logo
episode-header-image
Apr 2021
23m 31s

How will the concussion issue affect the...

Bbc World Service
About this episode

Concussion is now a powder-keg issue in world sport, as concerns deepen about the potential links to brain disease.

The long-term effects of careers spent making and taking heavy tackles are being revealed in ever-increasing detail, but the risks are not exclusive to so-called full contact sports.

Some governing bodies have sprung into action, implementing new rules and safety measures. But others turn a blind eye. So, we’re asking – how will the concussion issue affect the future of sport?

Presenter: Paul Connolly Producer: Stefania Okereke

(Photo: Denver Broncos wide receiver Wes Welker (83) lays on the field after getting a concussion in the second quarter. Credit: Getty Images)

Up next
Jul 14
Are we closer to gene therapy for sickle cell disease being accessible?
Gene therapy has changed what is possible for people living with sickle cell disease. New treatments have shown that the condition can be successfully treated. But the therapy is costly and available to only a small number of patients. Millions of people around the world still re ... Show More
24m 26s
Jul 7
Is Kenya serious about ending femicide?
Last year Kenya’s President William Ruto established a task force to investigate the escalating cases of gender-based violence including femicide. The task force travelled around the country gathering information and at the beginning of this year published its recommendations, wh ... Show More
24m 25s
Jun 30
Can the New World Screwworm be stopped?
Flesh-eating parasitic flies have been found in the US state of Texas for the first time in decades. Known as the New World Screwworm, officials have now put plans in place to try and contain its spread. The fly feeds off warm-blooded animals, like cattle, dogs and horses, but if ... Show More
24m 12s
Recommended Episodes
Feb 2024
What’s being done to protect athletes from brain injuries?
American Football, Rugby, MMA, UFC. All these adrenaline-filled sports bring in millions of viewers each year, and athletes put their bodies and brains on the line to excel in them. But there’s increasing concern that head injuries are leading to serious mental health problems.BB ... Show More
15m 33s
Sep 2022
Rugby’s concussion crisis – do the sport’s risks outweigh its rewards?
Crushing tackles and full-on collisions are part of the spectacle of modern day rugby – but at what cost to players’ health? With a new season underway, we’ll be taking a closer look at the concussion cloud hanging over the sport. We hear from former Wales flanker Alix Popham, wh ... Show More
1 h
Aug 2021
Head injury in sport
Contact sports can be dangerous. The truth about the effects on players is coming out. 
6m 46s
Sep 2023
One Thing: Flag on the Sport: Football’s Safety Reckoning
As a new NFL season kicks off this week, old questions about the game’s safety are being asked following Damar Hamlin’s on-field cardiac arrest and Tua Tagovailoa’s multiple concussions last year. And it’s not just the pros: youth leagues around the countries have adjusted practi ... Show More
18m 2s
Nov 2016
What's the Deal with Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy?
<p>Concussions are bad enough for football players, but research has found all of those smaller hits can add up to massive brain trauma later in life too, leading to a condition called chronic traumatic encephalopathy, a condition the NFL sought to cover up.</p><p> </p> Learn mor ... Show More
38m 44s
Dec 2020
Failing players for too long: Football’s head trauma shame
Raúl Jiménez suffering a fractured skull brought football’s negligence of head injury prevention and care back into the spotlight. But, as we explore on today’s episode of Between The Lines, the game has long been aware of the research on the long-term effects of such trauma and ... Show More
50m 4s
Apr 2018
Everyday Neuro 004: Brain Injury, Cognitive Functioning and Concussion in Sport
In this episode, I discuss brain injury and how it affects the brain, physical abilities, cognition and behaviour. There is a particular focus on traumatic brain injury and how concussion in sport is an area receiving interest from researchers. I interview Brodie Ingham who has i ... Show More
20m 33s