Health & Medicine
Most Severe Concussions Impact the Top of the Head
Kathleen Lees
First Posted: Aug 11, 2014 12:12 PM EDT
Many athletes are at increased risk for concussions, a traumatic brain injury (TBI) that results from a significant blow, bump or jolt to the head. In severe cases, this can result in unconsciousness and alteration of how the brain normally functions.
A recent study published in the journal Pediatrics examines how some concussions may be more dangerous than others.
To more thoroughly examine the issue, researchers used data from the National High School Sports-Related Injury Surveillance Study to calculate rates and circumstances of concussions experienced by some football players.
Roughly 45 percent of the team experienced concussion on the front of the head, while 22 percent had them on the side.
Researchers found that symptoms and resolution time varied greatly depending on what part of the head was hit.
Eight percent of players who experienced top-of-head concussions lost consciousness, while only about four percent of those with impacts in other areas, did.
For many football players, they may run with their heads down and forward during a tackle--increasing their risk for the top-of-head injury. Pediatric neuropsychologist from Children's National Medical Center and associate professor at George Washington University School of Medicine in Washington, D.C., notes that coming up with a safer way to play this and other sports could help prevent some of these injuries, via Medical News Today.
"This overall approach and the specific techniques within the program are exactly the next steps we need to take to improve head safety in tackle football. The effort to teach effective, yet safe tackling and blocking techniques at the earliest youth levels can only have positive downstream benefits for our players at the high school, college and professional levels."
Health officials note that identifying the symptoms of a concussion can be tricky. They may not always show up right away and can be more difficult for children to recover from as their brains are still growing.
Particularly for young adults or children involved in high-risk sports, it's important that they always wear protective gear and know the signs and symptoms of this health issue.
Estimates show around 173,285 sports- and recreation-related TBIS hit each year among adolescents from birth to 19 years of age.
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First Posted: Aug 11, 2014 12:12 PM EDT
Many athletes are at increased risk for concussions, a traumatic brain injury (TBI) that results from a significant blow, bump or jolt to the head. In severe cases, this can result in unconsciousness and alteration of how the brain normally functions.
A recent study published in the journal Pediatrics examines how some concussions may be more dangerous than others.
To more thoroughly examine the issue, researchers used data from the National High School Sports-Related Injury Surveillance Study to calculate rates and circumstances of concussions experienced by some football players.
Roughly 45 percent of the team experienced concussion on the front of the head, while 22 percent had them on the side.
Researchers found that symptoms and resolution time varied greatly depending on what part of the head was hit.
Eight percent of players who experienced top-of-head concussions lost consciousness, while only about four percent of those with impacts in other areas, did.
For many football players, they may run with their heads down and forward during a tackle--increasing their risk for the top-of-head injury. Pediatric neuropsychologist from Children's National Medical Center and associate professor at George Washington University School of Medicine in Washington, D.C., notes that coming up with a safer way to play this and other sports could help prevent some of these injuries, via Medical News Today.
"This overall approach and the specific techniques within the program are exactly the next steps we need to take to improve head safety in tackle football. The effort to teach effective, yet safe tackling and blocking techniques at the earliest youth levels can only have positive downstream benefits for our players at the high school, college and professional levels."
Health officials note that identifying the symptoms of a concussion can be tricky. They may not always show up right away and can be more difficult for children to recover from as their brains are still growing.
Particularly for young adults or children involved in high-risk sports, it's important that they always wear protective gear and know the signs and symptoms of this health issue.
Estimates show around 173,285 sports- and recreation-related TBIS hit each year among adolescents from birth to 19 years of age.
See Now: NASA's Juno Spacecraft's Rendezvous With Jupiter's Mammoth Cyclone