What Is a Concussion?
A concussion is a mild brain injury usually caused by a hit to the head or body that shakes the brain inside the skull. This can disrupt how the brain works, often causing symptoms like headaches, dizziness, trouble concentrating, confusion, blurred vision, or mood changes. Symptoms may begin right away, or they might show up a day or two later.
How Common Are Concussions?
- In the U.S., as many as 1.6–3.8 million concussions happen each year in sports and recreational activities.
- In organized sports, less than 10% of concussions involve loss of consciousness.
- For youth aged 8–13, 58% of concussions come from organized sports, with football making up 37% of those.
- A recent CDC study found that youth tackle football players (ages 6–14) had 15 times more head impacts than flag football players, including 23 times more high-force hits.
Why Awareness and Safety Matter
A study from Boston University found that among youth, high school, and college athletes who passed away before age 30, 41% showed signs of chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE). While CTE is most often studied in professional athletes, these findings highlight that amateur athletes are also at risk.
Common Myths vs. Facts
| Myth | Fact |
|---|---|
| If the athlete wasn’t knocked out, it’s not a concussion. | Fewer than 10% involve loss of consciousness. Most concussions happen without it. |
| Helmets prevent concussions. | Helmets protect against serious injuries, but they do not prevent concussions. |
| You must be hit on the head to get a concussion. | Any strong force to the body—like a hard fall—can transmit through the body and cause a concussion. |
| Once symptoms stop, it’s safe to return to play. | Returning too soon increases risk for prolonged symptoms or re-injury. A gradual, guided return is vital. |
| Having one concussion increases your future risk of another concussion. | With proper rehab, care, and a gradual return to play, you can significantly lower your risk of future concussions. |
Spotting a Concussion: Signs and Symptoms
Physical signs: headache, dizziness, nausea, blurred vision, balance issues.
Thinking/emotional signs: confusion, memory problems, difficulty focusing, mood swings, feeling foggy or slow.
Behavioral signs: becoming easily upset, sleeping more or less, sluggishness.
Symptoms might appear days later, so keep watching even after an incident.
What to Do If a Concussion Is Suspected
- Stop playing immediately—don’t let the athlete return the same day.
- Get evaluated by a healthcare professional trained in concussion care.
- Follow a gradual “return-to-play” plan supervised by a provider.
- Brief rest (24–48 hours) is helpful—but complete isolation for days can slow recovery.
- Watch for “red flags” (e.g., worsening headache, repeated vomiting, slurred speech, weakness) that require emergency care.
- Encourage athletes to report symptoms early—this helps prevent worse injury.
Why It’s Important
- Most kids fully recover within 4 weeks, but 15–30% may experience longer-lasting symptoms.
- Repeated concussions increase risk of long-term problems like depression, dementia, or Parkinson’s disease.
- With proper management—early identification, medical oversight, and a gradual return—most athletes return safely to the sports they love.
Ready to Protect Your Athlete?
At Continuum Health Centre, our team of concussion experts—including Dr. Trevor Nelson (Chiropractor), Rebecca Gaetz (Physiotherapist), and Greg Kirk (Physiotherapist)—are here to help.
We also offer pre-season baseline testing for teams. Having these scores on file means that if an athlete experiences a concussion, we can compare their recovery to their individual baseline—making return-to-sport decisions safer, faster, and more accurate.
👉 Don’t wait until after an injury. Learn more and book a concussion assessment today!