Concussions As A Type Of Traumatic Brain Injury - 1289 Words

Concussions, a type of traumatic brain injury, are a frequent concern for those playing sports, from children and teenagers to professional athletes. Repeated concussions are a known cause of various neurological disorders, most notably chronic traumatic encephalopathy, which in professional athletes has led to premature retirement, erratic behavior and even suicide. Over 1.6 million Americans have sustained concussion-related injuries. Because concussions cannot be seen on X-rays or CT scans, attempts to prevent concussions have been difficult. The dangers of repeated concussions have long been known for boxers and wrestlers; a form of CTE common in these two sports, dementia pugilistica, was first described in 1928. An awareness of the†¦show more content†¦A concussion will affect the way a person s brain works. There is the potential of post-concussion syndrome, post-concussion syndrome is defined as a set of symptoms that may continue after a concussion is sustained. Along with the classification of post-concussion symptoms, the symptoms can also be described as immediate and delayed. Playing through concussion makes people more vulnerable to getting hit again, and that is why most sports have test that trainers will perform to prevent getting hit a second time. A second blow can cause a rare condition known as second-impact syndrome, which can result in severe injury or death. Second-impact syndrome is when an athlete suffers a second head injury before the brain has adequate time to heal in between concussions. Repeated concussions have been linked to a variety of neurological disorders among athletes, including CTE, Alzheimer s Disease, Parkinsonism and Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis . Incidence It is estimated that as many as 1.6-3.8 million concussions occur in the US per year in competitive sports and recreational activities; this is a rough estimate, since as many as 50% of concussions go unreported. Concussions occur in all sports with the highest incidence in American football, hockey, rugby, soccer, and basketball. Policies Major League Baseball Major League Baseball s policy was first started in 2007, and injured players are examined by a team athletic trainer on