In the past, a lack of technology and medical knowledge made it impossible to accurately diagnose and treat athletes who had sustained a concussion while playing a contact sport. Many sports related concussions in the past went unreported because it was thought to be common for players to a disoriented after intense contact, most players experiencing symptoms would return to play with very little thought. Present day medical procedures have brought the epidemic of concussions to the forefront and of all sports and by doing so it has changed rules, procedures and equipment of a lot of sports.
A concussion is defined as a complex pathophysiological process affecting the brain, induced by traumatic bio-mechanical forces. Concussions can be caused by a direct blow to the head, face, neck or elsewhere on the body with an impulsive force transmitted to the head. Head whips forward, backwards, or sideways causing the brain to crash against the skull can also cause concussions. Concussions usually cause very quick and brief impairments of neurologic functions that cease spontaneously. The most reliable detectors of the injury are headaches, dizziness and loss of memory. Other early symptoms are vomiting, loss of consciousness, drowsiness, nausea and blurred vision. Later symptoms include headaches, dizziness, irritability, anxiety, depression poor memory, poor concentration, insomnia, fatigue, poor hearing and poor vision. "The severity of concussions is graded on a three-point scale used as a basis for more treatment decisions " (pg.578). .
Grade 1: no loss of consciousness, transient confusion, and other symptoms that resolve in 15 minutes.
Grade 2: no loss of consciousness, transient confusion, and other symptoms that require more than 15 minutes to resolve.
Grade 3: loss of consciousness for any period. .
Activities that involve focus and attention such as scholastic work, video games, or text messaging may increase the severity of symptoms and possibly delay recovery.
