Is your young athlete at risk? Concussion Prevention Tips

Written by: Marci D’Argenio, PT, DPT

Concussions caused by contact sports are a quickly growing epidemic among young athletes. The Center for Disease Control reports show that the amount of reported concussions has doubled in the last 10 years. Sports-related concussions account for more than half of all emergency room visits by children aged 8 through 13, according to the National Athletic Trainers’ Association. High school football accounts for 47 percent of all reported sports concussions, with 33 percent of concussions occurring during practice. After football, ice hockey and soccer pose the most significant head health risk. A child who suffers a concussion is one and a half times more likely to experience another, and those who have had two concussions have a threefold greater risk of a concussion happening again.

Helmets may help to lessen the impact of a hit, but there is nothing on the market currently that can completely prevent a concussion. An overview on the effectiveness of helmets, mouth guards, and other protective equipment was done by the 4th International Consensus Conference on Concussion in Sport and found no evidence of concussion risk reduction. So then how can you protect your child from getting a concussion? Read below to find out how.

1. Make sure your child wears the appropriate equipment for your sport and wear it properly. Close the chin strap if their sport requires a helmet, even during practices.

2. Enforce the importance of playing by the rules. Teach young athletes to respect the rules of their sport.

3. Examine the playing field prior to and during games for uneven areas or holes.

4. Make sure that end posts are adequately padded.

5. Teach proper technique for their sport. Some organizations minimize risk of concussion by limiting the number of contact practices allowed during the season.

6. Reiterate good sportsmanship. Teaching good sportsmanship minimizes unnecessary aggression on the field.

Monmouth Pain and Rehabilitation is now offering FREE ImPACT baseline concussion testing for all children between the ages of 5-14 ($75 value.) An ImPACT concussion test is a 25 minute computerized neurocognitive test that provides a baseline of your child's cognitive brain function. In the event of any traumatic head injury this test is repeated, comparing your child's cognitive brain function with their brain function prior to the injury. In doing so, diagnosis of concussion becomes more clear. All testing is confidential and saved in our secure database. ImPACT baseline testing is considered an industry standard test and data can be shared with your child's doctor or specialist in the event of a head injury.

Call us today at 732-345-1377 to schedule your child's FREE ImPACT baseline concussion test at either our Wall Township or Shrewsbury clinic.

www.MonmouthPain.com