What Are The Top 3 Sports That Pose The Greatest Risk Of Concussion?

October 17, 2017
What Are The Top 3 Sports That Pose The Greatest Risk Of Concussion?

As we enter into the beginning of a new sports season it is critical to keep in mind the risks associated with many elementary and high school sports. According to the American Academy of Neurology, football, rugby, and soccer pose the greatest risk of concussion to athletes.

A concussion is a form of a traumatic brain injury (TBI) and although the severity can differ, all should be treated with a high level of care.

 Symptoms of a concussion can include all or some of the following:

  • Dizziness
  • Confusion
  • Blurry vision/double vision
  • Headache
  • Feeling hazy, foggy, or groggy
  • Feeling very drowsy, having sleep problems
  • Inability to focus, concentrate
  • Nausea (stomach upset)
  • Not feeling right
  • Sensitivity to light or sound

 Here are some important tips to remember if your child incurs a jolt or blow to the head while playing a sport:

  • Immediately remove your child from the game in order to reduce the risk of a worse injury occurring
  • After taking them out of the game, make sure they are screened by someone such as a coach or athletic trainer who is properly trained to conduct these screenings
  • Once your child has been screened, you should report the results to a health care professional for further evaluation. If a licensed health care professional diagnoses your child with a concussion, discuss a plan with them on how to manage and treat the head injury
  • Lastly, do not allow your child to return to play until ALL symptoms have cleared up and a licensed professional had cleared them to return to play

Every child is different and no two concussions are exactly the same, so there is no set time limit for when a student-athlete should return to play. Whatever sport your child plays, it is important to make sure they are aware of the severity and seriousness of an injury to their head, back, and neck.

For more information on traumatic head injury and concussions, visit the Brain Injury Association of America’s site at http://www.biausa.org

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