Many people love sports because of the thrill and excitement they bring. Athletes and sports enthusiasts usually push their bodies and minds to the limit. However, one simple mistake can lead to a life-changing traumatic brain injury (TBI).
If you’re a frequent athlete or a weekend warrior, it’s very important to know how to protect yourself from sports-related brain injuries. Neuro Trauma Centers is here to educate you on the most common types of sports-related brain injury, why brain injury in athletes usually occurs, and other important details. We will also give you TBI prevention tips that you can follow easily. Let’s begin.
Know the Common Traumatic Brain Injuries in Sports
Athletes and sports enthusiasts can suffer from various types of traumatic brain injuries. If you’re not careful when playing basketball and other sports, TBIs can occur.
Concussions
If your head is hit directly, the impact can shake the brain inside the skull. This can lead to a concussion. Symptoms include confusion, dizziness, headaches, and even memory issues. A concussion is a common brain injury in sports. To protect yourself, prompt action and effective concussion prevention efforts are necessary.
Second Impact Syndrome
Another common TBI in athletes is called second impact syndrome: A condition where the player gets a second concussion before recovering from the first one. It’s pretty dangerous since it can cause brain swelling very fast, resulting in severe disability or even death.
Brain Contusions
Brain contusions are quite similar to concussions. However, in this injury, the brain tissue is bruised due to direct impact. Contusions can affect your speaking, weaken your arms or legs, and even lead to loss of consciousness. Just like every head injury in sports, immediate medical attention is required.
Brain Hematomas
A hematoma is another brain injury in sports. It occurs when blood pools outside blood vessels after an accident. It can press against brain tissues, causing serious harm to athletes.
Why Traumatic Brain Injury Happens in Sports
A traumatic brain injury can happen in any sport. However, other athletes playing contact sports are more vulnerable. Why? Because hard hits and direct collisions are likely to happen in football, rugby, hockey, soccer, and other contact sports. This means that the kind of sport is one of the TBI risk factors you should look out for.
Aside from sports type, younger athletes and sports enthusiasts are more at risk of suffering from TBIs. Since their brains are still developing, they may need more time for head injury recovery. Also, young people are more active. Many of them return to play too soon, which could worsen their TBIs.
No matter what kind of sports you’re playing or how old you are, knowing how to prevent brain injury in sports can protect you from unwanted consequences.
10 Sports TBI Prevention Tips
A traumatic brain injury will not only prevent you from playing your beloved sports, but it can also alter your life completely. Yes, medical treatments are crucial in recovering from brain injuries. However, preventive measures are always better. Here are 10 head injury prevention tips you can follow.
1. Always Wear Protective Gear
Protective gear for athletes is very important. This kind of gear is required before the game starts. Sports enthusiasts also need them even when participating in friendly games. Helmets, mouthguards, and padding are some of the protective gear you must wear.
2. Strengthen Your Neck
Believe it or not, training your neck is an efficient brain injury prevention measure. A stronger neck can help absorb the shock, decreasing the risk of brain injury.
3. Practice Safe Playing Techniques
Among the athlete safety tips that coaches share are playing safely and following the rules. Sports rules are there for a reason. They not only make the games interesting but also ensure the safety of players.
4. Take Baseline Cognitive Tests Regularly
Commonly, athletes are required to take baseline cognitive tests before the sports season begins. These tests determine if the players have normal brain function. Including regular cognitive tests in sports injury tips you’ll follow can make a difference.
5. Act Quickly After Any Accident
Of course, acting fast after any hit is also included in head injury prevention tips. Seeking medical care right after a sports incident can save you from the long-term effects of TBIs.
6. Follow No Head-to-Head Contact
Football and other high-contact sports have no head-to-head contact. Following this rule can make concussion prevention in sports more efficient.
7. Choose the Safe Helmet
When shopping in sporting goods stores or online, you can choose from different brands of sports helmets. However, not all of them are safe. That’s why picking helmets approved by ASTM International, the
United States Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), and other similar groups is included in sports safety tips.
8. Watch Young Athletes Closely
Sports injury prevention is more important in young athletes. Here’s a tip. Watch young athletes closely if you’re in the same game. Remember, most of them tend to be more daring, so watch out for head-on collisions with them.
9. Educate Everyone
If you know how to avoid brain injury in sports, you should educate other players, especially young athletes. You’ll not only save them from harm but also protect yourself.
10. Don’t Play When Sick or Tired
One of the best traumatic brain injury prevention advice is not to play when sick or tired. When you’re tired or ill, your body’s physical functions are impaired. Illnesses or fatigue can lead to slow reflexes, which can put you at risk when accidents happen.
Heal From Sports-Related TBIs With Neuro Trauma Centers
Let’s be honest. Some athletes and sports enthusiasts can’t prevent head injuries, no matter how careful they are. A traumatic brain injury can happen to any player at any time during the game.
At Neuro Trauma Centers, we understand how overwhelming sports-related TBIs can be. That’s why we made it our mission to ensure that athletes can recover from brain injuries.
Our team of neurosurgeons and other brain experts provides advanced concussion treatment options, such as neurotrauma care and custom rehabilitation programs. We educate our patients on how to prevent head injuries during sports as well so that TBIs never happen again.
Looking for reliable medical care for traumatic brain injuries? Call us to schedule your appointment today. Trusting is the first step you must take to start your path to recovery.