Keeping Young Athletes Safe from Concussions

CLEVELAND - If your child is going to be playing football or another contact sport this fall, it’s important to know the signs and symptoms of a concussion – especially since they may not always be easy to detect.

“What parents need to watch out for, and what student athletes need to watch out for, is any change after they've had some type of blow during practice. And it doesn't necessarily need to be I hit my head on a ball, I hit my head on the ground. It could also even be simply a really bad hit that ended up with a strong neck whiplash type of injury,” said Marie Schaefer, MD, sports medicine specialist at Cleveland Clinic.

Dr. Schaefer said concussion symptoms can take up to 72 hours to develop.

And while many symptoms are obvious, such as headache, dizziness, nausea, sensitivity to light, confusion and slurred speech, there are also more subtle signs.

She had had patients who say they feel euphoric or like they’re in some kind of fog.

So, how are concussions treated?

Dr. Schaefer said typically with plenty of rest.

However, new research shows light exercise can be beneficial too.

“We found that early exercise, and we're not talking about going out and running hard or anything like that, but getting up, going on a walk around the block, wearing a hat, put some sunglasses on, getting on a stationary bike, can really help improve how people feel and make their recovery from concussion quicker,” she explained.

Dr. Schaefer said there are products on the market that claim to help prevent concussions, but they haven’t been thoroughly researched and can offer false confidence.

She said the best thing an athlete can do to protect themselves is to wear the right gear and practice proper technique.