Condition:

Concussion
By: Madie Smithco
Overview
- Very common
- 3 million a year

- Brain injury

- Could be no visible signs

- May not be immediate

- May last from just a few hours to

multiple years

- Also called MTBI (Mild Traumatic

Brain Injury)
Getting a Concussion
SINGLE ATHLETIC
• A concussion is overly viewed as a EXPOSUR E CONCUSSIONS
blow to the head or a sudden, strong OUT OF 100,000

76.8
shake to the body
Girls Boys Both
• One of the main ways is direct head

46.6
trauma
 Often caused by sports

35
33
24.9

23.9
21.2
19.2

19.2
21

16.3
14

8.6
7

5
 Other Ways to Get Concussions
• Whiplash
 Injury between neck strain and concussions

• Falling
 May not be a direct hit to your head, but it could put a sudden, strong shake to your body
 One of the most common ways for a concussion aside from sports

• Spinning your head

 Whipping your head around too quickly with a sudden stop could cause symptoms of an early concussion

• Explosions
 Concussions can be caused by sudden changes in air pressure that happen during an explosion
 Could cause PTSD (Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder)
Multiple Concussions
• Another way to get a severe concussions is by having mild concussions that
are not treated properly
 Build up into a concussions over time
 Can result in more damage

• Previous Concussions
 Having previous concussions increases your chance to having another concussion
 The chemistry is changed in your brain that could lead to your head being more
prone to getting another concussions easier
 One Concussion: 2-4x more likely
 Second Concussion: 4-6x more likely
 Third Concussion: 6-9x more likely
Impacts
Body/Physical Mind
• Headache • More prone to getting upset or
frustrated
• Vision troubles
 Blurry • Sad
 Double Vision
 Light sensitivity • Nervous
• Nausea • Emotional
• Problems balancing
• Anxious
• Feeling tired
• Thinking/Remembering
• Dizziness  Slowed down
 Not thinking clearly
• Sleep troubles
 Sleeping more or less than normal  Loss of concentration
 Trouble falling asleep  Trouble remembering new information
Genes
• Concussions can not be spread

• Genes play a role in concussions

 Genetics can make a person’s recovery more or less difficult
Treatment: Testing
• For treatment, you can take your most recent baseline test and compare it to
a new one

• Neurocognitive Testing
 Pen or pencil testing (SAC or SCAT3)
 Ineffective after 2-3 days
 Computerized testing (ANAM, ImPACT, or CogState)

• You can take the ImPACT (Immediate Post-Concussion Assessment and

Cognitive Testing) test that is most commonly used.
 Designed for sports-related concussions
 Developed at UPMC
 Evaluates neurocognitive function: memory, reaction time, symptoms, and attention
Treatment: Rest
Physical Mental
• Anything that pushes yourself • Avoid activities that use thinking and
mental concentration
• Anything that bothers your symptoms  Electronics
 Sports  Reading
 Physical exertion  Schoolwork
 Only light activities until your doctor can
release you
• Doctor may recommend shorten days
of school or homebound
Treatment: Therapy
• Physical Therapy
 Help with coordination, balance, dizziness

• Oxygen Therapy
 Aims to relieve symptoms and decrease recovery time
 Helps relieve headaches and memory loss

• Vision Therapy
 Helps strengthen your eye sight (double vision)

• Exercise Therapy
 Normally completed after the doctor releases you to make sure that you fully
recovered and can complete physical exercise.
Facts
• 9 out of 10 people with concussions only have symptoms for up to 10 days

• Loss of consciousness is found to occur in 10% of concussions

• Females are more likely to get a concussion than males

• Children with concussions tend to recover slower because their brains are
still developing
• Every concussion is different

• Medication may make a concussion worse

Works Cited
• Administrator. "Sports-Related Concussion Testing and ImPACT Testing
Program." Nebraska Sports Concussion Network. Web. 09 Apr. 2017.

• "Concussion Facts | Sports Concussion Institute." Concussion Facts | Sports

Concussion Institute. Web. 09 Apr. 2017.

• "Head Case - Complete Concussion Managements." Stats on Concussions &

Sports - Head Case - Complete Concussion Managements. Web. 09 Apr. 2017.

• Mayo Clinic Staff Print. "Treatment." Mayo Clinic. 10 Feb. 2017. Web. 09
Apr. 2017.
• Nettekay. "7 Ways to Get A Concussion." NeuroTracker., 12 Sept. 2016. Web.
09 Apr. 2017.
• "Topic Overview." WebMD. WebMD, Web. 09 Apr. 2017.