With high school, college and professional sports in full swing, concussions are on top of everyone’s mind.
Between 1.6 and 3.8 million sports-related concussions occur in the U.S. each year. In a study of nearly 800 high school athletes, 40% of athletes said their coach didn’t know they had a possible concussion.
As a mom and a physical therapist those are alarming numbers and makes me want to advocate for the safety of my kids and all children!
According to the CDC, a concussion is a type of traumatic brain injury—or TBI—caused by a bump, blow, or jolt to the head or by a hit to the body that causes the head and brain to move rapidly back and forth. This sudden movement can cause the brain to bounce around or twist in the skull, creating chemical changes in the brain and sometimes stretching and damaging brain cells.
Because it is a brain injury, it can affect all systems of the body and presents differently in every case. Difficulties can present in thinking/memory, physical, emotions/mood, and sleep disturbances to name a few.
Therefore, it is important to seek medical care to address the issues that are present and be referred to the proper providers. Rest and taking brain breaks is important for recovery.
Ways to prevent concussions for all ages:
Babies and toddlers:
- Play on playgrounds with soft materials (mulch or sand)
- Use baby gates for staircases
School aged children and athletes:
- Wear appropriate equipment (make sure helmets are snug and have them fitted by a professional)
- Limit amount of contact in practice for contact sports
- Be educated in proper techniques to avoid being hit in the head
- Enforce rules of fair play
- If you suspect a concussion, do not return to play
Aging Adult
- Use night lights in hallways or on the way to bathroom to avoid falls
- Move rugs out of the way or add gripping material
- Encourage exercise and improvements in health and wellness to reduce risk of falls
- Review of medications with your primary care physician
- Routine vision checks
At Apex Physical Therapy & Wellness Center, we strive to be on the forefront of research and techniques to get our patients back to their lifestyle as optimally as possible.
The newest research from February 2019, may change the way medical professionals view return to activity. From Dr Leddy’s study, the latest findings are showing quicker improvement if patients start an aerobic exercise program within a few days under the guidance of a health care specialist.
All concussions are different and therefore at Apex, we have individualized rehabilitation plans of care to provide the optimal healing and recovery for the patient.
