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It is imperative to recognize each athlete’s history of concussion so that those athletes at higher risk can be identified. Athletes with a history of concussion are not only at a significantly higher risk of repeated injury, they are also more susceptible to long-term effects of concussion, including post-concussion syndrome. Educational outreach to these athletes…

In the fall of 2008 alone, at least five young athletes died from their sport-induced head injuries.24Sixteenyear- old Ryne Dougherty of Montclair, New Jersey died in October from a brain hemorrhage. Dougherty had sustained a concussion in practice three weeks previous and had been medically cleared to play despite complaining to friends of blurred vision…

The immediate recognition of the concussion is critical because repeated concussions pose a very real threat of death. There is evidence that athletes who suffer a second concussion before the symptoms of the first have healed are susceptible to a phenomenon called Second Impact Syndrome, or SIS15-16. Though rare, SIS is characterized by rapid swelling…

While there is no scientific proof that mouth guards can prevent concussion, there is still agreement among many experts in the field that properly fitted mouth guards are an essential piece of equipment for kids participating in contact sports.13 Not only do mouth guards protect the teeth, there are still some people convinced that mouth guards can…

It’s difficult to say how many concussions are too many. There is no general rule. The American Academy of Neurology recommends termination of the season after the third concussion within that same season. Important for coaches and parents of young athletes to understand is that an athlete disqualified for a “season” may need to continue…

Post-Concussion Syndrome (PCS) is a term used to describe a set of symptoms that a person may experience for weeks, months, or even years after a concussion is sustained.35 The condition can cause lasting physical effects such as frequent or long-lasting headaches. It can lead to psychological, behavioral, and/or cognitive effects. Psychological effects include irritability, anxiety,…

A recent study conducted at Ohio State University showed girls sustained concussion 68 percent more often than boys did in high school soccer. In basketball, girls’ concussion rates were almost three times higher than boys. Girls also took consistently longer for their symptoms to resolve. Girls’ soccer ranked second only to football in the number of…

Many people often use or hear the term “bell-ringer” or “ding” to describe momentary states of confusion or disorientation that results after being hit on the head. The casual term tends to infer that such injuries are not reason to be concerned. This is not the case. Bell-ringers or dings are the most common type…

The recognition of concussion is especially critical for those working with younger athletes. Leading experts agree that high school athletes have a significantly greater risk of sustaining a concussion, and those concussions are taking significantly longer to heal when compared to older athletes. There are many potential reasons for this, but most researchers agree that the…