Whether you play sports regularly or infrequently, you need to take precautions to avoid injuries. One common injury that occurs from sports and recreational activities is a concussion.
How many people get concussions from playing sports? Are there specific sports in which concussions occur more frequently? What steps can you take to prevent sports concussions? Explore the following facts to find out the answers.
What are the symptoms of a concussion?
Concussions usually occur from a blow to your head or the violent shaking of your head and upper body. So, it’s easy to see that sports activities can sadly sometimes cause concussions. If you get a concussion, you could experience unpleasant symptoms like headaches, memory problems, and balance and coordination problems. The effects are generally temporary, although it’s possible to have lasting problems. For instance, post-concussion syndrome is a disorder that can last for weeks or months after the injury that caused the concussion occurred. This complex disorder causes symptoms like dizziness and headaches. Diagnosing post-concussion syndrome can be challenging because few medical professionals are experts on the disorder, and many do not have the necessary diagnostic tools. However, testing for post-concussion syndrome is available via several specialized testing techniques, such as a CT scan, an MRI scan, and baseline testing.
If you experience any symptoms of a concussion, never return to playing sports while the symptoms are still present. Get evaluated by a medical professional to ensure you have no signs of concussion. If you return to playing sports before your symptoms have cleared up, you can open yourself up to increased damage and further complications.
How many people experience sports concussions?
Sports concussions happen more frequently than you may think. In the US, an estimated 3 million concussions occur from playing recreational and competitive sports every year. Young kids and teens make up approximately 70% of all concussions caused by sports and recreation seen in emergency departments in the US.
In what sports do concussions occur the most?
Concussions can occur from playing any sport, but the highest number of incidents are in football, hockey, soccer, rugby, and basketball. The largest number of sports-related traumatic brain injuries occur in males during cycling, playing football, and playing basketball. Among females, the largest number of sports-related traumatic brain injuries occur during cycling, playground activities, and horse riding.
How can you prevent sports concussions?
By taking extra precautions, you can reduce the risk of experiencing a concussion while playing sports. These include:
• Wearing the Correct Protective Equipment: This includes items like helmets. They should fit properly, be well-maintained, be age-appropriate, and have official certification for use.
•Enforcing the Rules of a Sport: By ensuring all players or athletes play fairly and safely, you can avoid actions that can cause concussions, like striking a player in the head and making illegal contacts.
•Playing Sports in Designated Environments: Play your sport in a place specifically designed for the sport in question so that you can be sure of a safe environment.
