What Is a Sports Concussion?
Concussions are traumatic head injuries that occur from both mild and severe blows to the head. Some head injuries may appear to be mild but research is finding that concussions can have serious, long-term effects, especially repeat head injuries or cumulative concussions.
A concussion is typically caused by a severe head trauma during which the brain moves violently within the skull. The brain cells all fire at once, much like a seizure. Some studies show that patients who suffer a concussion appear to have the brain activity of people in a coma.
A concussion may result from a fall in which the head strikes against an object or a moving object strikes the head. A suddenly induced turning movement such as a blow that twists the head (like a punch to the side of the face) is more likely to produce unconsciousness. However, significant jarring in any direction can produce unconsciousness.
In 2004, data has collected from the head impact telemetry system used in the NFL concussion studies found that 58 of 623 (9.3 percent) of professional football players who suffered a concussion also had a loss of consciousness.
Concussion Signs and Symptoms
Early Concussion Symptoms May Include:
Late Concussion Symptoms May Include:
Sports Concussions Linked to Depression and Cognitive Deficits
Depression is one of the many symptoms experienced by athletes following concussion. In fact, some research finds the prevalence of depression in head trauma patients can be as high as 40 percent. Several studies have also shown a link between a history of brain injury and a higher probability of developing major depression later in life.
They also found that some mild head injuries caused damage only to the outer surface of the nerve (the myelin sheath of an axon), which may be able to be repaired, but more severe head injuries caused damage to the axon itself, which may not be as easily repaired. If an axon is severed, it is unlikely that it can repair itself.
Concussion in Skiers and Snowboarders
Canadian researchers found that the occurrence of both spinal cord and traumatic brain injury appears to be increasing worldwide. They reported that these increased injury rates coincide with an increase and acceptance of higher speeds on the slopes and more acrobatic maneuvers, such as jumping and twists.
They also reported that wearing a helmet can reduce the risk of head injury by up to 60 percent and highly recommend helmets for skiers and boarders.
Also see: Common Skiing and Snowboarding Injuries
Concussion First Aid
If you suffer any head injury, stop activity and seek medical attention. Even if you think it’s a mild bump on the head, it could turn into something serious if you return to sports.
According to researcher Mark Lowell, allowing an athlete to return to play too early after any head injury increases their chance of more serious brain injury. Because signs of a mild concussion -- confusion, disorientation and memory loss -- may disappear within minutes and may not be reported by the athlete, athletes are too often allowed to continue playing or return to a game before their brain has had adequate time to heal.
Concussion Assessment and Testing in Athletes
Deciding when an athlete should return to sports after a concussion remains a matter of controversy within the medical community. However, various research projects continue to learn more about concussion assessment and evaluation.
In 2010 researchers at the University of Michigan's Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation developed a simple and inexpensive reaction time test that may help identify athletes who have a head injury that is serious enough to require time off from sports.
Researchers at the University of Pittsburgh's Sports Medicine Center developed a computer program, Immediate Post-Concussion Assessment and Cognitive Testing system, or ImPACT, which measures an athlete's memory, reaction time and processing speed in order to help determine when an athlete can safely return to sports after a head injury.
The test measures an athlete's baseline results at the start of a season. They retest any athlete who sustains a head injury or concussion. The results of the testing provide an objective assessment of whether the athlete is healthy enough to return to play. The ImPACT program is currently used at many high schools and colleges, as well as the National Football League and National Hockey League.
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Sometimes preventing common sports injuries is beyond our control, but many times sports injuries are preventable. Some injuries, we bring on ourselves because we’re not conditioned for the activity. Work out daily and get double benefit — enjoy your weekend activities and garner the health benefits. Every workout should start with a gentle warm-up to prevent common sports injuries. Getting warmed up increases blood flow to the muscles, gets you more flexible, and could decrease injuries. Overuse injuries are common and preventable, Don’t come out and hit the ball for an hour after not playing for a while., Whether it’s hiking, running, or team sports, do some “pre-participation stretching” first by lightly working the relevant muscle groups before the activity. And learn to recognize when you’ve already left it all on the field. Stop when you are fatigued, Muscle fatigue takes away all your protective mechanisms and really increases your risk of all injuries.
Professional athletes often seek better, newer treatments outside the teams facility. We have treated players from the NFL, NBA, MLB, NHL and the PGA. Of course we can't list the name of the players for security reasons but below is a list of the teams that they play for. And yes we have to treat the players from teams opposing our home town favorites, Sorry Guys. Go CARDS
