Vim & Vigor - Summer 2014 - Community Healthcare - 26

COMMON CAUSES OF

CONCUSSION

A concussion is a type of traumatic brain injury
usually caused by a blow to the head. Accidents
or sports are typically to blame.
In 2011, the Centers for Disease Control and
Prevention (CDC) reported a 60 percent increase
in young athletes being treated in emergency
departments for traumatic brain injuries during
the prior decade. The top ﬁve causes were bicycling, football, playground activities (especially
in younger kids), basketball and soccer.
Experts suggest that this dramatic rise is not
the result of more dangerous play, but rather
a sign that parents and coaches better recognize the signs of concussion and know when to
seek treatment.
"Concussion in recreational sports is not new,"
says Stanley Herring, MD, a team doctor for the

Concussion and
the Classroom

SU M M E R 2 014

WHAT TO LOOK FOR
During a concussion, the brain is violently
rattled against the inside of the skull. So it's no
wonder that headaches are a common symptom
of a concussion.
And while many people associate concussions
with loss of consciousness, that happens in less
than 10 percent of sports-related concussions,
says Barry Jordan, MD, a neurologist who serves
on the NFL Players Association Mackey-White
Traumatic Brain Injury Committee and the NFL
Neuro-Cognitive Disability Committee.
Signs of concussion, Jordan says, fall into three
categories:
* Cognitive. Children might be confused or
disoriented or have amnesia.
* Behavioral. They may feel as if they're in a
fog, or may be more emotional than usual.
* Physical. Kids can experience headaches,
dizziness or nausea, or have difﬁculty with balance or coordination.
It's essential for coaches and trainers to recognize these symptoms because what happens next
is critical to a child's health.
"This is a very important point," says Herring,
who helped develop the CDC's Heads Up online
concussion training program. "If there's a suspected concussion, they're out for the day."
Next, it's important to make an appointment
with your child's doctor. "The brain is vulnerable until the concussion heals," he adds. A
second blow to the head before a concussion

PHOTO BY TETRA IMAGES/SUPERSTOCK

A recent report in Pediatrics, the official journal of the
American Academy of Pediatrics, warns doctors, parents and
school officials of potential cognitive damage resulting from
a concussion. While concussion victims are already cautioned
to avoid activities such as texting, playing video games,
reading and watching TV, the new study indicates that normal schoolwork may need to be adjusted for several weeks
after the trauma. Be sure to discuss with your child's doctor.

Seattle Mariners and Seattle Seahawks and a
member of the National Football League (NFL)
Head, Neck and Spine Committee. "This is a
reﬂection of better recognition. People are erring
on the side of caution."

Vim & Vigor - Summer 2014 - Community Healthcare

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