Boxing: Playing with death
Sep 25, 2011
THEY pay with their health for the entertainment of others. Theirs has been dubbed as death under the spotlight, and it ranks high as a dangerous sport.
By Alex Balimwikungu
THEY pay with their health for the entertainment of others. Theirs has been dubbed as death under the spotlight, and it ranks high as a dangerous sport.
Cuts, bruises, broken teeth, dental problems, broken ribs, internal bleeding and damage to internal organs are just part of the dangers professional boxers face as they fight their way to the top.
Dr. Ntege Ssengendo, an orthopaedist and former doctor for the National Olympics Team, says the degree of damage suffered by boxers depends on whether they are professional or amateur.
Professional boxers suffer from the cumulative effect of damage to the brain often resulting in punch drunk syndrome, while there is no evidence of it among amateurs.
Punch drunk syndrome typically develops about 16 years after the initial head injury. In its later stages, patients develop symptoms of dementia and Alzheimer’s disease.
Dr. Ntege, who is actively involved in the local boxing federation, says the repeated blows players receive on the head are likely to cause damage to the brain vessels, triggering other adverse effects.
“They might not die in the ring, but many suffer clots and paralysis as a result. Boxers may also suffer concussions and develop cognitive impairment and dementia,†he says.
Dr. Ntege explains that even in their hey-day, professional boxers in the mould of Mike Tyson tend to be erratic and outlandish, living life in the fast lane. As a result, most of them adopt non-conformist lifestyles punctuated by sex, alcohol and drugs.
It is not different in our backyard as some of the former national pugilists live an abysmal and wretched life fuelled by addiction to alcohol and drugs.
Head Injuries
According to a recent report from the American Association of Neurological Surgeons, 90% of boxers sustain brain injury.
It indicates that whereas boxing may account for fewer deaths than other sports, the number of boxers suffering brain damage is believed to be higher than recorded.
It is estimated that when a boxer gets a direct blow to the head, it is like being hit by an object travelling at 20mph!
“A blow can damage the surface of the brain, tear nerve networks, cause bleeding and sometimes produce large clots within the brain. As a result, boxers’ brains are smaller,†the report states.
Citing the example of great boxer Muhammad Ali, Dr. Ntege explains that: “Ex-professional boxers are more vulnerable to natural aging of the brain and diseases of the brain. They are likely to suffer diseases such as Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s.â€
What help is there?
Dr. Ntege says much as there are steps being taken to make boxing a safer sport through ringside medical care, there is need for the professional boxers to undergo CT scans, at least once every three months so as to be able to detect early warning signs.
However, he also believes boxing is one of the best sports for relieving stress.
“The sport of boxing is a therapy. It helps those involved release anger, prevent anxiety and teaches them to work through emotions. If you have anger management problems, a boxing ring and instructor are the safest place for you to let out those aggressions without hurting anyone else,†Dr. Ntege concludes.
THEY pay with their health for the entertainment of others. Theirs has been dubbed as death under the spotlight, and it ranks high as a dangerous sport.
Cuts, bruises, broken teeth, dental problems, broken ribs, internal bleeding and damage to internal organs are just part of the dangers professional boxers face as they fight their way to the top.
Dr. Ntege Ssengendo, an orthopaedist and former doctor for the National Olympics Team, says the degree of damage suffered by boxers depends on whether they are professional or amateur.
Professional boxers suffer from the cumulative effect of damage to the brain often resulting in punch drunk syndrome, while there is no evidence of it among amateurs.
Punch drunk syndrome typically develops about 16 years after the initial head injury. In its later stages, patients develop symptoms of dementia and Alzheimer’s disease.
Dr. Ntege, who is actively involved in the local boxing federation, says the repeated blows players receive on the head are likely to cause damage to the brain vessels, triggering other adverse effects.
“They might not die in the ring, but many suffer clots and paralysis as a result. Boxers may also suffer concussions and develop cognitive impairment and dementia,†he says.
Dr. Ntege explains that even in their hey-day, professional boxers in the mould of Mike Tyson tend to be erratic and outlandish, living life in the fast lane. As a result, most of them adopt non-conformist lifestyles punctuated by sex, alcohol and drugs.
It is not different in our backyard as some of the former national pugilists live an abysmal and wretched life fuelled by addiction to alcohol and drugs.
Head Injuries
According to a recent report from the American Association of Neurological Surgeons, 90% of boxers sustain brain injury.
It indicates that whereas boxing may account for fewer deaths than other sports, the number of boxers suffering brain damage is believed to be higher than recorded.
It is estimated that when a boxer gets a direct blow to the head, it is like being hit by an object travelling at 20mph!
“A blow can damage the surface of the brain, tear nerve networks, cause bleeding and sometimes produce large clots within the brain. As a result, boxers’ brains are smaller,†the report states.
Citing the example of great boxer Muhammad Ali, Dr. Ntege explains that: “Ex-professional boxers are more vulnerable to natural aging of the brain and diseases of the brain. They are likely to suffer diseases such as Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s.â€
What help is there?
Dr. Ntege says much as there are steps being taken to make boxing a safer sport through ringside medical care, there is need for the professional boxers to undergo CT scans, at least once every three months so as to be able to detect early warning signs.
However, he also believes boxing is one of the best sports for relieving stress.
“The sport of boxing is a therapy. It helps those involved release anger, prevent anxiety and teaches them to work through emotions. If you have anger management problems, a boxing ring and instructor are the safest place for you to let out those aggressions without hurting anyone else,†Dr. Ntege concludes.