Long-Term Concussion Treatment and Prevention - Essay Example

Long-term concussion treatment and prevention Concussion refers to a traumatic brain injury that jars the brains inside theskull. It is mild traumatic brain injury (MTBI). Injury to the head results to temporary loss of the brain function causing cognitive, emotional and physical symptoms. The increased cases of sport-related head injuries expose the athletic trainers to risk of lawsuits. The athletic trainers should be cautious in following the protocols when determining the return of an athlete to the competition (Anderson 39). Experts recommend neuropsychological testing in determining the baseline for the athletes. The long-term and short-term effects caused by concussion still evolve. Concussions are cumulative and increase by 400% after the first occurrence (Marar et al. 749). Each concussion facilitates the sustaining capacity of another concussion. Normally, subsequent concussions are more severe and are prolonged. Exact effects of several concussions are unclear. The long term effects encompass vision problems, deterioration of the memory, impaired balance, persistent headaches and loss of coordination. Symptoms do not improve over time. Long-term effects end numerous professional careers. With the second impact syndrome (SIS), the athlete returns back to play before every concussive symptom is resolved and any trauma causes rapid swelling of the brain and eventual death (Hunt and Amir 227-234). Brain injuries are serious and devastating. After the injury, functional changes in the brain occur with no structural damage on normal CT scan. Concussion interrupts the brain function due to spontaneous resolution of the head trauma. Brain floats in the cerebrospinal fluid, which is encased within the skull. The protection allows withstanding of minor injuries in daily life. When the force causing the bouncing of the brain against the rigid skull bones is sufficient, injury may result (Hunt and Amir 227-234). It causes acceleration and deceleration of brain against the inside of the skull, irritating and interrupting the brain function. Direct blow to the head and other body trauma accelerate the brains. Temporary loss of consciousness due to injury is an indication of a concussion. In sports, concussions are more frequent. This triggers numerous studies on evaluation and treatment. There can be broad spectrum of concussion symptoms, which resolve themselves within 10 days or in a week (Marar et al. 751). Concussion can be diagnosed easily when an athlete is knocked out and waking up is slow. Often, concussion is subtle with no any signs or feeling of brain shaking. Unconsciousness is not a symptom for concussion diagnosis. Symptoms can delay for hours after irritation of the brain by the trauma. Recurrent headaches, lethargy and dizziness concussion symptoms are easy to recognize. Other typical concussion symptoms include visual problems and irritability. The concussion diagnosis is based on clinical grounds and mechanism of symptoms. Brain imaging using MRI and CT scan calm the athlete and other people of false security (Hunt and Amir 227-234). Physical and mental rest is necessary for recovery of the brain. Normally, the moving computer screen and images stress the brains in keeping up with the input. Resting the brain entails limiting time spent on the internet and phone. Professional athletes lose considerable time recovering from concussion and head injuries (Jardine 249-258). The guidelines on return-to-play emphasize rest to a player after potential head injuries. This philosophy change occurred over last several years since a knock on the head acted as a rite of passage. Decisions about practice and the games take a number of days and repeated neurologic testing since the determination of the brain functions is difficult (Jardine 249-258). Testing, counting or follow-up of the finger by a patient in diagnosis is unimportant in the real world where subtle changes are shown by changes in the reaction of the brains. Most team doctors apply computer testing like in the IMPACT test program in measuring subtle changes in concentration mood. Others use neuropsychological testing and clinical judgment in deciding the player’s fate after the injury. Return-to-play decisions focus on the brain condition rather than on the body potential of the athlete (Marar et al. 752). Prevention of concussions among athletes involves proper training and exercise that elongates and strengthens the muscles. This provides stronger supporting during the impact. The mouth guard technique protects the teeth by lowering the impact on the lower jaw. Dual-arch mouth guards such as the line of performance of the Brain-Pad provides a good concussion defense for the inside mouth. Unlike the traditional mouth guards, which protected the lower or upper teeth only, Brain Pad is bi-molar or dual arch mouth guard. This stabilizes the jaws into neutral position and creates safety space at the skull base to reduce the impact of the jaw concussion and the face mask injuries (Meehan & Bachur 114-123). Listening to the body by the athlete enhances recognition of warning signs of the concussion. However, there is a common misconception of unconsciousness occurring whenever there is a concussion. The symptoms may be subtle like headaches, dizziness, nausea, sensitivity to light and confusion among others (Meehan & Bachur 114-123). Furthermore, speaking out is vital prevention of concussion whenever the injury takes place. The coach or the trainer should be notified immediately after the injury. This is relatively advisable to prevent going for days without treatment due to uncertainty. Knowing the concussion myths is crucial in preventing concussion. Normally, concussion does not occur from the hit on the top of the head. Concussion can be from the lower jaw and the hit below the chin. In such cases, the dual arch mouth guards are effective in preventing the concussion (Meehan & Bachur 114-123). Most return-to-play guidelines recommend rest time for the athlete who has suffered multiple concussions for increasingly longer time periods. This prevents occurrence of another concussion. However, athletes sustaining concussion are prone to concussion three times as much as those that have not (Mueller 50-56). Some of the sports-specific measures in preventing concussion and reducing the fatalities include continued ban enforcement on the initial head contact in