[eBook] Youth INFORMation Mini Newspaper Football HEADING: In This Edition: Heading Incidence and Consequences Deduced from Global Studies
Heading and collisions in football, especially among young players, may have an impact on brain function. Children may have a concussion, and may or may not lose consciousness. Sometimes, they may experience asymptomatic sub concussive injuries. A child may experience weakness of the limbs, numbness, sleepiness, confusion, in the form of mild symptoms, and sometimes more severe symptoms such as vertigo, blurry vision, memory, attention, and behavior problems, to name a few. A concussion can cause mild to severe traumatic brain injury, often accompanied by brain abnormalities. A prior concussion puts an individual at a greater risk of another concussion. Concussions need an informed approach to diagnosis, individualized treatment, and informed return-to-sport (RTS) decisions. Repeated subclinical concussions may develop into chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE). Evidence indicates that protective equipment may not protect against concussions, and an informed decision to participate in sport is recommended to maintain a superior quality of life (QoL). Preventing and managing concussions is the combined effort of educating for young players and coaches, implementing rules and regulations at the local, state, and national levels, assessing and reducing risks through evaluating medical history and predispositions, and following professional recommendations (sports medicine physician) (Hepler, 2016; Mayo Clinic, 2019; Children’s Hospital Colorado, 2023; Royal Children’s Hospital Melbourne, 2018; Cedars-Sinai Staff, 2021).
References
Cedars-Sinai Staff. (2021). Concussion Symptoms in Children: What to Know. Cedars-Sinai. https://www.cedars-sinai.org/blog/concussions-children.html
Children’s Hospital Colorado. (2023). Concussion in Children. Www.childrenscolorado.org. https://www.childrenscolorado.org/conditions-and-advice/conditions-and-symptoms/conditions/concussion/
Hepler, L. (2016). Football & Concussion: Worth the Risk?. CHOC Children’s. https://www.choc.org/news/football-concussion-worth-risk/
Mayo Clinic. (2019). What are the effects of concussion in children? Mayo Clinic. https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/concussion/expert-answers/concussion-in-children/faq-20058282
Royal Children’s Hospital Melbourne. (2018). Kids Health Info : Head injury — general advice. Rch.org.au. https://www.rch.org.au/kidsinfo/fact_sheets/Head_injury/
