KNOW YOUR CONCUSSIONS: ATHLETES AND FITNESS PROFESSIONALS

Abstract

Apply It! Concussion is at the intersection of sports and medicine. Recognizing the nature of a concussion is the first step. Although launching an effective countermeasure to reduce concussion risk remains challenging for the sports medicine community, we hope to do the following: • Health and fitness professionals should use the knowledge and data on concussion prevalence in contact sports presented in the first part of the article to increase awareness of the public at large about the risks of concussions. • Explain the biological mechanisms after a head impact and their associated short- and long-term consequences to emphasize the importance of concussion prevention. • Inform athletes to minimize head impact events in sports. Even subconcussive head impact events can have serious long-term consequences. Use the information on the physics of impact events to understand the role of neck stiffness. Be on the lookout for concussion avoidance training protocols such as neck stiffness training based on evidence from the physics of collisions, biomechanics, and neuroscience. • Encourage athletes, children, and their parents to participate in sports with player safety in mind so children can learn about athleticism, competitiveness, teamwork, and grit without risking traumatic brain injuries.