Whenever a college athlete takes to the field, court or track, they risk their bodies, and a concussion can often be an overlooked injury.
A concussion is a type of trauma to the head and brain. When not properly treated, a concussion can interrupt neurological functions such as motor controls, language cognition and basic recovery.
The National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) has increased its concussion policies in the past five years. Players from many sports receive concussion tests at the beginning of their seasons. These tests include saying the alphabet backwards, naming all of the states in the United States, walk in a straight line and reciting the months of the year. The results are recorded and compared to results taken from a player who is believed to have a head injury.
Contact sports are heavily monitored by athletic trainers on the collegiate level. Football sustains the most head injuries due to helmet-to-helmet contact. Wrestling finishes in a close second place. Many athletes go about three years without getting treatment even if they have only some of the symptoms of a concussion, according to MU athletic trainers Robin Jackson and Jayme Galdier.
Jackson and Galdier work hard to heal athletes and return them to their respective sports after head injuries. The MU coaching staff teaches proper techniques when it comes to contact with other players.
“Concussions usually occur in impact sports, or sports involving projectiles. Also, a sport that includes players falling on their heads increases the risk of head injuries,” Galdier said. “It is not just contact sports.”
There are many ways that concussions or other head injuries can be prevented. Athletes can take simple steps such as strengthening the neck during workouts and stretch sessions. They must also use proper technique when it comes to contact sports.
Concussions must be treated as soon as possible. Galdier said athletes might believe that symptoms will go away after a certain period of time, but he recommends that all athletes get treatment as soon as a violent blow to the head occurs.
“Being an athletic trainer here at Misericordia benefits the players because we get to see them every day. We get to observe player behaviors before and after a suspected concussion. Athletic trainers at schools throughout the country have a bit of an advantage compared to [emergency room] doctors because we see the players every day.” Galdier adds. “We also keep players sidelined from activity and we re-evaluate them daily. Lastly we progressively return them to their teams provided the players have no symptoms of the initial concussion.”
These symptoms include confusion, sleep disturbance, anxiety, double or blurred vision and fatigue. If an athlete has any of these symptoms they should be checked immediately.
“If anyone sustains a concussion, they should immediately rest their heads. Until the players are symptom free, we tell them to avoid TV, schoolwork if they can, no computer use, or phone use. The best way to rest is to just [lie] down and sleep,” said Galdier.
Trainers encourage anyone who has symptoms of a concussion to visit them right away.
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