User:Maddieshoemaker23/Concussions in high school sports

Effects[edit]

The symptoms of concussion may be physical, cognitive and emotional in nature. Symptoms vary between affected individuals, and symptoms immediately or be delayed.

Short-term[edit]

Possible signs of concussion that may appear in a student-athlete after a jolt to the head or body include:

• a dazed appearance
• confusion
• forgetfulness
• lack of confidence in actions
• clumsiness
• slower than normal
• loss of consciousness
• changes in mood, behavior, or personality, and
• inability to remember events prior to, or after the hit

An injured student may report any of these signs as well as sensitivity to light or sound, double vision, a headache, or other abnormal feelings. A student who has been diagnosed with a concussion may become frustrated, impatient, and angry about the situation.

Long-term[edit]

Concussions may have consequences that are not immediately apparent. Concussions can affect sleep quality and may cause sleep patterns to become inconsistent. Some nights an individual may sleep for an extended period of time whereas in others sleep time can be short. With acute concussions, sleep occurs for longer durations when compared to subacute. These irregular sleep patterns can have major health effects by making an individual susceptible to health concerns later on (Raikes, Schaefer, 2016, p. 2145).Concussions have also been shown to increase the risk for mental issues such as depression, CTE, dementia, and other cognitive issues (Guskiewicz et al., 2005).

Concussions may also have long term effects on the ability to learn and execute motor patterns. As compared to an individual with no concussions, due to damage to the brain resulting from concussion, a concussed individual may have reduced motor learning speeds and ability to progress in activity.

A term known as Post-concussive Symptoms, or PCS, can be found in many children at or under 18 years of age. PCS can impact the psychosocial functions and overall quality of life of the individual. Symptoms (headaches, dizziness, memory problems, etc) can last from weeks to months. It is important to note that PCS is difficult to diagnose, so awareness for this syndrome is very necessary.

Prevention[edit]

Formal concussion plans that include elements of education, prevention, recognition, evaluation and management, both reduce the chance of concussion and ensure that concussions are promptly diagnosed.

Efforts to teach children about concussion and brain safety include the CDC's HEADS UP app, designed for children between the ages of six and eight.

According to Hon, from Concussion: A global perspective, there are recommendations to add an age limit on high contact sports -- such as football -- in order to precent traumatic brain injuries from happening at young ages. This would allow the brains of younger children to develop more before experiencing concussions, which ultimately leads to long term effect when they arrive to High School.