Concussion awareness increases as cases rapidly increase in sports

New guidelines educate students, equip parents and coaches to better treat

DAYTON, Ohio (July 17, 2015) –  High school athletes who take the field or court this fall are walking into a much different game than previous generations experienced.

 Growing evidence of the psychological impact on adolescents who've experience concussions has dramatically changed the way head injuries are treated – from parental and coach involvement to mandatory state requirements. And it is all with good reason.

According to the American Medical Society of Sports Medicine (AMSSM), as many as 3.8 million concussions occur in the United States each year during competitive sports and recreational activities. Among children between the ages of 14 and 19, the number of concussion cases reported during emergency room visits have jumped 200 percent in the last 10 years, according to the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP).

Michael Barrow, MD, a family physician specializing in sports medicine with Samaritan North Family Physicians, said the jump in concussion cases may come from both an increase in incidences and better diagnosis.

“Some of the symptoms we may not have picked up on before we are now identifying as a concussion,” said Dr. Barrow, a Premier HealthNet physician. “I think that athletes themselves are recognizing the significance of concussions and the long-term implications and they are more apt to report them because we have a plan on how to treat them.”

A concussion is a transient change in how the brain works as a result of trauma, Dr. Barrow said. In most cases, the trauma occurs when the head experiences significant impact from another person or object. Concussions occur in all sports but have the highest incidence in those with a lot of contact such as football, hockey, soccer, rugby and basketball.

A concussion is best diagnosed by its symptoms. The most common symptom of a concussion is a headache. Other symptoms may include sensitivity to light, sound, nausea, vomiting, dizziness, and difficulty with memory. Concussions don’t always create immediate or drastic symptoms. In fact, up to 90 percent of concussion cases do not involve loss of consciousness, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

The debate over concussion management has been in the forefront of media in the past year due to high-profile cases, including the 2014 World Cup where one of Germany’s players took a major hit to the head and continued to play only to admit later that he didn’t remember doing so. Cases involving collegiate and professional players from other sports including hockey and football have only furthered the focus on concussions and the impact they can have on a young athlete’s quality of life, said Sean Convery, MD, a sports medicine physician with Premier Orthopedics.

“The fact that the issue is so out there in the media and that entities such as the NFL and NCAA are taking it seriously has only helped us to prove with parents that a concussion can have a serious effect on the life of their young athlete,” Dr. Convery, a Premier Health Specialists’ physician, said. “We are able to make the point that these kids need to rest (after a concussion) and step away from the sport for a while to recover completely.”

The Ohio High School Athletic Association (OHSAA) has enforced new protocol for concussion awareness and treatment. Students and parents are now required to sign a form saying they have been informed about concussions and understand the impact the injury can have on the student’s health. Students who have sustained a concussion have to pass a mandatory evaluation by a doctor before returning to a sport. And even then, they are only allowed to re-enter the sport through graduated steps until it is proven they are ready to be exposed to normal play, Dr. Convery said.

Premier Health is an ImPACT (Immediate Post-Concussion Assessment and Cognitive Testing) provider for concussion management services. ImPACT is a computer-based neurocognitive test that aids physicians in the diagnosis and treatment of concussions. Premier Health will help roll out ImPACT neurocognitive baseline testing at all of its 44 high school partner athletic programs in Southwestern Ohio. Baseline testing is not required to diagnose and treat a concussion, but it is important because it offers normative data that can be used if a student athlete should sustain a head injury.

Services like ImPACT help educate parents and students about the seriousness of concussions, which sits in contrast with a time when injuries may have previously been downplayed, Dr. Barrow said. The hits that once caused players to say “I’ve had my bell rung” may now carry a long-term consequence which gives players and parents reason to pause.

Still, physicians like Drs. Barrow and Convery say the fear of concussion should never keep a student from participating in a sport they love. Sports play an important role in school involvement, often times motivating students both on the field and in the classroom. 

“I think sometimes people forget there are a lot of benefits to sports,” Dr. Barrow said. “Kids learn team work, how to lean on each other and how to develop themselves physically, emotionally and mentally. I would hate to see parents take their kids out of sports due to fear. At the same time, concussions are a pretty significant concern. It comes down to each family deciding what is best for themselves.”

For more information on concussions or to find a Premier HealthNet physician near you, visit www.premierhealthnet.com/doctor. 

Contact Us

Discover more about Premier Health and join us in building healthier communities in Southwest Ohio. Learn more about working at Premier Health, becoming a volunteer, and making a gift to support our mission.