CTE study finds 70pc of head impacts happening in sports practice

A recent study on chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE) in NFL players has revealed that 70% of the head impacts leading to the disease occurred during sports practice, not just at the NFL level. Of the 878 former players who died between 2016 and 2021, 235 donated their brains, with 215 of those brains testing positive for CTE.

The study's lead author, Daniel Daneshvar, expressed concern about the high prevalence of CTE among the players. While CTE is typically diagnosed posthumously, it is difficult to determine its prevalence in the general population. The researchers emphasized the need for preventive measures to reduce repetitive head impacts across all levels of the sport.

They cited the NFL's 2011 Collective Bargaining Agreement, which limited contact practices during the season, and the Ivy League's decision to ban full-contact tackling during practices five years later. The Supreme Court allowed the NFL to settle concussion-related lawsuits with thousands of retired players in 2016. The NFL spokesperson stated that the league is committed to making the game safer through various strategies, including reducing concussions and head impacts.

Dr. Daneshvar urged current and former athletes with cognitive symptoms to seek help from a neurodegenerative disease expert. With nearly 70% of head impacts happening in practice, he believes that implementing safer practices at the collegiate, high school, and youth levels could significantly reduce the cumulative head impact burden on athletes.