What Is A Concussion?

Courtesy of University Sports Medicine
www.ubsportsmed.buffalo.edu

A concussion is an injury to the brain that is caused by a blow to the head. Concussions are the most common head injuries in sports. A concussion may cause a person to become temporarily confused, disoriented, have memory loss (amnesia), or become unconscious.

HOW DOES A CONCUSSION OCCUR?

A concussion occurs when you are hit in the head, jarring your brain. The most common sports for concussions are football, gymnastics, ice hockey, and wrestling. However, concussions can occur in any sport or activity where you may get hit in the head.

WHAT ARE THE SYMPTOMS?

If you have had a concussion, you may have any of the following symptoms:

You may have these symptoms, called post-concussive syndrome, for several days or weeks after the injury. Concussions are graded as I, II, or III, depending on the severity of the confusion, amnesia, or loss of consciousness.

HOW IS IT DIAGNOSED?

Your doctor will examine you and try to find out what happened. If you have amnesia, the doctor may need to get information from other people who were there at the time of your injury. The doctor will do a neurologic examination, testing your strength, sensation, balance, reflexes, and memory. He or she may also examine your eyes with a flashlight to see if your pupils are of equal size. Your doctor may choose to do a special x-ray called a computed tomography scan (CT) or a magnetic resonance image (MRI) of your head to be sure there is no damage to your brain.

HOW IS IT TREATED?

The treatment for a concussion is rest. The headache may be treated with a mild pain reliever, and nausea may be treated with medication. To avoid complications from concussion, it is very important that you do not return to your sport or activity too soon. In a very mild concussion, you may be allowed to return to your sport or activity after 20 to 30 minutes. If there has been a loss of memory or loss of consciousness, you may not be able to return for one week. After a severe concussion, you may not be able to return to sports for up to one month. If you have had repeated concussions, your doctor may talk to you about limiting your participation in certain sports.

SYMPTOMS TO WATCH FOR

If you have had a concussion, you need to be watched by a friend or relative for 8 to 12 hours. You should be awakened and checked every 2 to 4 hours while sleeping. Symptoms to report to your doctor include:

HOW CAN I PREVENT A CONCUSSION?

A concussion is caused by a blow to the head. It is important in contact sports that you wear proper protective head gear that fits well. In sports such as football, it is important to use proper blocking and tackling techniques, and not to use your head for initial contact. In sports such as bicycling and rollerblading, wear a helmet.