriptive research approach. An exploratory approach helps the researcher to add the necessary information around a subject. As previously mentioned, cases of concussions have been studied extensively. To this end, there is no need for a quantitative research design. A qualitative design will be adopted for this study to hasten the research process. The study will rely on secondary sources of data. In this regard, peer reviewed articles will be the major source of the secondary data.
Annotated Bibliography
Buzzini, S., & Guskiewicz, K. (2006). Sport-related concussion in the young athlete. Current Opinion in Pediatrics, 18(4), 376-382.
Summary: The study provides a general overview of concussions among young athletes. Buzzini and Guskiewicz (2006) use their research to carry out a review of various studies touching on the subject. The study found that young athletes are the ones most affected by concussions. However, the study points out most aged athletes are unable to withstand the effects of concussion.
Assessment: The problem statement of the research paper underpins the need for a comprehensive approach towards protecting young athletes from the dangers of concussions. To this end, the study by Buzzini and Guskiewicz (2006) is essential in advancing the thesis statement. In the first instance, it will be used to outline the link between age and susceptibility to concussions. Secondly, the source will provide a rationale for proper healthcare management for young athletes.
McCrea, M., Hammeke, T., Olsen, G., Leo, P., & Guskiewicz, K. (2004). Unreported concussion in high school football players: Implications for prevention. Clinical Journal of Sport Medicine, 14(1), 13-17.
Summary: The study affirms the possibility of unreported cases of concussion within school settings. McCrea et al. (2004) point out that high school football is a tradition in America. To this end, good players tend to be over-exploited even when injured. The study evaluates the implications of this undertaking and preventive mechanisms. McCrea et al. (2004) support the sentiment that an athlete can suffer a concussion but the effects remain concealed.
Assessment: In the introductory section, details touching on the symptoms of concussion are evaluated. According to McCrea et al. (2004), most unreported cases are due to the fact that the athletes fail to exhibit the common symptoms. In this regard, the source will be very essential in encouraging comprehensive screening processes.
Nesmith, J. (2010). Sports concussion in the child and adolescent athlete. Journal of the Arkansas Medical Society, 107(6), 111-114.
Summary: The study evaluates concussions among teenagers. To this end, Nesmith (2010) supports the view that many cases of concussions are reported among adolescent athletes. The study sheds more light on the seriousness behind the condition. Nesmith (2010) argues that previously, concussions were not seen as a major issue. However, the findings suggest that the situation is a serious medical condition among young athletes. One of the reasons is that the young athletes have a slower recovery period. The findings from this study will help stakeholders improve on the existing safety conditions for athletes.
Analysis: The selection of this source is relevant with respect to the healthcare of athletes. In this regard, the best recovery techniques are outlined (Nesmith, 2010). The source will help develop the necessary criteria for administering medical care to injured athletes. To this end, the source will be applied uniformly across the study.
Lovell, M., Collins, M., Grant, I., Field, M., Maroon, J., Cantu, R.,…Fu, H. (2003). Recovery from mild concussion in high school athletes. Journal of Neurosurgery, 98(2), 296-301.
Summary: The selection of this source is essential in evaluating diagnostic measures relating to concussions. Lovell et al. (2003) evaluate the recovery process among high school athletes. The study bases its discussion on the neuropsychological performance of an athlete’s brain. Lovell et al. (2003) use the study to illustrate advanced concussion diagnosis techniques. The diagnosis of concussion in this study is prompted by cases of patients who complained of memory dysfunction. Lovell et al. (2003) compare brain activity among high school students prior to a concussion against neuropsychological functions after the head injury.
The study evaluates diagnostic markers associated with concussions. Lovell et al. (2003) point out that the severity of the condition is dependent on the duration of the injury during the sporting activity. The study found that athletes with mild concussions exhibited a decline in their memory retention capabilities. Lovell et al. (2003) point out that the severity of the effects depends on the time taken before formal treatment commences.
