| A traumatic brain injury (TBI) can occur | | | | neuropsychological impairments in |
| when an individual's head is collides | | | | athletes who have had multiple |
| with or is punctured by a foreign body. | | | | concussions are: |
| There does not necessarily need to be | | | | - Reduced speed in processing new |
| external contact between the head and | | | | information |
| the foreign body in order for a brain | | | | - Problem solving and planning |
| injury to occur. Sometimes brain damage | | | | difficulties Increased number of |
| can be caused by the brain colliding | | | | headaches |
| with the skull, as is the case when | | | | - Concentration difficulties |
| whiplash occurs. | | | | - Memory impairments |
| A concussion is a milder form of | | | | - Behavioral problems |
| traumatic brain injury, where full | | | | Why Athletes Suffer Multiple Concussions |
| recovery usually occurs without major | | | | Factors that contribute to why athletes |
| long term effects, unless an individual | | | | suffer multiple concussions are related |
| suffers more than one concussion in | | | | to the ability to accurately assess |
| succession. Repeated brain injuries have | | | | severity and recovery from symptoms. For |
| a cumulative effect resulting in more | | | | example, there are several different |
| severe and more prolonged | | | | scales for rating severity at the time |
| post-concussion symptoms. If an | | | | of the concussion but there is general |
| individual incurs a second concussion | | | | lack of agreement on which to use. There |
| while the symptoms from a previous | | | | is also lack of agreement on what amount |
| concussion still persist, serious and | | | | of time should pass before athletes can |
| dangerous conditions or even death can | | | | safely return to sports. This occurs |
| occur. This condition is called | | | | because there do not exist uniformly |
| second-impact syndrome (SIS). | | | | accepted guidelines for determining |
| Sports-Related Concussions � Causes | | | | whether an athlete has complete |
| and Frequency | | | | recoverred. Preventing Traumatic Brain |
| According to the Centers for Disease | | | | Injury |
| Control and Prevention (CDC), about | | | | Using proper protective equipment can |
| 300,000 people experience concussions | | | | prevent many cases of concussion. |
| each year from sports injuries. Most | | | | Helmets or other appropriate headgear |
| sports-related concussions come from | | | | should be used in contact sports, and in |
| contact sports, especially football, | | | | sports for which falling or colliding |
| boxing, hockey, and martial arts. Other | | | | are risks (skiing, horseback riding, |
| major causes of a large number of | | | | bicycling). Custom fitted mouth pieces |
| sports-related concussions are falls or | | | | may also help prevent concussions in |
| collisions in sports such as skiing, | | | | contact sports. To be effective, all |
| bicycling, horseback riding, basketball, | | | | protective equipment should be properly |
| and soccer. In soccer an additional risk | | | | fitted and used for the purpose in which |
| for concussions is "heading" the ball. | | | | is was designed. |
| Males between the ages of 16 and 25 are | | | | Although the risk of concussion is |
| the most likely population to suffer | | | | inherent in sports participation, |
| concussions due to sports. Within this | | | | decisions as to what sport to |
| group, the risk is highest at the high | | | | participate in can help mitigate the |
| school level. High school students who | | | | risk of concussion. If you are |
| participate in contact sports suffer | | | | concerned about a traumatic brain injury |
| about 25 percent of the 300,000 | | | | sustained while playing a sport, you may |
| sports-related concussions that are | | | | wish to contact an experienced TBI |
| reported each year. At the college | | | | lawyer. Your traumatic brain injury |
| level, over one third of football | | | | attorney can help you assess your |
| players has suffered a concussion and | | | | potential TBI claim and help you get the |
| about 20 percent have had multiple | | | | compensation you deserve for the |
| concussions. Dangers of Multiple | | | | devastation incurred in traumatic brain |
| Concussions | | | | injuries. |
| Second-impact syndrome (SIS), which is a | | | | By visiting individuals interested in |
| concussion that occurs while the victim | | | | any of a large number of legal issues |
| is still recovering from and earlier | | | | can find answers to their questions, in |
| concussion, has resulted in at least 26 | | | | addition to having access to a vast |
| deaths in the past 20 years since this | | | | nation-wide attorney referral service. |
| condition was first characterized. Most | | | | Using the referral serviceVisitors to |
| of these victims were in high school. | | | | Legalview.com, your source for |
| While most cases of SIS and multiple | | | | everything legal, have access to the |
| concussions do not cause death, the | | | | site's massive legal database of |
| neuropsychological brain damage they | | | | information related to a myriad of legal |
| cause is significant. Many studies have | | | | issues, as well as an attorney referral |
| shown that athletes who have suffered | | | | service. Using the attorney referral |
| multiple concussions are more likely to | | | | service, visitors can be put in touch |
| have prolonged learning difficulties and | | | | with resources for a wide variety of |
| perform more poorly on | | | | legal practice issues, including a truck |
| neuropsychological tests compared to | | | | accident lawyer or a Kugel mesh |
| people who have had one concussion or no | | | | attorney. |
| concussions. Some the well-documented | | | | |