By: Headline Heavyweight
Boxing is an intensely physically and mentally demanding sport, but by the very fact that it is a boxing match, a player is taking and receiving serious blows to the head—severe enough that a boxer can potentially face long-term effects that are truly dangerous to mental health. The physical, immediate injuries of boxing are not within the head, so they are visible and include cuts and bruises. The same is not the case with the injuries from head trauma. This danger remains hidden until it is seen in later years in ways that can be devastating.
When a boxer is subjected to consecutive blows to the head, brain injury occurs that potentially leads to acute and chronic neurological damage. Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy (CTE) is a degenerative brain disease that has been observed in individuals exposed to repetitive head trauma, such as boxers. This degenerative brain disease can be observed in individuals who have been through constant head traumas. The symptoms include amnesia, depressive and aggressive tendencies, disorientation, and suicidal behavior.
CTE and other such traumatic brain injuries have very slow development, making their detection in the early stage of the process quite challenging. Some boxers may not realize the gradual changes in their mental status, behavior, or mood other than when the process has advanced. This late onset can explain the difficulty of relating these symptoms with their boxing career, leading to gross underreporting and lack of treatment.
Psychological-Emotional Damage
Research suggests that repeated head trauma may increase the risk of depression, anxiety, and other mood disorders, particularly in boxers with a history of multiple concussions or sub-concussive hits. The inherent pressures of the sport may exacerbate these problems, as well as the stress of competition and adjusting to life after retirement.
Retirement can be especially hard for many boxers to adjust to after being in the thick of competition. Loss of identity, meaning, and camaraderie, combined with the consequences of their injuries, means the deterioration of the minds of many athletes. For some retired fighters who need it, the escape and lack of support that boxing brings forces them into isolation and fighting mental health problems without resources or understanding to cope with their minds.
Significance of Awareness and Support
It is of great essence because it raises awareness of the mental risks involved in boxing for the benefit of those involved in the fight, such as boxers, coaches, or medical professionals. Early detection and intervention can help mitigate some of the long-term consequences of head trauma. Boxers, coaches, and medical professionals must remain vigilant for any warning signs of brain injury and/or poor mental health during and after a boxer calls it a career.
The boxing community would further have to consider mental health support for its boxers, meaning access to a mental health professional, an attitude encouraging the fighters to avail themselves of assistance, and procedures in place to ensure the fighters are not unnecessarily submitted to risk during training or in the ring. Making sure that boxers have support during their active career years and after retirement can make all the difference in living their life up to par.
Photo Courtesy: Hit N Move
The Role of Protective Gear in Boxing
Protective gear plays a very vital role in boxing in that it is used to provide the first line of defense against severe impacts on the brain and other neurological damage that repetitive blows to the head can cause. From gloves, which cushion the force of the punches, to headgear that protects the brain from direct trauma, such pieces of equipment are vital in reducing the risk of a concussion and the consequent long-term injuries to the brain. Awareness of mental health risks associated with brain injuries in a large number of sports calls for essential developments in well-designed and scientifically validated protective gear. This gear is designed to enhance safety, potentially helping fighters maintain their confidence and focus in the ring. The design’s effectiveness has been evaluated through research conducted at Virginia Tech.
Photo Courtesy: Virginia Tech Helmet Labs
Hit N Move: Protecting Fighters by Innovating
Hit N Move is at the cutting edge in developing innovative protective gear that aims to address the risks of head trauma in boxing. They realized that while many boxers hated wearing conventional headgear, it was for reasons such as impaired vision, disturbance because of weight, and overheating. With these issues in their mind, Hit N Move designed their headgear in a manner that would not only aim to provide better protection but also provide gains against the woes of conventional headgear. The ultralight design ensures the boxer can handle their natural movement and quick reactions, while the multi-layered micro padding provides strategic protection without the added bulk. In addition, the design of the headgear offers proper ventilation and visibility, among other aspects, which makes it much more comfortable and functional for the fighters. With all of these features built into a modern, stylish design scientifically proven through Virginia Tech, Hit N Move is availing safe and comfortable headgear and ensures that the fighters focus on nothing but their performance, not other annoyances.
Photo Courtesy: Hit N Move
Conclusion: Protection for the Fighter’s Mind
The mental health issues that can potentially stem from repetitive head trauma in boxing are severe and far-reaching. The responsibility must come from the boxing world: for a place in the evolution of the sport where these silent risks are embraced and fighters’ mental health is watched over. This means raising safety standards and equipment and creating a culture where mental health is as important as physical. This way, the sport can ensure fighters are strong both inside and outside the ring, healthy, and supported.
Published By: Aize Perez
