By: Meghan Green '21
Image of brain inside helmet. Taken by Performance Health Academy
In the United States, it was recorded that 1.6 to 3.8 billion sports and recreation concussions occur each year, according to an online website named Protect the Brain. Concussions have been recorded as one of the top ten injuries to occur to an athlete. When an athlete acquires a concussion, their brain moves underneath the skull as a result of violently shaking the upper body or head. As a result of movement underneath the skull, the brain bruises, damages the blood vessels, disrupts the nerves and can inflict a traumatic brain injury that will defect one’s brain functionality. This type of injury should not be taken lightly and an athlete should receive immediate medical attention. Athletes should also be aware of the risks to ensure they will recover completely to avoid permanent damages.
Depending on the intensity of the concussion, a concussed athlete’s symptoms can vary. For example, some symptoms include headaches, memory loss, a decline in balance or coordination, loss of consciousness, vomiting, nausea, slurred speech, and many other symptoms. If an individual continues to receive concussions, they are potentially at risk of undergoing long-term effects. These effects might include migraines, light sensitivity, photophobia, dizziness, emotional symptoms, Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy, Alzheimer's Disease, and Parkinson's Disease.
The number of concussions occurring in multiple sports has alarmed many doctors and parents. According to Reuters, an online news site, it has been recorded that football accounts for forty-seven percent of reported concussions. As the number of concussions increase, intimidation arose from a great number of football players, which caused the participation declining five percent in 2017. In 2008, it was recorded that 1.11 million athletes participated in football and as of last year, 1.06 million players participate. Those who stopped playing may have avoided between 6,700 and 14,000 concussions.
When an athlete presents symptoms of a concussion to an athletic trainer, they are required to follow a concussion protocol. The first step is to send the athlete who reports having concussion symptoms to a doctor. After being diagnosed, the trainer waits until there are no symptoms. Once the athlete reports that there are no symptoms, they take the impact test and then begin the return to play process.
The athletic trainer at Dunellen High School, Matt Wiswesser explains the process. “We start the return to play, from there it is five days in order to return to a game. The first day is walking for twenty minutes. Then you wait for twenty-four hours, no symptoms. Then it is jogging for twenty minutes. Then you wait twenty- four hours. The third day would be a non-contact practice or a weight room session. The fourth day a contact practice. The fifth day would be a game. The whole thing through that process is that, as long as they are symptom-free.”
Mr. Wiswesser continues to explain that if any symptoms are shown in any part of the process, the athlete has to restart the return to play process.
A senior football player from Dunellen High School struggled with concussions throughout his high school athletic career and has completed the concussion protocol multiple times. He suffered from concussions consecutively; one during sophomore year and two during junior year. During his senior year, he was unfortunately inflicted with another concussion, which prevented him from playing under the lights with his teammates as a result of his concussion having extreme risks.
“I always saw concussions as a part of football and only better form and technique can prevent them. After dedicating a large part of my time and effort into a sport I love, I would return in a heartbeat if I could…If it was up to me after sustaining my worst concussion, I would have returned to play once I was cleared.”
An athlete’s dedication and determination encourage fear of being forthcoming with their symptoms. According to Loudoun Sports Therapy Center, fifty percent of athletes do not report their concussions and are in danger of risking their future. It is proven that athletes do not report their symptoms because they are fearful of losing their position on the team, being perceived as weak, disappointing their teammates, or not impressing their coach.
Photo of Dave DeNapoli, DHS Football Coach. Taken from Dunellen411
Dunellen Football Coach, Dave DeNapoli, said, “It’s hard to know if a kid is not being truthful because they really want to play. Some kids will cover it up and we are trying to educate them on the seriousness of that. How something bad could happen.”
Many new types of equipment have been designed to decrease the chance of being concussed in sports. Mr. Wiswesser explains that there are new helmets being designed for football players to wear in order to decrease the force on the head. In soccer, there are headbands and a soft helmet that can be used during games. In addition, there is a device that looks like a collar that places force on the carotid arteries. This equipment prevents the blood from going to the brain before impact.
With more awareness of concussions risk, more individuals will understand the long-term effects and that this injury is indeed serious and calls for immediate attention.