Understnd risks of sports concussions

Updated May 15, 2014.

Written and reviewed by a Board Certified physician. See the Medical Review Board About.com.

If your child participates in sports, concussions are a risk. While you can not completely avoid sports concussions, may reduce the risk for your child and ensure that he or she is properly treated before returning to play.

Which athletes are at increased risk of sports concussions?

Children, sports, playing contact with other players, include the ground or other obstacles, are at risk for concussion. A survey of visits to the emergency department investigated 2,010 children 8-13 and 14-19 years old. In the younger group:

• Cycling, Children's Playground, game background of snow, skating, horseback riding: Individual or entertainment with most sports concussions
• Organized sports with the most concussions Team: Football, Basketball, Soccer, Baseball, Hockey

In the age group:

• Cycling, skiing, martial arts, skateboarding, horseback riding: Individual or entertainment with most sports concussions
• Organized sports with the most concussions Team: Football, Basketball, Soccer, Hockey, Baseball

Reduce the risk of sports concussions

No matter what sport you play your child, make sure he or she has all the necessary equipment (such as helmets, mouth guards and Guarderas), which is religious in good condition, and that uses the athlete has.

Also find out what are the best practices for the sport of your child about concussions. Does the school or League policies were a concussion return? Rules and Equipment shocks so far? (For example, now prohibit many soccer leagues in the youngest of the position of the ball, as they lack the skills to be certain to do. Baseball team, the "security" or "reduced injury factor" use balls with young players. )

Especially if your child plays contact sports in school, can assess their cognitive and physical abilities prior to the start of the season. If you have a concussion after that the injury suffered against brand can be used to measure posttraumatic rating against. An evaluation method is used frequently, the effects (immediately after the harrowing brain and cognitive performance tests).

The treatment of sports bruises

If your child suffers a concussion, even a mild appearance, it is important that he or she does not return to play that day. Your child should be evaluated immediately on the bank of a physician, certified athletic trainer, or trained to recognize the symptoms of a concussion coach. If a concussion is diagnosed, your child should not return to play until it has been reviewed and approved by a specialist health.

Athletes should not return to their sport or physical activity until your symptoms are gone. Once they are asymptomatic and cleaned by a professional, they can gradually resume the game (at least 24 hours for each of these steps): first light aerobic exercise such as walking or swimming; Time, the sport-specific exercise without impact of the head; Exercises (no contact) and light resistance; normal practice; and finally, game play.

Children who have suffered a concussion, the brain should also rest ("cognitive rest") This may mean skipping school or visit a short time. to reduce or delay, reduce the tests and assignments, and to prevent or leisure reading, video games, television and computers. Consequences of inadequate treatment of concussions in sports such as second impact syndrome can be very serious.

_Sources:

_{Halstead MD, Mark E. Walter MD, Kevin D. and the Council of the Sports Medicine and Fitness. Clinical report - for sports concussions in children and adolescents, Pediatrics 2010, 126 are based: 597-615.}

_{Bakhos MD, Lisa L. Lockhart MD, Gregory R. Myers, Richard; Linakis MD, PhD, James G. ER visits for concussions in young athletes of the child. Pediatrics 2010; 126: E550-E556.}