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Monday, July 13, 2015

By Jana Serrano


Head injuries among young sports players in Ontario are on the rise. The Institute for Clinical Evaluative Sciences (ICES) reported in 2014 that from 2003 to 2010, the number of youngsters seeking concussion treatment in Toronto was on the rise. There are those who think that this is not necessarily a bad thing, because it may indicate that parents are more savvy about their children's injuries.

The Mayo Clinic defines concussion as a trauma to the head that causes changes in brain function. These changes may be expressed in the form of memory loss, problems with coordination and balance, headache or difficulties in concentration. Even a seemingly innocuous head injury can cause lasting damage to the brain. Concussions are most commonly the result of a severe blow to the head, although they may also be a consequence of violent or prolonged shaking of the upper torso and head.

The symptoms may not express themselves for several days, weeks or longer after the original blow. These include headache, confusion and memory loss. Additionally, there may be nausea and vomiting, ringing sounds in the ears, a feeling of pressure within the head, seeing stars or slurred speech. Children and toddlers may lose interest in their favorite toys, appear cranky or irritable, cry more than normal or change their sleeping and eating habits.

An adrenalin-fueled sports player is likely to insist on getting back in the game after suffering a blow to the head, especially if they do not perceive the knock as serious. This can be a big mistake, as players can become severely disabled or even die if they do not receive treatment.

People who take part in vigorous contact sports are particularly prone to concussive head injury, especially in the sport of hockey. In this sport, there is a defensive move called bodychecking in which the defensive player throws his entire body weight against the player who has the puck. The defender uses his or her hip, shoulder, upper arm and elbow to make contact.

In 2010, bodychecking to the player's blind side or to the head was outlawed in an effort to reduce the number of concussions suffered by young players. So far, this has not been the case. What is particularly worrying is that women hockey players, in whose sport bodychecking is prohibited completely, are experiencing higher rates of concussion than their male counterparts.

This disturbing trend is not seen only in the college and pro sports. According to pee wee coaches, little girls of 9 and 10 years old are receiving large numbers of knocks to the head. This increase is not limited to hockey players, either. It happens in other sports.

There is a chief neurosurgeon at a major hospital in Massachusetts who thinks that the reason for this disproportionate increase in concussions could indicate that women are more susceptible than their male counterparts and that more research is needed. Alternatively, it could be that women are not training their neck muscles as much as men do, or that they are more open about reporting such injuries.




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