Traumatic Brain Injury In Sports And Preventable Measures

Tua Tagovailoa, Quarterback for the Miami Dolphins, has been the centre of discussion lately with regards to traumatic brain injuries (TBI) in sports. Controversy has arisen with regards to the handling of TBIs in the National Football League (NFL) in recent years. Unfortunately for Tagovailoa, he suffered brain injuries in back to back weeks, causing this topic to surface yet again.

On September 25, Tagovailoa hit his head on the field against the Buffalo Bills but came back and finished the game. The Dolphins initially claimed that Tagovailoa suffered a brain injury, but then changed the diagnosis to back/ankle injuries later in the game. However, it was highly evident that Tagovailoa struggled to maintain his balance. His teammates had to help him off the field after taking a big hit. Whether it was a back or brain injury, Tagovailoa arguably should not have been allowed to return to the game.