Concussions are the most common athletic head injury. Concussions can be easy to miss, but recently due to the NFL, there has been a lot more attention placed on head injuries and diagnosing concussions properly. Head injury can be very serious! Any time an athlete blacks out has slurred speech, or cannot feel parts of the body, medical attention should be sought out.
What we are seeing a lot in sports right now is athletes not wanting to speak up about head injuries due to the fact that they will be taken out of the game. Think long term on this for a second though. You only get one brain and you have to live with that same brain for the rest of your life. If you damage it taking one hit too many. Take the time off that you need to let your brain heal!
Causes of Head Injury
Concussions are caused by direct hits or blows to the head. The brain is made of soft tissue surrounded by spinal fluid. For protection, your brain is also encased by a bone called the skull. Concussions happen when sudden hard hits to the head cause the brain to crash into the skull. These crashes can cause bruising, nerve damage and damage to blood vessels.
Symptoms of Head Injury
- Dizziness
- Blurry vision
- Bruise or lump on your head
- clumsiness
- slurred speech
- sensitive to noise
- sensitive to light
- behavior and personality changes
- memory loss
Levels of Head Injury
- With a grade 1 concussion, symptoms last for less than 15 minutes. There is no loss of consciousness.
- With a grade 2 concussion, there is no loss of consciousness but symptoms last longer than 15 minutes.
- With a grade 3 concussion, the person loses consciousness, sometimes just for a few seconds.
Treatment of Head Injury
Always seek medical attention even if a concussion is suspected. It is always better to be safe than sorry. Toughing out a concussion just to finish a game or practice is not worth it in the long run.
Prevention of Head Injury
Most head injuries are the results of accidents. You just have to be aware of when you think you have one and go and seek the proper medical attention. Using 9INE POINT to find the correct course of action is what the app is for. Wearing the proper equipment and headgear can play a role in preventing these injuries. Make sure you are wearing the latest proven technology in headgear for your sport.
More Resources
- Injury App
- Developing a Stretching Routine
- Upper Body Stretches
What if Your Head Injuries Are Getting Worse?
Sometimes you can ice all you want, but a muscle is in pain because another area is not working or because it is protecting you. When it comes to head injuries though things are different. If you feel you have just had an injury, it is best you go to the ER if you have not had anyone to diagnose you right away.
Sometimes you need the help of a sports medicine provider. Sports medicine providers are used to working with athletes that need to get results quickly, to get back on the field. If you are not an athlete, I am sure that you still want quick results.
There are many different options you can go with when looking for a provider. You could get a chiropractor, massage therapist, physical therapist or many other options. The key is finding someone you trust and that you are excited to work with.
How to Find The Best Healthcare Providers for Head Injuries
9INE POINT Health is the best place to find the health care providers you need for any injuries. It does not matter where you are hurting; a 9INE POINT Health provider will be able to get you healthy again. 9INE POINT allows you to find the best local providers and compare them quickly using the 9INE POINT Number.
If you have no idea what you need, but you know you need something, 9INE POINT Health is an injury guide and you will get helped through the process. We make it easier for you to find the information and the person you are looking for Head Injuries.
KHO Health was acquired by was acquire by 9INE POINT in the summer of 2019 and is now referred to as 9INE POINT Health.
9INE POINT Health was created by 9INE POINT in '19 as a means to provide athlete-driven resources to "Protect Athletes' Minds, Body and Belly". As well as be a platform for healthcare providers and other specialists to display their knowledge.
