Concussion in Adolescent Athletes - Essay Example

Concussion in Adolescent Athletes Name: Institution Concussion in Adolescent Athletes A concussion is as common injury mostly underreported by the adolescent athletes. It is complicated pathophysiological process induced by traumatic biomechanical forces affects the brain. In most cases, either direct or indirect blow that results in structural disturbance to the brain causes a concussion. Among the symptoms of concussion, include confusion, headache, and unconsciousness are some of the symptoms of a concussion. Football usually has a high incidence of concussion with girls having a higher rate than boys do. Concussion has symptoms that negatively influence participation in sports, family social relationships, as well as schools. Despite the proper sports, techniques and adherence to rules of the sport that attempts to reduce the severity of the concussion and no action taken to prevent them. Appropriate management is, therefore, necessary to for reducing the long-term signs and complications associated with it (Williams, 2014). According to Williams 2014, here is an extensive research and media coverage on sports related to concussions. The minds of the young populations in the development process hence pose a unique challenge to the impacts of concussions (McCrory et al., 2009). Because of this, a management evolved with strategies on return play decisions to reduce the effects of a concussion. However, the majority of parents and coaches of various games that being a youth is a time of indestructibility. The misconception that concussion is a little challenge that does not need the attention of physicians has complicated the education in the young population and high school sports (McCrory et al., 2009). Use of medication is a certain management tool to reduce the impacts of concussion, in particular among the employees with prolonged symptoms. The objective of traditional management of concussion is to provide awareness to the athletes and appropriate activities and situations that may slow recovery (McCrory et al., 2009). There is a recommendation to avoiding aspirin immediately after head injury because of the potential risks of intracranial bleeding by the victim. Athletes with prolonged signs as headache, depression, and difficulty in concentrating should use medication to reduce the impacts of a concussion therefore, necessary to for reducing the long-term signs and complications associated with it (Williams2014). Applying cognitive rest to victims of concussion reduce the associated risks. Most athletes show symptoms with intuitive sense because of the structural damage to the brain. Such athletes with concussion usually have difficulty in focusing on schoolwork and trying to cope with regular assignments, especially in science and mathematics. An additional study for leisure often worsens the impacts of a concussion (McCrory et al., 2009). Therefore, the cognitive test is recommended to affected athletes to prevent exacerbation. Such tests include an interim leave of absence from learning institution and reduction in the assignment workloads in schools therefore, necessary to for reducing the long-term signs and complications associated with it (Williams, 2014). Moreover, it gives the athlete more time to complete the tasks under no pressure as well as reducing the school days of the athlete. Nevertheless, the victim should not be subjected to standard tests while recovering from a concussion and any tests taken by the athlete during t5his period is not an accurate reflection of the ability of the victim (McCrory et al., 2009). When the victim resumes from school, the victim should be allowed adequate, time to cover up the assignments with a reasonable reduction of the volume of make-up work. It is uncommon for the tutors and another school official to look down upon the students experiencing such difficulties because of the well physical look. It is possible for this to downplay the need for appropriate cognitive rest. Additionally, any activity that requires attention and concentration such as viewing computers and using computers have exacerbated symptoms need to be minimized as well as avoiding the use of electronic music devices with headphones for the case of photophobia symptom therefore, necessary to for reducing the long-term signs and complications associated with it (Williams2014). According to William, 2014, withholding the athletes from physical exertion until the signs, come to rest is a strategy to reduce the impact of concussion. The increased demand for energy in the brain from physical activity increases symptoms and lengthens the recovery period. A victim of concussion should be restricted from any form of physical activity. However, light it may be as perceived by the majority. Therefore, necessary to for reducing the long-term signs and complications associated with it (Williams, 2014). Restriction of the athletes from the physical activity should be extended to various sports or underlying activity but also to any weight training and physical education classes (Valentine & Curl, 2005). There is a need to restrict leisure activities such as street hockey and bike riding to avoid imposing risks of additional head damage of the victim. Moreover, assessment at of the mental health of the victim is equally important. This is because of the possibility of the concussion resulting to depression and the extended time away from sports, sleep disturbances, and difficulties coping with the school activities (Valentine & Curl, 2005). Use of headgears for the athletes and helmets reduce the impact of forces that could cause damage to the head. However, they need to be assessed to conform to the national operating committee on a standard for athletic equipment. The reconditioned helmets of the victims should fit appropriately the victim. Helmets effectively reduce the impacts of concussion for skiing and snowboarding. Nevertheless, headgears have a mild protection from concussion of the players colliding heads and no from individually heading the ball (Valentine & Curl, 2005). Baseline neuropsychological testing is a cornerstone of concussion management. It involves a return to play