Concussions and Awareness
A concussion is an injury caused by an impact, often to the head. The number of concussions has increased in recent years and we now understand the gravity of them. It is important for coaches and athletes to recognize, report, and recover from concussions because of the increased risk for a second concussion or even second-impact syndrome. After a concussion athletes may lose consciousness, but more often than not they experience dizziness, mood changes, vomiting, and headaches.
After a concussion is recognized and reported, it is essential for athletes to take the measures necessary to complete a full recovery. When given a written clearance by their doctor, an athlete will be required to work with their coaches to determine how to manage their return-to-play. Teachers will also need to be involved in this process as school work may exert their recovering brains. The need for concussion awareness has been perceived at the national and state level. Idaho has recently passed legislation to help guide schools in their management of this injury. Melba Jr-Sr High School has embraced this new legislation by merging the state guidelines into their school concussion policy.
In the United States, athletes suffer an average of 300,000 concussions per year with most of these occurring at the high school level. High school football players account for more than 62,000 of these (McClincy, 2006). In September of 2011 the Medical Journal of Pediatrics noted two times as many concussions were being reported at the ER by those ages 8-19 between 1997 and 2007, despite a decrease in organized sport participation (Samuels, 2010). Concussions have become an increasingly serious issue for athletes, including those in high school. Many states have recently established guidelines or policies to protect these young athletes, yet many high schools need to establish or better enforce their policies to raise awareness and combat this brain injury risk.
Concussions present a risk to all high school athletes, not just football players. In fact, about 6% of high school basketball injuries for both girls and boys are contributed to concussions (Covassin, 2009). This newly exposed injury can occur to any athlete as “[s]port concussions are caused by a direct or indirect blow to the head causing a transient alteration of mental status” (Thériault, 2011, p.30). Matt Kaiserman, who works for St. Luke’s Concussion Clinic, further explains this:
A concussion is a traumatic brain injury caused by a bump, blow, or jolt to the head that can change the way your brain normally works. A closer look reveals that a concussion is a complex physiological process that damages the brain at a microscopic level, in which cells and cell membranes are stretched and torn. This damage leads to an abnormal movement of calcium, potassium, glutamate, and other substances in and out of the injured cells. At the same time that these chemical changes are happening, the brain restricts blood flow to the damaged areas. The injured cells demand more fuel to heal, and as blood is the only source of fuel (glucose) for the brain, a mismatch of fuel supply and demand occurs and can lead to further cell injury and dysfunction (Taken from CDC and National Federation of State High School Association materials). (2012).
There are two main categories of concussions: simple and complex. Athletes suffering from simple concussions tend to display symptoms and need to limit their activities; however, no other measures are necessary. Athletes suffering from a complex concussion have relentless symptoms which may reappear after physical or mental exertion (De Beaumont, 2007)
After a concussion is recognized and reported, it is essential for athletes to take the measures necessary to complete a full recovery. When given a written clearance by their doctor, an athlete will be required to work with their coaches to determine how to manage their return-to-play. Teachers will also need to be involved in this process as school work may exert their recovering brains. The need for concussion awareness has been perceived at the national and state level. Idaho has recently passed legislation to help guide schools in their management of this injury. Melba Jr-Sr High School has embraced this new legislation by merging the state guidelines into their school concussion policy.
In the United States, athletes suffer an average of 300,000 concussions per year with most of these occurring at the high school level. High school football players account for more than 62,000 of these (McClincy, 2006). In September of 2011 the Medical Journal of Pediatrics noted two times as many concussions were being reported at the ER by those ages 8-19 between 1997 and 2007, despite a decrease in organized sport participation (Samuels, 2010). Concussions have become an increasingly serious issue for athletes, including those in high school. Many states have recently established guidelines or policies to protect these young athletes, yet many high schools need to establish or better enforce their policies to raise awareness and combat this brain injury risk.
Concussions present a risk to all high school athletes, not just football players. In fact, about 6% of high school basketball injuries for both girls and boys are contributed to concussions (Covassin, 2009). This newly exposed injury can occur to any athlete as “[s]port concussions are caused by a direct or indirect blow to the head causing a transient alteration of mental status” (Thériault, 2011, p.30). Matt Kaiserman, who works for St. Luke’s Concussion Clinic, further explains this:
A concussion is a traumatic brain injury caused by a bump, blow, or jolt to the head that can change the way your brain normally works. A closer look reveals that a concussion is a complex physiological process that damages the brain at a microscopic level, in which cells and cell membranes are stretched and torn. This damage leads to an abnormal movement of calcium, potassium, glutamate, and other substances in and out of the injured cells. At the same time that these chemical changes are happening, the brain restricts blood flow to the damaged areas. The injured cells demand more fuel to heal, and as blood is the only source of fuel (glucose) for the brain, a mismatch of fuel supply and demand occurs and can lead to further cell injury and dysfunction (Taken from CDC and National Federation of State High School Association materials). (2012).
There are two main categories of concussions: simple and complex. Athletes suffering from simple concussions tend to display symptoms and need to limit their activities; however, no other measures are necessary. Athletes suffering from a complex concussion have relentless symptoms which may reappear after physical or mental exertion (De Beaumont, 2007)