tackling and blocking in football. In soccer, anchoring the soccer goals as well as warning the players to climb on them will prevent concussions. In ice hockey, the enforcement of the current rules and the consideration of prevent fatalities in case of an injury is necessary. Conditioning programs should be developed to help player and strengthen the neck muscles. In swimming, rules should be enforced to the racing dives in the pool end that is shallow, and which requires swimmers to start in water that is less than 3 1/2 ft and allow starts from the platforms less than 18 inches in water 3 1/2 to 4 ft deep (Mueller 50-56) In diving, strengthening and stretching prevents the shoulder injuries among the competitive divers. In baseball, banning the head first slides and knowledge of the safest methods of executing the maneuver prevents the occurrence of concussions. The batting practice pitchers should wear helmets. In tracking and field, the athletes should comply with the rules of pole vault landing pits’ size, the padding standards, traffic control and the removal of hazards from the pit area (Marar et al. 754). The vaulters should wear helmets, and the safety precautions should be enforced during the discus, javelin and short put competitions and practice. The sides of the discus circle should also be fenced. The cheerleading requires supervision by the coaches of all practices and safety certifications. Pyramids should be two levels only and should be performed on mats. The cheer leaders should take the pre-participation exam and participate in the stunts mastered. The cheerleaders with head trauma should return to the cheering after the physician’s permission (Webbe 28). In treating concussions, the worsening symptoms should be monitored including sensory change and weaknesses at 15-30 minutes interval in the initial hours after the injury. Athletes should be taken to the emergency department if the symptoms worsen. The athlete should be under constant care with prescriptions on what is expected. The physician should follow-up within 24-48 hours for physical examination and evaluation of the symptoms (Webbe 30). After the symptoms resolve, the athlete resumes playing under the supervision of a medical staff. The baseline should be implemented for neurocognitive testing. This objectively evaluates the post-injury for the concussed athlete and prevents cumulative concussion effects. Basically, cognitive and physical rest is crucial for concussed athletes to allow the brain enough time to rest (Mueller 50-56). In the rehabilitation of concussions, the additional disability should be prevented. The symptoms of post-concussion may return with exertion, particularly when the athlete is symptomatic for a considerable period. The proactive measures should be taken to ensure that the symptoms remain at bay in every step. The systems unaffected by the pathologic conditions should be enhanced to provide ongoing fitness and provide a structured physical program. Monitoring and adjustment of these programs as per the athlete’s tolerance is critical, minimizing athlete’s withdrawal from the demanding environments (Marar et al. 755). The functional capacity of the systems affected by disease should be enhanced to enable the athlete cope up with the neurocognitive effects. This eliminates the balance deficits in concussion and enhances the recovery. Adaptive equipment should be used to promote function in isolated situations when the function is affected. Incorporation of adaptive equipment in the rehabilitation protocol necessitates sport-specific activities like skating treadmill in hockey. The social and the vocational environment should be modified to provide team interaction and direct access to health care. While team interaction is necessary, it is best for the athlete temporarily return home. Finally, use of psychological techniques necessitates the performance and education of the athlete. Most of the concussion effects overlap (Hunt & Amir 227-234). Heat illness advances quickly among the football players and the runners. The early symptoms of heat illness can be subtle but early diagnosis and appropriate therapy saving lives. The over-motivated athletes overheat when doing too fast for too long. High speed and the metabolic rate influence the rectal temperature while racing. Running generates twice the marching heat. Lack of the acclimation is cardinal predictor of the acclimation causes better drinking while the body holds water and salts to increase the blood volume. This makes heart pump more blood at a reduced rate (Jardine 249-258). Cooling is necessary to prevent heat illness. The practice pace should be reduced when temperature rises and in hot races, the athletes should be hydrated. Hydration prevents heat stroke when managed well, especially after activity. The treatment for heat illness entails medical emergency where cooling is done to prevent high temperature damaging the brain cells. Ice-water immersion achieves a faster cooling while closely monitoring the rectal temperatures. The athlete is taken to hospital for further treatment after cooling (Hunt & Amir 227-234). Some legal concepts of concussion encompass written and oral instructions for home care to guide the athlete in the acute stages of concussion. Physicians should offer a standard home-instruction sheet to be used consistently. The deteriorating symptoms should be checked, and the athlete advised to take medication as instructed. Acetaminophen (Tylenol) should be avoided after the injury unless under the physician’s recommendation. Ingestion of alcohol and illicit drugs and substances is unacceptable to avoid interference with the neurogic recovery and the cognitive function (Jardine 249-258). \Works Cited Hunt, Tamerah and Amir, Trombley. Physician Management of Sport-Related Concussions at the Collegiate Level. Athletic Training & Sports Health Care 2.5 (2010): 227-234. Print. Jardine, David. Heat Illness and Heat Stroke. Pediatrics in Review 28.7 (2007): 249-258. Print. Meehan, W. P and Bachur, R.G. Sport-Related Concussion. Pediatrics 123.1 (2009): 114-223. Print. Mueller, Ross. Concussion. Strawberry Hills, N.S.W.: Currency, 2009. Print. Webbe, Frank. The Handbook of Sport Neuropsychology. New York: Springer Pub., 2011. Print. Marar, M. et al. Epidemiology of concussions among United States high school athletes in 20 sports . The American Journal of Sports Medicine 40.4 (2012): 747-755. Print Read More