decision-making process and diagnosis of an athlete who has experienced a concussion. A pre-injury testing, which should be completed within thirty minutes, is immediately followed by a post-injury testing (Valentine & Curl, 2005). The main objective of this testing is quite sensitive and objective in minimizing the risks associated with concussion. Computerized baseline programs such as concussion resolution index. It is worth noting that immediate post-concussion assessment and cognitive (ImPACT) and CogSport are some of the tests done to athlete patients (Valentine & Curl, 2005). These programs collect base line date from the victim’s neuropsychological domains such attention and provide a concise clinical decisions regarding return to play. For instance, when the victim has no symptoms, the cognitive return to the base line levels. Promoting awareness is an equally a line of defense in managing the impacts of concussion and any injury related to sports. There is need to inform students athletes possible causes of injury with the specific equipment relevant for use in such a scenario. Incorporating a team approach of coaches and school administrators are equally important in yielding best results for the awareness campaigns. Prevention ideas include involving students in an essay contest that specifically discusses on the topic concussion. Conducting a brain injury awareness every March and national youth safety conducted every month of April are some of the campaign management strategies to reduce the impacts of concussions on athletes (Williams2014). Identification of affected students and supporting the transition back to school is an important strategy for a concussion (Sim, Terryberry-Spohr & Wilson, 2008). There are significant advantages of promoting awareness among the personnel of institutions and creating a team approach in identifying the affected victims with the symptoms of a concussion. For instance, the affected victims may display more symptoms when subjected to exertion conditions (cognitive or physical) and fatigue that change with the demand of the day. Similarly, some students may present abnormal chronic and cognitive deficits following a concussion (Sim, Terryberry-Spohr & Wilson, 2008). A concussion management in the schools by speech-language pathologists (SLPs) reduces the impacts of a concussion. Despite the fact that SLP has not traditionally worked with the athletes in a return to play decision, SLP is suited to take the role concerning issues with a concussion (Sim, Terryberry-Spohr & Wilson, 2008). Moreover, they monitor and administer the progress of athletes as well as the social functioning of the victims. Moreover, use of mouth guards for harmonizing the associated risks of dental trauma in preventing a concussion is equally vital. Mouthy guards reduce the risks of concussion (Williams, 2014). The recent law of legislation is an important tool that reduces the associated risks of concussion. This law provides school board about the state to develop adequate and relevant educational material and specific guide for the athletes, coaches, and parents as well (Halstead, & Walter, 2010). The law requires that both the parents and athletes sign an appropriate consent form for acknowledging the impacts of the concussion before indulging in sports. Similarly, the athlete requires isolation from the games suppose he or she shows a sign of having a concussion. He or she should not return until there is adequate evaluation and given clearance to resume playing from a health care professional. Most states either have passed this legislation or are in the process of considering similar legislation (Halstead, & Walter, 2010). After the diagnosis of the concussion victim, a comprehensive medical management plan would be necessary. The implementation should follow the policy of concussion and incorporate the communication of everyone involved in the scene. The plan should include school personnel such as administrators and teachers as well the family including the parents of the patient. Similarly, the medical school personnel (school nurse) and the community referral resources such as team physician need to incorporate into the design (Lovell et al., 2003). The communications among this personnel are necessary to allow for smooth management of the athlete. Therefore, the home care plan should include continuous follow-up and continuous monitoring of the signs and symptoms of the victim. The parents if the victim should be provided with a list of the symptoms any deteriorating condition that may warrant a quick referral to the emergency department. Similarly, the athlete involved need to be presented with a concussion instruction with the specific guidelines to follow (Lovell et al., 2003). The current research on the effects of concussion on the adolescent athletes does not contradict with the discussed decisions to help minimize the impacts associated with the concussion of athletes. References Halstead, M. E., & Walter, K. D. (2010). Sport-related concussion in children and adolescents. Pediatrics, 126(3), 597-615. Lovell, M. R., Collins, M. W., Iverson, G. L., Field, M., Maroon, J. C., Cantu, R., ... & Fu, F. H. (2003). Recovery from mild concussion in high school athletes. Journal of neurosurgery, 98(2), 296-301. McCrory, P., Meeuwisse, W., Johnston, K., Dvorak, J., Aubry, M., Molloy, M., & Cantu, R. (2009). Consensus statement on Concussion in Sport–the 3rd International Conference on Concussion in Sport held in Zurich, November 2008. South African Journal of Sports Medicine, 21(2). McNutt, T., Shannon, S. W., Wright, J. T., & Feinstein, R. A. (1989). Oral trauma in adolescent athletes: a study of mouth protectors. Pediatr Dent, 11(3), 209-13. Sim, A., Terryberry-Spohr, L., & Wilson, K. R. (2008). Prolonged recovery of memory functioning after mild traumatic brain injury in adolescent athletes. Valentine, V., & Curl, W. W. (2005). Concussions in adolescent athletes. Instructional course lectures, 55, 703-709. Williams, R. M. (2014). "Athletic Trainers' Management Practices and Referral Patterns For Adolescent Athletes after Sport-Related Concussion". Sports Health: A Multidisciplinary Approach 6.5: 434-439. Web. Read More