Concussions in Sports discusses concussions, which are mild traumatic brain injuries caused by impacts that cause bruising or swelling of the brain. Symptoms include headaches, memory loss, and mood changes. The NFL and NCAA are researching both short and long term effects of concussions on athletes. Rule changes have targeted helmet-to-helmet hits, and equipment is improving with new helmets reducing concussions by 10% annually. Rest is important to properly treat concussions, which usually heal within 7-10 days but can take longer for athletes.

1. Concussions in Sports
Steven Hutchison

2. Introduction
What is a Concussion?
A concussion is a mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI)
which causes bruising or swelling of the brain due to
a forceful impact of some kind.
The more technical definition of a concussion is that
it is a pathopysiological disruption of the brain.

3. Symptoms
Headaches, grogginess, impaired
consciousness, memory loss, mood
changes, delayed reaction times
and also sleeplessness.

4. Research
The National Football League (NFL) and
the National Collegiate Athletic
Association (NCAA) are two examples
of massive organizations that are
spending time and money to fully
research the short and long term
effects that concussions can have on
athletes.

5. Research
Rule Change (NCAA)
“No player shall target and initiate
contact against an opponent with the
crown of his helmet.”
• This specific rule is referring to American Football,
and was found in the article, Advancements in
Concussion Prevention, Diagnosis, and Treatment.

6. Equipment Changes
Some equipment changes in sports are
becoming much more apparent with the likes
of some soccer players wearing helmets and
face masks, as well as American football
players wearing a new style helmet which
includes foam padding in and around the
whole helmet

7. Equipment Changes
New Football Helmets-
According to the article Advancements in
Concussion Prevention, Diagnosis, and
Treatment, “since production began with the
new style helmet, there has been a ten
percent decrease in the amount of
concussions received by the American football
athletes each year.”

8. Concussions Within
Sports
A regular Concussion usually takes 7-10 days
to heal but it is often longer for athletes as
they require much rest for recovery
With regards to sport it is said that a
concussion must be “managed in a
multidisciplinary manner by healthcare
providers with experience in sports related
concussion” (Advancements in Concussion
Prevention, Diagnosis and Treatment).

9. Treatment for
Concussions
It is now an NCAA rule that all athletes must take the
computer-based assessment before taking part in their
sports season. The main reason for this is that it gives
athletic trainers a “baseline” to go off of when
someone actually gets a concussion.
After around 7-10 days post concussion, the athlete will
take the test again to figure out how far away he/she is
from the level they achieved before the concussion. If
they have similar scores this is often taken as a sign that
the injured athlete is ready to begin competing again.
Most importantly- REST!!!

10. Conclusion
Athletes, coaches, athletic trainers and sporting organizations all
must be extremely wary of the damage concussions can do to
athletes within sports. The most important thing for these
people to do is to research and find out what they need to know
in order to keep their athletes fit and healthy physically and
mentally.
The fact of the matter is that if the athlete, trainer or coach does
not acknowledge concussions quick enough, they can lead to
athletes living a shorter or lesser quality of life.

11. Works Cited
Advancements in Concussion Prevention, Diagnosis, and Treatment.
(2014). Sport Journal, 1.Article- Advancements
in Concussion Prevention, Diagnosis, and Treatment.
Advancements in Concussion Prevention, Diagnosis, and Treatment.
(2014). Sport Journal, 1.Article- Computer-Based Assessment
of Sports-Related Concussion.
By, R. F. (1998, Aug 12). LaFontaine leaves hockey reluctantly. New
York Times (1923-Current File) Retrieved from
http://search.proquest.com/docview/110025378?accountid=12104
Arti le- The difficult concussion patient: what is the best approach to
investigation and management of persistent (>10 days)
postconcussive symptoms?
Schatz, P., & Zillmer, E. A. (2003). Computer-Based Assessment of
Sports-Related Concussion. Applied Neuropsychology, 10(1), 42-47.