Fall sports season has begun and now is the time for football and soccer among other fall activities. Most sports run some type of risk for a head injury, especially if a helmet is part of the safety equipment. Any sport where the head can be hit or suddenly moved is a risk for a concussion. Head trauma used to be thought of as a minor inconvenience, but now we are beginning to understand the severity of the problem, especially concussions.

Wearing protective equipment such as helmets was thought to be the only necessary precaution to prevent injury. As information collection and the use of computers has grown, the ability to study medical problems and spot trends has allowed us to understand simple and complex issues like head trauma. Awareness of the issues became evident when athletes begin developing unusual early onset of diseases like dementia, ALS, and Parkinson’s disease, or much more frequently than the rest of the population. The significance of severe head trauma was always known – statistics just allowed us to find the effects of smaller trauma that was repetitive.

Effects of Head Trauma

Any repetitive head trauma is bad, but severe head trauma can be really problematic. Trauma to the brain can cause permanent damage. The need to wear appropriately fitted and designed helmets is without question. Unfortunately, with better gear, people tend to take more risks, which may lead to more trauma. For example, when football players played without helmets, very few players led with their head when making a tackle. Today, players are launching themselves headfirst at other players because they believe their heads are protected by the helmet.

The brain is the most complex structure in the body, and how it processes information so effectively is amazing. There is an extremely complex interaction within and between the cells of the brain. Smashing the head can disrupt the subtle interactions in the brain. If the brain is shaken, then the connections between cells can be disrupted. The result of this is a degree of confusion, and often is accompanied by ongoing headaches. No athlete should immediately return to a sport if any signs of a concussion have occurred. All coaches and athletic trainers should be aware of the signs. If you have had any confusion after a head trauma, immediately stop what you are doing and sit down to rest. The brain needs time to recover, so do not force the issue.

Signs of a Concussion

Headaches, dizziness, light sensitivity, fatigue and confusion all are signs of a concussion. Return to sports and even school or work needs to wait until all signs of a concussion have cleared. If headaches or any other signs of head injury last longer than a day, one should see a doctor. If there is an immediate severe headache after trauma, a doctor should be consulted immediately. Rest and symptomatic management of head trauma is necessary.

A headache after sports trauma is not a good sign. We only have one brain, and it is not replaceable. It needs to be kept safe. If it is injured, and one has headaches, see a doctor, as a head scan may be necessary. With a significant injury, recovery can be prolonged. Until the headaches are gone, returning to any high level activity should be limited. Many professional athletes have ended their careers due to head injury. Now, we are beginning to learn the late effects of multiple small injuries to the brain, and these are even scarier. A young athlete needs to realize they have only one brain, and no sport is worth permanent damage.