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March 30, 2011
YOUTH SPORTS
PLAYING IT SAFE ■ Doctor explains that today’s concussion
could also lead to problems down the line
By Sara Quale Banner Health public relations specialist
W
hen doctors and coaches pull an athlete from an activity because of suspected head trauma, they aren’t doing so to be mean. They aren’t overreacting. And, by no means are they benching an athlete because they fear legal action from the parents if health complications arise. Doctors and coaches follow evidence-based guidelines for concussions to protect the health of young athletes today and in the future. “The biggest problem I face is angry parents,” said Banner Health neurologist Jeffrey Siegel, M.D., about treating children who have suffered head injuries in sports. “For most families, this could be the child’s ticket to college. That’s huge.” Siegel, who practices at North Colorado Neurology in Greeley, said by failing to properly address the athlete’s injury, parents could sacrifice their children’s health. Guidelines from the American Association of Neurology follow a grading scale to determine the severity of a concussion. In Grade 1, the youngster shows confusion, but no loss of consciousness. Confusion or other symptoms resolve in less than 15 minutes. “In Grade 1, the child is dinged and just confused,” Siegel said. “If it lasts more than 15 minutes, you go to Grade 2.” Grade 2 symptoms might include inability to concentrate or amnesia. If this lasts more than an hour, the athlete should be taken to receive
Details A concussion is a brain injury that results in a temporary disruption of normal brain function. It occurs when the brain is violently rocked back and forth or twisted inside the skull as a result of a blow to the head or body. An athlete doesn’t have to lose consciousness to suffer a concussion. Estimates indicate that more than 140,000 U.S. high school athletes suffer a concussion each year. Source: National Federation of State High School Associations
medical attention. In Grade 3, the athlete loses consciousness for any period of time. Siegel said mental status testing can be easy to do and easily learned through courses. The Colorado High School Activities Association requires coaches to take online
training that addresses what symptoms to look for and deciding when a student is ready to return to play. The importance of following these guidelines is crucial, Siegel said. “Kids don’t recognize the danger they are in, and it’s our responsibility as adults to do what we can” to prevent long-term damage. “It’s an athlete’s death that makes the newspapers. More common, however, is when an athlete sustains small, multiple injuries which accumulate and degrade the intelligence and function of that person. “We don’t know a critical number, but at some point, it becomes a little bit too much, and there’s going to be damage. It could be subtle or obvious. Kids don’t understand the repercussions,” Siegel said. “They
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don’t care about what they might be like when they’re 30 years old and trying to hold a career and a family together.” Evidence shows a relationship between the number and frequency of concussions and the development of dementia later in life, he said. The research also shows a relationship between concussions and academic performance and performance on neurological testing. “Is that a good trade off ? You win a trophy, but then you might not get that promotion as readily, or you might have marital difficulties,” Siegel said. He has seen patients with injuries from many sports: soccer, basketball, horse riding, skiing, boxing and football. He advocates reasonable precautions for activities such as using bike or ski helmets. Also, coaches and parents should be more aware of the symptoms of a concussion and act accordingly. Getty Images