Symptoms/Time off
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For a long time, neurologists have been telling young athletes with concussions that sprouted from sports, to take time off the field, and to take a break from cognitive thinking challenges. A study done by Boston Children’s Hospital followed 335 student athletes who had sports related concussions, and it was discovered that the students who took time away from activities in which thinking is critical, had faster recovery time from concussion symptoms. After a few days of rest, students can ease back into smaller activities such as sending text messages, doing a word puzzle, or doing small amounts of school work, but, if symptoms worsen, they should go back to resting. Even when brain scans come back normal, concussion patients are encouraged to stick to resting for at least some parts of the day, as the only things proven to alleviate symptoms/resolve the concussion entirely are time and rest (Kotz).
Preventing young athletes from sustaining a concussion is essential to keeping them healthy. A person of any age can suffer a concussion, but children and teenage athletes are at a greater risk no matter the activity, because their brains are still developing. Although the safety measures that should be taken vary across different sports, there are some similarities. Before players go onto the field/court, they should all know the proper rules of the sport, follow suggested safety precautions, and show good sportsmanship throughout the entirety of the activity. Players of any sport should also be educated on how to avoid collisions with other athletes, especially any type of head-on collision or banging. Players who have suffered a concussion already should be extremely cautious at all times, and are suggested to wear some type of helmet/headgear while participating in athletics (“How to Prevent”).
Anyone that has suffered a concussion during a sporting event needs to immediately stop what they are doing, and not continue to play that day. Although the actual decision on when a player can return to athletic events is determined by a doctor based on medical history, symptoms, and concussion history, most experts agree that players should at least sit out until symptoms are completely gone. After an athlete has sat out of both physical and mental tasks for around 2 days, they are typically allowed to start easing back into things, starting with light activity, and eventually getting back to full practices/games. After each stage of additional activity, athletes should continue to be symptom free for 24 hours before moving on to the next step. This usually only applies to patients after their first concussion, as after suffering multiple concussions, recovery time is usually longer (Healthwise Staff).
Many schools, including Neshaminy High School, have adapted new rules and regulations regarding concussions. Virtual concussion testing is becoming more popular, where students take a 20 minute test online, and then their initial scores can be compared to the new score, helping to determine whether it is safe for the athlete to return to playing or not. Mark Lovell, a neuropsychologist at University of Pittsburgh, says that “There is laboratory evidence...younger athletes may be at greater risk.” Because of this, high schools and colleges are encouraged to start concussion testing for all athletes, because although this cannot prevent a concussion from occurring, it can help stop future injuries that occur due to returning to activities too soon (FitzGerald).
Jen Kish, a retired Olympic medal winning rugby player, still worries about her long term cognitive health. Kish suffered from 5 concussions throughout her 13 years of playing professional rugby, and she is still concerned that her injuries will continue to affect her through her adult life. As a 29 year-old, Kish recently became the 4th Canadian woman to donate her brain to Toronto Western Hospital’s Canadian Concussion Centre, to further assist in the process of researching women’s brain trauma. Before Kish, the Concussion Centre had collected a total of 44 deceased athletes’ brains, but they were all male. Researchers say that it is incredible that more female athletes are reaching out, because the fact is, they don't know many differences between males and females brains, as most research has been done on males. The information that comes out of this set of research may not provide any additional answers for a long time, but it's a step in the right direction, and it just might lead to a breakthrough (Campbell).
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