Concussions
Grade 1 concussions are the most common, accounting for 90% of the condition. It shows up in a very non dramatic way. As a result, it is often overlooked or missed.
Indications of a possible concussion are:
- Confusion
- Inattentiveness
- Unable to recall a play
- Mixing up the order of things
Sports
In the sports our children play, concussions can occur when:
- Heading the ball incorrectly in soccer
- Tackling/charging in football
- Checking in hockey
- Running into goal posts
- Banging heads with other players
- Knocking head on ice or gym floor.
We often dismiss these injuries and think that kids need to suck it up or shouldn’t be “babied”. Having a second trauma after one of these seemingly minor head injuries can be deadly. For this reason, it is absolutely worthy of our attention.
Children who experience these injuries should be pulled from a game and observed for 24 hours. If there is any loss of thinking ability, change in personality, sleeping patterns, activity levels, or vision for any period, kids should not go back in the game. There is something very serious that’s called second concussion syndrome. Once the brain has been disturbed, if it has another trauma soon thereafter, sometimes uncontrolled swelling occurs. It is fatal almost 100% of the time. The earlier injury magnifies the effects of subsequent ones.
What can we do?
It is always a good idea to get your child checked by your chiropractor if they sustain one of these injuries. If a vertebrae is displaced, it can cause pressure on the nerves in that area and create future problems. If you are concerned about your child athlete, please make an appointment to have their spine checked for interference. It will NOT hurt and can make a world of difference in their growth, development and performance.