The Importance Of Concussions In Sports

Actively participating in different sports is beneficial to individuals especially to young people for not only they become physically fit and can easily perform tasks, they also have an increased self esteem and self discipline. It is not uncommon to see players suffer a mild injury such as cuts and abrasions especially to contact sports. However, there are also some serious injuries occur that needs special treatment and confinement in the hospital such as head trauma. Head injury is a complex structure that needs to be deal with not only by the players but also the people surrounding them. Concussion is a type of head injury that used to be treated mildly because of its light side effects but is now proven to cause deficiency in later life
Concussion is common in field sports that is why a concussion assessment tool version 3 (SCAT 3) and a paediatric version (CHILD-SCAT 3) together with the Zurich questions was made to assess a player after a head injury during a game. This tool will measure an individual’s level of consciousness, reported concussive symptoms such as headache and dizziness, cognition, a rudimentary neck examination, balance and coordination. If these conditions were met initially, the player can go back to the ongoing game. Return to play on the same game is possible in sports such as rugby where there is a “rolling substitution”. These substitutes can replace a player while they are recovering. These “rapid rehabs” keeps with the “spirit” of the game, ( Adel Helmy and Peter Hutchison, 2013). Treatment of concussion requires early detection of symptoms and rest until fully recovered. However, one can be back at a game in no time based on personalised approach wherein everything will be based on the player, their performance and the rules and practicalities of the sport. Injured star players are pressured to go back to a game after an injury, because of this, they mask the symptoms they feel just to be able to
Protective gears should be worn by athletes and they must be evaluated before an injury occurs. For instance, soccer is played by “heading” the ball. Studies showed that soccer players had changes in their brain caused by repetition of headers even if they did not experience concussion (Cantu & Hyman, 2002). For this reason, some soccer leagues mandated the use of head gear. The study made by Broglio, Ju, Broglio And Sell in 2003, showed a significant reduction in peak force in impact with all head gears on the market on that time. Mouth guards can also be a part of the protective device, however, there is no evidence yet pertaining to the cushion they provide for a concussion. Nevertheless, it had been proven to reduce impact on the mouth/teeth compared to those who do not wear mouth guards. Since injuries in contact sports are inevitable, a Sport Conference in Concussion was held at Melbourne in 2013. This activity was supported by all Australian football codes together with the coaches, referees, players, first aiders and medical personnel. They tackled about the complication of concussion as well as its early signs and symptom and the best management for this condition. Children who had a concussion should be thoroughly assessed by a health care provider trained in sports concussion before they return back to school. Concussion symptoms can interfere with a child’s memory and