Athletes participating in challenging sports need to know how
to identify a head concussion when it happens. Concussions are most common in
contact sports (such as boxing, football, hockey, and rugby), but they may
occur in running events as well. The risk increases for runners who are
involved in accidents with bicycles or motor vehicles.
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What is a concussion?
The term “concussion” likely traces back to the 14th Century
Middle English word “concussion,” which means “shaking” and the Latin word
“concutere,” which points to
violent shaking, agitating, or striking.
Simply put, a concussion is defined as
a traumatic
injury to the soft tissue of the brain or spinal cord. This may result from
a sharp blow, a hard fall, a sudden shaking, or violent whirling. This impact
can cause the brain
to slide inside the skull, perhaps even causing internal bleeding. A
penetrating concussion involves object actually penetrating the skull. A
concussion is considered a traumatic brain
injury (TBI), even though it is generally not life-threatening.
Any brain or spinal cord concussion may affect cognitive
functions and cause loss of consciousness, impaired balance, and vision
problems. Although these effects are generally temporary, a person is statistically
more likely to experience subsequent concussions after having one. This is
known as “second impact syndrome.”
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| Adapted by this user from public domain photo. |
What are the symptoms
of a concussion?
The telltale symptoms are plentiful, and they may vary from
person to person, in large part depending upon the level of injury sustained. Usually,
a concussion sufferer will bear no
visible signs of head injury, although bruises, cuts, and welts occasionally
occur. He or she may have dirt, grass, or mud in the hair, if the incident
included a fall to the ground.
Here are the 20 most common symptoms of concussion.
- amnesia (especially short-term)
- confusion / disorientation
- dizziness
- double vision
- drowsiness
- head holding
- headache
- incoherent or slurred speech
- irritability
- loss of consciousness / passing out
- motionlessness
- nausea
- neck pain
- reduced coordination
- seizures
- slowed reaction time
- tinnitus (ringing in the ears)
- vacant stare
- vertigo
- vomiting
Asking the injured athlete a few key questions may be
helpful, in gauging whether he or she has had a concussion. Consider these
examples:
- What is your name?
- Where are we?
- What day is it today?
- Do you remember what just happened?
- What did you eat for breakfast?
What should be done,
if a runner or athlete has a concussion?
The first step is to refrain from continued participation in
the race, game, workout, or other activity and seek medical attention. The risk
of a fall and more severe brain injury is greater with continued exertion after
a concussion.
Post-concussion
symptoms may last for days or even weeks afterwards. These may include
- anxiety
- depression
- difficulty concentrating
- headache
- light intolerance
- memory issues
- noise intolerance
- reduced attention span
- sleeping problems
- taste and smell impairment
Medical professionals generally advise reduced
physical activity and mental exertion, follow-up medical care, and a gradual
return to sports (such as running and race training) after a concussion.
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