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