Running head: concussions

Community Problem Report: Concussions

The University of Texas at El Paso
April 21, 2016
English 1301
Kristina Peveto

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Abstract

This report about the community problem of concussions will explain the testing,
awareness, and recovery for student-athletes. The issue of concussions is rapidly growing in
society. In this report, I will be explaining what a concussion is and the effects of the individual
obtaining the concussion as well as how it affects the community as a whole. It will also talk
about the reaction the community takes to these concussions and certain actions individuals use
to make sure that the safety of the student-athletes against concussions are kept to a minimum.
The three main points that will be discussed in this report, is the testing for concussions, the
recovery process of the individuals, and the awareness of concussions throughout communities.
These factors dealing with concussions ultimately influence the community as a whole.

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Introduction

A concussion is a brain injury that is caused by a blow to the head or body from a certain
form of contact. A concussion can change the way your brain functions in everyday life style.
Concussions range from mild to severe if not taken care of properly. They can occur during a
practice or a game in any sport. Concussions are becoming more concurrent in the sports world
as athletes are not taking concussions seriously or have been affected by concussions multiple
times. Concussions in student-athletes impose an important issue in society in the fact that there
are certain procedures which include awareness, tests, and recovery that are used by the athletic
trainers in order to protect student-athletes from concussions and severe brain damage.

Testing for Concussions

ImPACT or Immediate Post-Concussion Assessment and Cognitive Testing helps to
know when the athlete should be back playing and how long they should be out of the certain
sport for (1). Immediate Post-Concussion Assessment and Cognitive Testing is one of the tests
that athletes are given to allow doctors to measure abilities such as word and shape recall,
reaction time, as well as attention and working memory. About 2 million U.S athletes all ages
have taken this certain test in order to prevent concussions in the future (1). Symptoms of a
concussion include the inability to think clearly, headaches, dizziness and mood changes. On the
next page, Figure 1 shows the different types of sports and their rate of concussions that are
occurring within the sport and Figure 2 shows the one of the many tests given by ImPACT in
order to check brain functions.

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Figure 1: Rate of concussion injury in a certain sport (7)

Figure 2: ImPACT (2)

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Not a lot can be done to treat a concussion, but the best prevention and treatment would
be to make the time to heal the brain injury. In the past, mostly in professional sports, there have
been cases where athletes that suffered a concussion were released to early back to play their
sport when they were not fully ready to. Some athletes however, would not tell the truth during
their test so they may return to their sport earlier. Therefore, the tests job is to catch those lies and
make sure that the athlete gets properly diagnosed. Although diagnosing the athlete as better or
worse is what the test is for, it is the job of the athlete to be completely honest throughout the test
in order to stay healthy rather than continuing their concussion and wasting more time away
from their team. For example, a concussed athlete stated, I didnt feel fine but I wanted to feel
fine and I wanted to play (4).
Recovery
When it comes to concussions the experts of brain injuries say that the importance of
mental rest is the same importance that is suggested for physical rest. There is a need for better
concussion protocols in schools because along with physical effects of concussion and time off
of sports, schoolwork is also something concussed students should take time to rest from (5).
Competitive sports has become a huge part of peoples lives which bring opportunities to the
people such as scholarships and the ability to attend higher education. When athletes are released
back to their contact sport too soon after their concussion even to start doing schoolwork again, it
can damage their brain and can result in long-term effects. Professors and teachers however, are
unaware of the ways to grade students with concussions for they are easy confused and it can
also be hard for them to finish the work they need to make it up. In Ontario, Canada there is an
exception where students who have concussions, the schools are ultimately responsible to allow
them to finish a course at another time when the student is mentally ready to return (5). Because

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of this it is important that the athlete understands the importance of being properly rested and
recovered in order to insure the ability to go back to school and the sport.
Awareness
Concussions are a hot topic right now in the sports world, as kids hear their teachers,
coaches, parents, and school administrators all talking about how they need to take concussions
seriously (4). If the effects of the concussions arent told to athletes the damages can turn into
long term brain damaged caused by the numerous blows to the head. Dr. Rosemarie Moser has
studied the impact of concussions over 25 years and says that young adults are more vulnerable
because they are still young and their brain is still growing and developing (6). Since
concussions are a brain damaging injury the recovery is long and complex to insure the save
return back to the sport. Because of this it is very important for people to be alert about
concussions and what to do when someone gets a concussion so that they may stand up and help
the person at hand. Hopefully, with more people watching over the era of concussions can slowly
but surely decrease.
Summary
Since concussions have been occurring regularly in the sports community, it has become
a major important issue that has to be taken more seriously in the sports world. Testing, recovery
and awareness are significant factors when dealing with concussions and their severity. As the
concussion crisis is a growing issue within communities the awareness starts to build following
the concern parents have for the athletes. Slowly, more and more people and organizations are
trying to get the community as well as the athletes to see the risk of concussions and the long
term affects that come with them. The problem of concussions within the community is

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increasing more and more in recognition and is starting to get on the right path to preventing
concussions completely.

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References

1. Concussion Testing for Student athletes is common, but some questions its worth. (2011)
Retrieved April 22, 2016, from http://www.washingtonpost.com/national/healthscience/concussion-testing-for-studentathletes-is-common-but-some-questionitsworth/2011/09/26/gIQATVIDsL_story.html
2. Concussion Testing & Treatment. (n.d.). Retrieved April 22, 2016, from
http://www.slideshare.net/OrlandoOrtho/concussion-testing-and-treatment-t-farrar

3.

High schools taking concussions seriously. (2009).Retrieved April 22, 2016, from
http://www.boston.com/yourtown/news/hingham/2009/12/thinking_clearly_about
concss.html

4. Metro Student-Athlete Speaks Out Over Dangers of Concussions. (2012). Retrieved April 22,
2016, from http://impacttest.com/news/detail/540

5.

Innovative program helps concussed student athletes return to school. (2012). Retrieved
April 22, 2016, from http://www.theglobeandmail.com/sports/innovativeprogram-helps-concussed-student-athletes-return-to-school/article4560639/

6. Educating student athletes on concussions. (2012).Retrieved April 22, 2016, from

http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-18563_16257531928/educating-

7. SSI task force explores issues, challenges around concussions. (2013). Retrieved April
22, 2016, from http://www.ncaa.org/health-and-safety/medical-conditions/ssi

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task-force-explores-issues-challenges-around-concussions