on behalf of an athlete who gets a concussion . However , the “ invisible ” nature of this injury discussed above can make these responsibilities difficult . Unlike other injuries in sport , detecting a concussion often relies on an athlete telling coaches , parents and / or sports medicine personnel that they are experiencing symptoms such as headaches or balance problems . However , athletes may not tell anyone about their symptoms because they do not want to be removed from participation or not realize that these symptoms may be signs of a concussion . In addition , social pressures may also prohibit athletes from disclosing their symptoms for fear of ridicule by their teammates or coaches . As a result , many concussions in soccer go undetected .
Concussion Management
Experts who study the effects of concussion have recently made recommendations for managing this injury . They recommended a conservative approach toward every concussion regardless of severity and stressed that concussed athletes be prohibited from re-entering competition regardless of their status on the sideline . Allowing an athlete to return to play before their brain is completely healed can place that athlete at an increased risk of another concussion , long-term symptoms , severe cognitive difficulties and , in rare cases , death . Coaches need to realize the dangers associated with returning an athlete to play too soon , and work together with sports medicine professionals to keep players safe and avoid these potentially dangerous consequences .
Concussion Testing
A concussion can evolve and change in the days following injury . In addition to reported and observed symptoms , these less overt mental changes can be readily tracked using a computerized neuropsychological test ( e . g ., ImPACT , CogSport ). Computerized neuropsychological tests , which resemble simple video games and measure reaction time , memory and processing speed , represent a relatively new method of managing a concussion that compares post-concussion cognitive performance to pre-concussion cognitive performance . This is a management tool that is growing in popularity due to its cost effectiveness and ease of administration — most test licenses cost between $ 500- $ 1000 for a league or team . These tests provide a new method of concussion management that is more reliable than athletes self-reporting their symptoms . It is recommended that whenever possible these concussion tests be used by soccer leagues or individual teams .
Return to Play
In general , recovery from concussion can take approximately three to 14 days . There are numerous factors that may influence the recovery time from concussion . Studies have shown that prior history of concussion can lead to longer recovery times and higher risk for another concussion , especially in younger athletes . In addition , females have been found to be at a higher risk of concussion and take longer to recover than males . Factors such as age , gender and history of concussion make managing this injury difficult . Concussion is unpredictable and no two athletes who get a concussion will exhibit identical signs and symptoms .
It is common that coaches want to know when their athlete will be ready to return to play . An athlete is considered to be recovered when they are symptom-free at rest and during exercise . However , coaches and sports medicine professionals will count on athletes to be truthful in reporting their symptoms during the recovery period . Again , athletes may lie about their symptoms to return to play before they are ready . Returning an athlete too soon can have serious consequences if that athlete gets another concussion before their first one completely heals .
There has been debate over whether an athlete who has sustained a concussion can return to play in the same game when their symptoms have resolved . This can be a very complex issue due to athletes lying about their symptoms and pressures to return to the game . These decisions are also difficult because there is not only concern for the resolution of symptoms , but also the cognitive ( or mental ) recovery of the athlete . A concussion also affects cognitive abilities such as reaction time , ability to think and respond , and memory . Studies have shown that cognitive recovery can be delayed for up to 24 hours after the concussion has occurred . Lingering effects from a concussion can increase the risk of a player sustaining another concussion or making their current injury worse if they return to play too soon . This could result in a player missing even more time due to their concussion . In rare instances , if a player sustains a minor blow to the head when they are still symptomatic from an ongoing concussion , they could die from something called Second Impact Syndrome . Again , if a player still has any symptoms or cognitive problems they should not be allowed to return to play . As a general rule , “ when in doubt , leave them out .” In other words , err on the side of the player ’ s safety .
Protective Headgear : What Does the Research Say ?
In the past decade , several companies ( e . g ., Full90 , Kangaroo ) have begun marketing protective headgear for soccer players . The purpose of protective headgear for soccer is to decrease the force of impact to the head from a ball , another player , the ground or goalpost . Reducing the forces that are absorbed by the skull might , in theory , reduce the risk of concussion . However , there is debate surrounding the use of protective headgear in soccer . Some believe that protective headgear will change the game , provide a false sense of security and possibly encourage more risk-taking by players , and perhaps lead to the deterioration of heading skills . Others believe it is long overdue in the only sport where players purposely propel the ball with their heads .
This debate , along with manufacturer claims regarding the effectiveness of their products , has prompted researchers to begin to evaluate the effectiveness of these products . Thus far , the research findings on the effectiveness of headgear are mixed . Findings do suggest that the headgear is useful in reducing lacerations and bruises to the head and part of the face . However , most studies suggest that wearing these products will not reduce the risk for a concussion . Recent research concluded that headgear was not effective in decreasing the forces associated with heading a soccer ball but might be effective in reducing forces associated with head-to-head
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