Point Sports Therapy Clinic
digital
INJURY DATA
CONCUSSION
A concussion is a temporary injury to the brain caused by trauma.
Average recovery time -
7 to 10 days
Likelihood of reoccurrence -
High
Digital illustration of a concussion generated by EVE.
A concussion is caused by trauma to the brain, this could be a bump or blow to the head or even just violent shaking. The brain is cushioned by cerebrospinal fluid, but during a concussion it can collide with the walls of the skull causing damage.
When the brain is shaken in the skull it temporarily interferes with the electrical signals inside the brain, and this releases chemicals which disrupts normal brain function. After a concussion an individual will be slower to react, appear dazed or confused and have reduced coordination, and this could increase chances of a second concussion. Having multiple concussions can lead to serious brain injury. In some cases there may also be small damage to the capillaries in the brain (tiny blood vessels).
A concussion can sometimes cause you to lose consciousness; nonetheless, the majority of people fully recover from it and it is considered a mild traumatic brain injury.
Signs & SYMPTOMs
A headache that does not go away or is not relieved with painkillers
Nausea or vomiting
Dizziness
Memory loss (amnesia) – you may not remember what happened before or after the injury
Clumsiness or trouble with balance
Unusual behaviour – you may become irritated easily or have sudden mood swings, could experience depression
Fatigue or drowsiness
Ringing in ears
Feeling stunned, dazed or confused
Blurred or double vision
Sleep disturbances
Disorders of taste and smell
Neck pain
Weakness in the arms or legs
Concussion can be harder to spot in babies and young children as they cannot describe how they feel. It is important to look out for:
A loss of interest in people or objects
Dazed appearance
Restlessness and tiring easily
Irritability and crankiness
Loss of balance and unsteady walking
Excessive crying
Change in eating or sleeping patterns
Vomiting
Seizures
If your child wants to nap, it's OK to let them, just keep and close eye and if worrisome signs develop later, seek emergency care.
SEEK MEDICAL ATTENTION IMMEDIATELY IF YOUR EXPERIENCE -
Repeated vomiting or nausea
A loss of consciousness lasting longer than 30 seconds
Drowsiness
A headache that gets worse over time
Fluid or blood draining from the nose or ears
Ringing in the ears that doesn't go away
Appearing very pale for longer than an hour
Changes in behaviour such as increased irritability
Confusion or disorientation
Vision or eye disturbances, such as dilated pupils or pupils of unequal sizes
Slurred speech or other changes in speech
Changes in physical coordination, such as stumbling or clumsiness
Seizures
Lasting or recurrent dizziness
The signs and symptoms of a concussion can be subtle and may not show up immediately. Therefore, it is important to be vigilant in assessing your condition for a couple days after a concussion. Symptoms can last for days, weeks or even longer.
If you believe you have symptoms of concussion please seek guidance from a medical professional! - EVE
Additional illustrations.
Above shows an expected VAS (pain) score for this injury as calculated by EVE.
sports
This injury is commonly seen in sports such as...
- American football
- Gymnastics
- Cheerleading
- Field hockey
- Skiing
- Volleyball
- Horse riding
- Rugby
- Football
- Baseball
- Boxing
- Ice hockey
- Cycling
- Wresting
- Lacrosse
- Softball
- Formula 1 racing
- Basketball
treatment & prevention
Follow these steps to treat this injury....
Extra information
Get in touch with a sports therapist to assist with your injury rehabilitation journey.
Stay tuned for our upcoming therapist database!
Follow these steps to prevent this injury....
DOs
Drive safety and always use a seat belt
Wear a helmet when riding a bike, motorbike or horse, skiing or snowboarding
Using a mouthguard in contact sports to protect the jaw and teeth
Regularly check your protective equipment before participating in sports
Always be supervised by a qualified individual when participating in high- risk/ contact sports
Use proper technique while engaging in sports - consider having someone observe you to remind you
Use sports equipment properly and in accordance with its intended purpose
Exercises regularly to improve your balance
Stay educated and educate others to reduce the chance of concussion
Visit EVE's Top Tips to prevent injury page!
(link below)
DON'Ts
Do not participate in sports for at least 3 weeks or until symptoms have stopped
Avoid further head injuries or repeat concussions
Do not ignore your pain/symptoms! Address them promptly for a better recovery
Avoid playing sports if you are already fatigued
Visit EVE's Top Tips to prevent injury page!
(link below)
The information provided is not intended to be a substitute for medical advice, diagnosis or treatment.