In 776 B.C. the Greeks had the first ever Olympic Games, the games included chariot racing, jumping and wrestling, among other sports. This was the first introduction of formal sports to the world. Almost three hundred years later and we are still playing these games and people have added many others along the way. And although some sports have come and gone, rules have been changed and generations have passed, one important part of sports has not changed, and that is the love of the game. Sports have always had an important role in our lives and we are just now really learning of the effects that sports have on the human body.
Sports help build self-esteem and self worth, and also can reduce the chances or effects of depression. Sport and Dev is an organization funded by The Swiss Academy for Development and other European institutions. In a recent article by Sport and Dev on the effects sports have on the human body, it stated, “Studies also show that exercise has a positive influence on depression. Physical self-worth and physical self-perception, including body image, has been linked to improve self-esteem. The evidence relating to health benefits of physical activity predominantly focuses on interpersonal factors such as physiological, cognitive and affective benefits, however, that does not exclude the social and interpersonal benefits of sport and physical activity which can also produce positive health effects in individuals and communities” (The Health Benefits of Sport and Physical Activity 1). It’s obvious that sports help the human body physically strengthen but not many people know of the mental benefits that sports have on the body. It has only been till recently that we have learned of the many positive effects sports have on our body outside of the physical aspect. Sports are a great way to find friends and be active at the same time, the friends people make through sports will help the practice be easier and make them look forward to being physically active. Sports are also a great way for some people to be able to take their mind off events, at home, issues at school or sometimes just blow some steam. The article later goes on to read, “Sports and physical activity can make a substantial contribution to the well-being of people in developing countries. Exercise, physical activity and sports have long been used in the treatment and rehabilitation of communicable and noncommunicable diseases. Physical activity for individuals is a strong means for the prevention of diseases and for nations is a cost-effective method to improve public health across populations” (The Health Benefits of Sport and Physical Activity 1). Many successful professional athletes in the U.S. come from different countries and quite a few are from third world or struggling countries. These athletes say that sports were a way to take their minds off their struggling lifestyle and be able to do something they loved and enjoyed. Physical activity also prevents many diseases in countries around the world, developed or undeveloped by boosting the immune system and mentally strengthening the human body. For example, exercising for an hour a day can prevent diseases such as diabetes, obesity and osteoporosis.
There are many upsides to playing sports, but there are also some major risks involved as well. One of the major risks in contact sports is the disease CTE, “Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy (CTE) is a degenerative brain disease found in athletes, military veterans, and others with a history of repetitive brain trauma. Most of what we have learned about CTE has come from the research of Dr. Ann McKee, director of the VA-BU-CLF Brain Bank, who has revolutionized our understanding of CTE. In CTE, a protein called Tau forms clumps that slowly spread throughout the brain, killing brain cells. CTE has been seen in people as young as 17, but symptoms do not generally begin appearing until years after the onset of head impacts”(Concussion Legacy Foundation 1). CTE is a very dangerous and sadly effective disease, but it is also very rare and with the improving technologies in sports many situations can be prevented that could not have been prevented before. Many people do not know that they suffer from CTE during their time of playing, but realize it when they are older and there is not much that can be done to clear the protein or prevent the symptoms. “Physicians and researchers are only beginning to understand many aspects of CTE. More time and research are needed and for that reason a consensus has not yet been reached on the symptoms of CTE. However, based on present knowledge, the signs of CTE may sometimes be similar to those of other conditions that involve substantial loss of brain cells, including Alzheimer's disease and Parkinson's disease. Possible signs include: memory loss, confusion, personality changes (including depression and suicidal thoughts), erratic behavior (including aggression), problems paying attention and organizing thoughts, difficulty with balance and motor skills”(Alzheimer's Disease and Dementia 1). Science is known as a growing body of knowledge so whenever a disease like this is discovered it takes time to understand how it starts, what exactly can cause it and if there are any cures, sadly for CTE a cure has not been discovered but many sports leagues are taking action to prevent CTE. It can be hard to diagnose somebody with CTE because a brain scan is required to see and understand if there are any similarities between the patient and someone that is currently known to be suffering from CTE. Not many people knew that Aaron Hernandez suffered from a very major case of CTE, it wasn’t until after his suicide that the world figured out that Aaron was not some twisted man but actually a man who’s head had been beaten in so many times it truly changed him.
Although sports help build muscle in the body and also helps mentally there are risks and downfalls of playing sports. “Over-competition in sport is problematic for children’s mental health. Some competition is fine to keep them focused, but too much is a problem. It’s bad for the less athletic kids because they feel bad [or feel] they may be letting the team down, and rejected if they are dropped. But it’s also a problem for the high-achievers who can become anxious about their performance”(O’Connell 1). From a young age kids want to be the star, they dream of making millions of dollars and having millions of fans and supporters. So at a young age they put pressure on themselves to succeed and make others proud and to make their teammates happy. But when they come short or someone tells them they are not good enough they start beating themselves down, sometimes quitting the sport they love because of one person’s opinion. “Time demands are a frequent source of stress for student-athletes. Many student-athletes spend more than 30 hours per week on their sport, with extensive in-season travel and early morning practices that limit sleep. Managing both sport and academic demands often results in elevated stress, inadequate sleep, and an inability to participate in other extracurricular or leisure activities that help promote overall well-being. Because of the physical demands on their sport, many student-athletes need more sleep than the average college student. Individuals with adequate sleep also respond more effectively to stressors as they arise. Research has indicated that sleep is critical for mental acuity, sport performance and injury prevention” (Kroshus 1). The article later goes on to read, “Sports teams often have extremely high group identity and cohesion. When some teammates model unhealthy behaviors, such as disordered eating or substance use, other teammates are at elevated risk of adopting those behaviors. Whether exposure to or experimentation with these types of unhealthy behaviors results in an individual progressing to a clinically diagnosable mental health disorder depends in part on his or her underlying genetic vulnerability” (Kroshus 1). As said in the article, sports pile stress onto an already insurmountable amount of pressure that the average student already faces. This has many side-effects that can add even more stress and cause the body to not function at its peak like it should at a young age.
There are both positive and negative factors in playing sports but the majority of the negative factors can be avoided through proper coaching and parenting, and the never ending advancement in safety for athletes. All in all sports are an important part of many people's lives and it should stay that way for the next 300 years to come.
Works Cited
“Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy (CTE).” Alzheimer's Disease and Dementia, Alzheimer's Association , 2020, www.alz.org/alzheimers-dementia/what-is-dementia/related_conditions/chronic-traumatic-encephalopathy-(cte). Accessed 03 March 2020
Kroshus, Emily. “Mind, Body and Sport: Risk Factors in the Sport Environment.”
NCAA.org - The Official Site of the NCAA, 18 July 2017, www.ncaa.org/sport-science-institute/mind-body-and-sport-risk-factors-sport-Environment. Accessed 26 February 2020
O'Connell, Jennifer. “Over-Competition in Sport Is Bad for Children's Mental Health.” The Irish Times, The Irish Times, 20 May 2017, www.irishtimes.com/life-and-style/health-family/parenting/over-competition-in-sport-is-bad. Accessed 04 March 2020
“Sportanddev.org.” The Health Benefits of Sport and Physical Activity, www.sportanddev.org/en/learn-more/health/health-benefits-sport-and-physical-activity. Accessed 24 February 2020
“What Is CTE?” Concussion Legacy Foundation, 26 Nov. 2019, concussionfoundation.org/CTE-resources/what-is-CTE. Accessed 24 February 2020