High school sports are starting up again, and with them so are risks of brain injuries from blows to the head, which can impair cognitive functions. That’s why, says Dr. Jenny Meyer, a neurologist at Upstate Medical University, student-athletes with concussions should follow the six steps of Return To Play, established by the Centers for Disease Control.
"In phase one, typically, they recommend that the student take two or three, maybe four or five days of rest from schoolwork, because of the fact that their head is hurting, and that they may have some of these visual symptoms or difficulty with concentration. Really, doing a lot of thinking is not good for them,’’ said Meyer.
After that, athletes should gradually work up to light and then moderate physical activity, followed by heavy, non-contact activity and full-contact practice. And only when they’re ready should they return to competition, the sixth and final step.
Depending on the severity of the concussion, all that might take a lot of time, says Meyer, so coaches and teachers should work together to ensure the steps are being followed. And that students aren’t downplaying their injuries.
Meyers says, “If you think about missing a year of sports in your high school, what are the chances you're going to get drafted? Right? You're going to feel pretty stressed about that. So I think it's important that athletes are aware of their symptoms and don't ignore them just because their dreams might include further sports in their career.’’
According to data from the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, only half of all concussions sustained by student-athletes are reported. And one in five high school students who play contact sports will get a concussion in a given year, with the top three sports being football, girls soccer and girls basketball.
Data also finds that soccer and lacrosse can lead to concussions, the latter especially among female student-athletes. One study found concussions could be reduced by nearly half if girls were required to wear the same helmets that boys lacrosse players wear.
