Concussions, also defined as mild traumatic brain injuries, are gaining awareness especially in the professional sports arena as we learn more about the detrimental effects of repeated head injuries on the brain. Current research shows links between concussions and diseases such as Alzheimer’s and depression, and it is important to note that these injuries can happen at any sporting level, not only the pros. The highest incidence of concussions have been reported in contact sports including football, hockey, rugby, soccer, and basketball, with competition play significantly higher risk than practice.
Most concussions heal on their own within two weeks for adults and four weeks for kids, with the average timeframe to return to sports being 21 days. However approximately 30% of concussions result in long-term symptoms. Risk factors for prolonged recovery include history of migraines, repeated concussions, concussions sustained within a short time frame, mental health disorders, learning disorders, and a young age.
Over the years, the way we approach concussion treatment has shifted from a more passive recovery to an active one. In the past, athletes would spend days bed ridden in the dark, avoiding movement or cognitive strain. But current research supports progressive exercise without symptom exacerbation, including exercises for cognition, balance, memory, hand-eye coordination, and reaction time. Physical therapists play an important role in this recovery, helping not only with diagnosis of postconcussive symptoms but also prescribing appropriate doses of mental and physical exercises for treatment.
Improvements in helmets for contact sports help to lower the risk of concussions, along with education on the importance of proper healing prior before returning to play. Computer programs such as the ImPACT test attempt to determine baseline scores on cognition, reaction time, and memory. The goal is to then use this information to better assess when an athlete should return to play, however it still has validity issues. Hopefully research continues to advance in the prevention and treatment of concussions. In the meantime, educating parents, coaches, and athletes can go a long way towards reducing risk of repeated concussions and therefore long-term brain damage.
References
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