sports medicine cq4; return to play (ethics)

Question 1

What are the various ethical considerations for determining whether an athlete can return to play?

Answer 1

• Different rules that apply to different sports
• Pressure to participate
• Use of pain killers
• Who is responsible for the decision in whether an athlete can return to play?

Question 2

Why are there different rules that apply to different sports?

Answer 2

All sports are different in nature and thus will require their own specific policies and procedures which address the different needs of their respected athletes.

• However, sports of similar nature may adopt similar return to play policies and procedures but adapted to their sport. (e.g. rugby and boxing)

Question 3

What are the policies and procedures for being knocked out in boxing?

Answer 3

• After being knocked out the athlete is banned from competition and sparing for 28 days the first time and 3 months the second time.
• Additionally, if the athlete is knocked out for longer than 2 minutes they will have a 6 month break from sparing.

Question 4

What is the case study for policies and procedures for unconciousness in boxing?

Answer 4

Rhonda Rousey in 2015 was knocked out for over 2 minutes and thus resulted in a longer break from competition.

Question 5

What are the policies and procedures for being knocked out in Rugby league?

Answer 5

An athlete is deemed fit to play once they pass a cognative test (HIA) during the week ➡️ this is less strict than boxing as there is a lower chance of re-injury.

Question 6

How can high pressure to participate impact the bending of policies and procedures for return to play? (inc. case study)

Answer 6

Due to high pressure to participate athletes, coaches and doctors can often bend the rules in order to increase likelihood of winning.

Case study;
- The NRL issues a record $350,000 in fines in 2015 to the Gold Coast Tigers, Newcastle Knights and St. George Illawara Dragons for breaching concussion guidelines by keeping players on the field whilst suffering from a concussion.

Question 7

How can an athlete experience pressure to participate in returning from an injury?

Answer 7

Pressure to participate following an injury can occur at any level of sport whether it be a local club or at the professional level. These pressures either arise from internal or external sources.

Question 8

What are external pressures in returning to play after an injury?

Answer 8

Pressure from coaches, teammates, fans or the club administration.

Question 9

Specific sport example for pressure to participate (basketball)

Answer 9

A basketballer who is keen on returning to competition after a knee injury may lie about the nature and extent of the injury that they have sustained as they are highly motivated to return, in order to;
- retain a spot on the team
- gain a sponsorship
- assist in a key game (e.g. grand final)

Question 10

Why is pressure to participate an ethical consideration?

Answer 10

It would be unethical to allow an athlete to return to play if they are unable to demonstrate the completion of various skill tests, pain free and with full range of motion even if they state that they are ready.

Question 11

How can players be pressured to participate and coaches and owners not follow the ethical consideration for monetary purposes?

Answer 11

Athletes may be seen as commodities that can generate money for teams by;
- Increasing possibility of a team winning
- Gaining larger spectators (or losing when player is injured)
- Ranking
- Sponsorship deals
Hence, athletes would focus on monetary pressures rather than recovering from the injury.

Question 12

What is the case study for pressure to participate? (basketball)

Answer 12

San Antonio Spurs forward Kawhi Leonard faced tension between his team as team doctors cleared him to play after a quadricep injury. However, he felt discomfort in the injured site and his own personal doctor had not cleared him. Hence, the team did not trust him and traded him to the Toronto Raptors.

Question 13

Why may athletes use painkillers? (ethics)

Answer 13

Due to pressure to play from external and internal sources, it may result in athletes using painkillers to return to play.
e.g. A 100m sprinter that can only return to play through the use of pain killers to lessen the pain of a hamstring injury.

Question 14

What are the factors that must be considered for the use of pain killers?

Answer 14

• The type of drug being taken
• Potential side effects
• How the athlete is obtaining the drug

Question 15

What are conditions in which an athlete should NEVER take a pain killer to return to play?

Answer 15

• If there are serious side effects
• If it is a career injury

Question 16

What is the case study for the ethical considerations behind the use of pain killers in return to play?

Answer 16

In 2012, Anthony Watmough risked having a stroke due to needing cortisone injections in his vertebrae which allowed him to play with bulging disks in his neck
- This was for an origin game and Anthony stated, “Origin is something you never take for granted. You never know when your last one is going to be so when you get the chance, you grab it.