Concussions on the Rise, and Brain Damage, Too
This probably won't surprise the parents of many high school athletes but a new study has shown the incidence of concussions is exploding. According to newswise.com, the concussion rate in these athletes has more than doubled in the last seven years. Overall, the rate increased from .23 to .51 concussions per 1,000 athlete exposures. An athlete exposure is defined as one athlete participating in one competition or practice. A concussion is an injury to the brain that results in temporary loss of normal brain function. It usually is caused by a blow to the head, the American Association of Neurological Surgeons (AANNS) says. "The likelihood of suffering a concussion while playing a contact sport is estimated to be as high as 19 percent per year of play. More than 62,000 concussions are sustained each year in high school contact sports, and among college football players, 34 percent have had one concussion and 20 percent have endured multiple concussions." Concussions