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