Concussions 101

Written by: Jessica Allen '12

Concussions are the most common form of brain injury. The word concussion comes from the Latin “concutere” which means to shake violently. Concussions are caused by a violent jolt or blow to the head. It is a traumatic brain injury (TBI) which changes the way the brain functions. Although concussions may not always be life-threatening, they can have serious long-term effects.

Concussions occur most often in high school athletes. Teenage brains are still developing and are extremely sensitive to the high speed, agility, and adrenaline that come with playing a sport. An estimated 136,000 athletes experience a concussion during each academic year. Some coaches believe in “taking one for the team”, but this should never be the case.

Surprisingly, girls have a higher incidence of concussions than boys according to a study done in 2007. However, football-related concussions make up about half of all of the high school concussions. Younger athletes take longer to recover due to their less developed brains, and more care needs to be taken before they return to play.

Some people think that in order for a person to have a concussion they have to have visible signs of an injury such as bleeding or bruising, or even that the person must lose consciousness. Some people may experience short and long term memory loss, which usually goes away during recovery time. This is not the case, however, as some people never experience any of these symptoms. Most people recover from a concussion within a couple weeks, rest along with staying hydrated is the best method for recovery.

Symptoms are organized into four categories: physical, thinking/remembering, emotional/mood, and sleep. Some of the most common symptoms are headache, blurred vision, not being able to concentrate, and having sensitivity to noise and light.

It is important to take concussions seriously, as they can have long-lasting effects. A recent study has shown that most athletes return to play too soon. It says that athletes should not return to play until symptoms have been absent for a week. Athletes who return to play too soon after a TBI are far more likely to sustain a second TBI than those who don’t.

Even if a person doesn’t exhibit signs of having a concussion, if a blow to the head occurs, it’s always better to be safe and have them checked out by a doctor. A player cannot return to play until they have been cleared by a physician anyway.

Concussions are a serious matter and should be taken as such. They can lead to some major health concerns, but taken care of properly with rest and plenty of hydration, they can be a relatively uneventful ordeal.