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Football Damage

 American football is a brutal sport, and at least a quarter of my students play on AU teams. (A number probably played in high school too, but don't play in college.) I have had quite a number of students who suffered life-changing knee injuries and concussions. Other injuries are common too, but cracked ribs and broken arms do not seem to have the same potential for long-term disabilities.

Just how common are concussions and knee injuries? Is anything being done to make the sport safer? What are the long-term prospects for kids who have suffered these things? (Some injuries may not seem to cause trouble until much later. My friend Bob played in high school and college, but did not need both knees replaced until he was in his 50s.)

These are probably two different papers: head injuries and knee injuries. They really do not occur in the same way and I am sure the prevention and treatment would be very different as well.

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