Sports Related Concussions In Youth

In the past decade, few subjects at the intersection of medicine and sports have generated as much public interest as sports-related concussions - especially among youth. Despite growing awareness of sports-related concussions and campaigns to educate athletes, coaches, physicians, and parents of young athletes about concussion recognition and management, confusion and controversy persist in many areas. Currently, diagnosis is based primarily on the symptoms reported by the individual rather than on objective diagnostic markers, and there is little empirical evidence for the optimal degree and duration of physical rest needed to promote recovery or the best timing and approach for returning to full physical activity. Sports-Related Concussions in Youth: Improving the Science, Changing the Culture reviews the science of sports-related concussions in youth from elementary school through young adulthood, as well as in military personnel and their dependents. This report recommends actions that can be taken by a range of audiences - including research funding agencies, legislatures, state and school superintendents and athletic directors, military organizations, and equipment manufacturers, as well as youth who participate in sports and their parents - to improve what is known about concussions and to reduce their occurrence. Sports-Related Concussions in Youth finds that while some studies provide useful information, much remains unknown about the extent of concussions in youth; how to diagnose, manage, and prevent concussions; and the short- and long-term consequences of concussions as well as repetitive head impacts that do not result in concussion symptoms. The culture of sports negatively influences athletes' self-reporting of concussion symptoms and their adherence to return-to-play guidance. Athletes, their teammates, and, in some cases, coaches and parents may not fully appreciate the health threats posed by concussions. Similarly, military recruits are immersed in a culture that includes devotion to duty and service before self, and the critical nature of concussions may often go unheeded. According to Sports-Related Concussions in Youth, if the youth sports community can adopt the belief that concussions are serious injuries and emphasize care for players with concussions until they are fully recovered, then the culture in which these athletes perform and compete will become much safer. Improving understanding of the extent, causes, effects, and prevention of sports-related concussions is vitally important for the health and well-being of youth athletes. The findings and recommendations in this report set a direction for research to reach this goal.

From America's preeminent expert on the head trauma crisis in sports, a timely, provocative, essential guide to concussions in youth sports--what they are, how to treat them, and how to protect our young athletes.

This book will dispel myths about head impacts in youth sports, potential consequences of these collisions, and the changes sports organizations have made to make these sports “safer than ever.” It will empower parents and athletes to make an informed decision on sports participation and provide recommendations on how to make these sports safer.

Back in the Game: Why Concussion Doesn't Have to End Your Athletic Career is a timely discussion of sports concussions based on science. The book does not dwell on perpetuating fears about sports and concussion, but rather, having a real-world discussion about what science and medicine knows, what parents and coaches need to understand about the brain injury, evaluation and treatment, and possible post-concussive issues and depression.

This comprehensive, reader-friendly book written by a top physician in the field explains to coaches and parents how to understand, cope with, and prevent sport-related concussions among children and teenagers. Written by an expert physician, Kids, Sports, and Concussion: A Guide for Coaches and Parents offers a thorough understanding of concussive brain injury, its symptoms, its potential long-term effects, and the current prevention options. Equally important, it provides insights into how this injury is treated and what parents and athletes can do to facilitate recovery. In addition to explaining in simple, clear, and complete terms what a concussion is and how it can alter the brain function of children and youths, this guide discusses new technologies and equipment that may help prevent concussion. It looks at the incidence of concussion in football, hockey, cheerleading, skiing and snowboarding, soccer, basketball, and equestrian sports, and it explores related issues, such as the movement to have soccer and rugby players wear helmets. A final chapter focuses on emerging research designed to facilitate better treatments and on safety measures, including testing for a genetic predisposition to concussion. - A foreword from Lyle Micheli, MD, past president of the American College of Sports Medicine and author of The Sports Medicine Bible for Young Athletes, commenting on the significance of sport-related concussion in pediatric and adolescent sports - A glossary - A bibliography referencing key investigations in the scientific literature for readers seeking a more in-depth, scientific analysis

"Up to 10% of all athletes in contact sports will suffer from concussion at some point, and as many as 3 million sports-related concussions are reported each year. In this volume, Peter A. Arnett and other expert contributors in neuropsychology and sports medicine describe treatment for persistent postconcussive symptoms, including posttraumatic headache and migraine, depression, and anxiety. They explore genetic factors that can impact symptoms and diagnosis; the use of neuroimaging in diagnosis and treatment; measurement issues such as sex differences, assessment of effort in evaluations, and aspects of computerized testing that can affect the validity of neuropsychological results; and exciting new treatment options, such as virtual reality tools."--Page 4 de la couverture.

Sports concussions make headlines, but you don't have to be an NFL star to suffer traumatic brain injury. In Shaken Brain, Elizabeth Sandel, MD, shares stories and research from her decades treating and studying brain injuries. She explains what concussions do to our bodies, how to avoid them, and how to recover.