Frequently Asked Questions About Sports-Related Concussions

Typically the common symptoms of concussion will go away within 5-7 days of the injury. In some occasions, symptoms can last weeks or even months. The potential for long term effects of concussion indicates the need for a careful and responsible recovery.

It is crucial to remove yourself from physical activity immediately, or else you are at risk of more serious head injury. Every person who thinks that they might have sustained a concussion must contact a medical physician. If you are experiencing more severe symptoms such as vomiting, a severe headache, or unresponsiveness, you should be taken to a local emergency department. 

There is no specific number of concussions that determines whether an athlete should stop playing a high-risk concussion sport. It depends on the severity of each individual injury, such as the duration of the symptoms and if long term problems start to surface. Repeated concussions can lead to a greater chance of an even more serious concussion in the future, so it is important to discuss with a physician whether or not it is a safe to continue playing a contact sport.

Sports are a great way to stay healthy and have a positive attitude. To help lower your child's chances of getting a concussion, you should:

• Work with the coach to learn ways to lower the risks of concussion
• Make sure that all athletes are following the coaches' rules of safety and the rules of the sport
• Emphasize that your child should report to them immediately if they have any symptoms of concussion and closely follow medical recommendations during recovery.
• Teach your child to always wear protective gear when necessary. Although there is no "concussion-proof" helmet, helmets do lower the risk of the most serious types of brain and head injuries. It is important to understand that even with protective equipment on, it is important to avoid hits to the head.  

Children and teens who continue to play their sport after suffering a concussion, or return to play too soon while the brain is still healing, have a greater chance of getting another concussion. A repeat concussion that occurs when the brain is still recovering from the first injury can be very serious, and can affect a child for a lifetime. It may result in Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy (CTE) or even death. (per CDC)