Denton County Living Well Magazine September/October 2016 | Page 35

Protecting Student Athletes from Long Term Brain Injuries D espite increased education and heightened awareness about the risks of playing football, injuries associated with the brain are still occurring at the rate of one in every 5.5 games. A staggering 20% of all high school football players sustain traumatic brain injuries, yet the culture among student athletes shows a low instance of reporting such injuries. Many high school athletes state the team as “being more important than their personal health” and the stigma of “letting down their team” leads many athletes to return to the field before fully recovering from a traumatic brain injury, or worse, not being treated for their injuries at all. It is imperative that parents of high school athletes fully understand the warning signs of a concussion and remain vigilant in policing their child’s well-being to keep them safe from long term injury. For males, the leading cause of high school sports concussion is football; for females the leading cause is soccer. According to the CDC, a concussion is defined as 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 to bounce around or twist in the skull, stretching and damaging the brain cells and creating chemical changes in the brain. A concussion changes how the brain normally functions and can have serious and long-term health effects. Signs and symptoms of a concussion include: headache, nausea, fatigue, confusion or memory problems, sleep disturbances, or mood changes. Symptoms are typically noticed after the injury but some might not be recognized until days or weeks later. Signs your child needs emergency care include any of the follow- Courtesy OrthoTexas ing symptoms: one pupil dilated larger than the other, drowsiness or inability to wake up, a headache that gets worse, vomiting, convulsions, loss of consciousness for any amount of time, slurred speech, decreased coordination, unusual behavior, or increased confusion. The first step in concussion vigilance is to take preventative measures. Inspect your athlete’s helmet for prior damages and ensure it fits properly. Consult a specialist for a baseline con- cussion evaluation prior to the season. A baseline evaluation allows for a more accurate diagnosis of your child’s symptoms should an injury occur. Even if you are unable to have a baseline completed before your child’s sport begins, immediately consult a concussion specialist if your child receives a blow to the head or is exhibiting any TBI symptoms. Keep in mind that up to 86% of athletes that suffer a concussion will experience Post-Traumatic Migraine or some other type of headache pain. Track your child’s headache pain and give this information to your physician, as these symptoms may be a crucial indicator of the injury’s severity and help dictate return-to-play decisions. If your child is diagnosed with a concussion, it is important to be patient during the recovery process. Each injury is unique and evidence has shown that high school athletes require longer recovery times than college athletes. Fully recovering is important, because an athlete who receives a concussion is 4-6 times more likely to suffer a second concussion and the effects are cumulative in athletes who return to play prior to a full recovery. Lack of a proper diagnosis and not complying with your doctor’s recovery process in its entirety may result in long term brain injury, risk of a coma, and death. OrthoTexas Physicians and Surgeons is an orthopedic practice comprised of 40 world-class orthopedic physicians, surgeons, physical and occupational therapists. With seven convenient locations to serve you, OrthoTexas is dedicated to a positive patient journey from the moment you start your treatment, to the time you reach your goals for recovery. To Schedule, please go to: orthotexas.com/requestappointment or call 972-492-1334. DENTON COUNTY Living Well Magazine | SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2016 33