Assessment: The relevance of this source is determined by the degree of credibility exhibited. Lovell et al. (2003) discuss their research from the perspective of high school students. The credibility of a study is determined by the use of peer reviewed articles. The study by Lovell (2003) has a comprehensive literature review, which discusses the effects of concussions among young athletes. The crux of the current study is the increase in the number of concussion cases among young athletes. The selection of this source supports the thesis statement by providing a link between age and severity of concussions.
McLeod, T., Perrin, D., Guskiewicz, K., Shultz, S., Diamond, R., & Gansneder, B. (2004). Serial administration for clinical concussion assessments and learning effects in healthy young athletes. Clinical Journal of Sports Medicine, 14, 287-295.
Summary: The study provides an analysis of the treatment criteria for patients who exhibit concussions. McLeod et al. (2004) introduce the Standardized Assessment of Concussion and Balance Error Scoring System. The two are avenues that can be used to evaluate the diagnosis techniques for concussion. The credibility of this source is supported by the fact that it adopts a qualitative and quantitative research method.
Assessment: The study makes use of a target group as the source of the primary data. The current project will not have a group of participants. To this end, McLeod et al. (2004) provide a general idea about the specific design to use in similar studies. Studies that rely on secondary data should include statistical information from studies with such indications. In this regard, the information contained in this source will help to advance information on the treatment options for athletes who have suffered from concussions. The findings suggest that the Balance Error Scoring System is the best treatment initiative for concussions.
Patel, D., Vandashana, S., & Baker, R. (2005). Management of sports related concussion in young athletes. Sports Medicine, 35(8), 671-684.
Summary: The study by Patel et al. (2005) is an evaluation of how sports related concussions can be managed at a clinical level. In the article, Patel et al. (2005) affirm that head injuries are the most common clinical cases with respect to sporting activities. The study localizes the cause of most head injuries to the American Football sport. Understandably, the players are the most at risk of getting concussions given the rough impact characterized by the sport.
The choice of this particular source emerges from the fact that it discusses the age through which the brain continues to develop. Patel et al. (2005) argue that young athletes are part of the age group where the brain is subject to physical and psychological growth and development. In this regard, the study is a credible authority in evaluating the management of concussion among young athletes.
Assessment: The selection of this source is brought about by the sentiments shared in the thesis statement. In the first section of the study, the working thesis statement suggests that “the rise of the concussions culture is brought about by institutional failures”. In this regard, the source will help to outline the healthcare management role that is meant to be played by various sporting institutions.
The study by Patel et al. (2005) finds applicability in the current project based on the concussion management techniques discussed. Information obtained from this source will be used to outline some essential information about concussions. Patel et al. (2005), discusses some elements similar to the current problem statement. For instance, symptoms and diagnostic measures are discussed (Patel et al., 2005). The source will be used uniformly across the project. The source will be important in developing a conclusion for the study. A number of guidelines are outlined with respect to concussion management. The guidelines will help identify the shortcomings of various sporting institutions when it comes to managing concussions among young athletes.
Patridge, B., & Hall, W. (2014). Conflicts of interest in recommendations to use computerized neuropsychological tests to manage concussion in professional football codes. Neuroethics, 7(1), 63-74.
Summary: The study reaffirms the fact that head injury poses a potential risk to the normal functioning of the brain. Patridge and Hall (2014) evaluate the conflicts of interests that present themselves in cases where the management of concussion is necessary. A number of ethical issues often arise when it comes to the management of concussion. The study illustrates a number of examples where such conflicts of interests arise. To this end, the information will be beneficial in developing a proper treatment plan for patients with concussions.
Assessment: The relevance of this source is seen in the recommendations made with respect to policies used in dealing with concussions. Patridge and Hall (2014) argue sporting agencies require building consensus on the policy to be used for healthcare management with respect to concussions. In this regard, the source will help add the relevant information in developing proper treatment techniques for concussions. The source will be used in the conclusion. The information will help add value to the study.