Need to Know Facts about Concussions

Tuesday, September 16, 2014 - 16:11

A concussion is a common head injury, also known as a Mild Traumatic Brain Injury (MTBI). It is an injury that is caused by the brain being shaken around inside the skull after a direct blow to the head, or a sudden jerking of the head or neck when the body is hit. There is a misconception that you have to be knocked out to sustain a concussion, when in fact any contact to the head or body that causes rapid head movement can cause a concussion.

Symptoms of a Concussion*:

• Decreased Concentration - May have the inability to think or remember recent events. May appear dazed or stunned. People usually describe themselves as being ‘foggy’ or have a ringing in the ears.
• Vision problems - May have blurry, double vision or “see stars”. Light sensitivity is also common.
• Emotional Changes - May be irritable, sad, or nervous. Athletes with severe concussions may show unusual emotions, a personality change or inappropriate behaviour.

An athlete who has had one concussion is more likely to have another than an athlete who hasn't been concussed - Hard Facts about Concussions, Ithaca College

Recovering from a Concussion

Get some rest: It is one of the best things you can do to help your brain recover.

Take it slow: Everyone recovers at a different pace, some symptoms can last for days, weeks, or longer. How quickly you improve depends on many different factors - the severity of the injury, your age, and how healthy you were before your concussion.

Returning to Play: Remember that there is no such thing as a minor head injury; symptoms may become worse with exertion. An athlete should not return to play until cleared by a professional.

Concussion is a topic that affects everyone in sport in some way whether you are a coach, athlete, trainer, physician, or director. If you wish to read more information on concussion prevention, symptoms, or recovery there are a lot of resources available to the sport community.

Here are a few links to get you started:

• The Brain Injury Association of Canada
• SIRC
• Canadian Academy of Sport and Exercise Medicine (CASEM)
• Stop Concussions Foundation
• Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)

*This is not intended to be a comprehensive list, anyone that is suspected to have a concussion should always be seen by a medical professional.

References Available from the SIRC Collection:

COVASSIN T, ELBIN R, SARMIENTO K. Educating Coaches About Concussion in Sports: Evaluation of the CDC's 'Heads Up: Concussion in Youth Sports' Initiative. Journal Of School Health. May 2012;82(5):233-238.

Harmon K, Drezner J, Roberts W, et al. American Medical Society for Sports Medicine position statement: concussion in sport. British Journal Of Sports Medicine. January 2013;47(1):15-26.

King D, Brughelli M, Hume P, Gissane C. Assessment, Management and Knowledge of Sport-Related Concussion: Systematic Review. Sports Medicine. April 2014;44(4):449-471.

Meehan W, Mannix R, O'Brien M, Collins M. The Prevalence of Undiagnosed Concussions in Athletes. Clinical Journal Of Sport Medicine. September 2013;23(5):339-342.

Mihalik J, Lengas E, Register-Mihalik J, Oyama S, Begalle R, Guskiewicz K. The Effects of Sleep Quality and Sleep Quantity on Concussion Baseline Assessment. Clinical Journal Of Sport Medicine. September 2013;23(5):343-348.