Head Concussions

A concussion is defined as a complex pathophysiological process that affects the brain, typically induced by trauma to the brain. It can be caused either by a direct blow to the head, or an indirect blow to the body, causing neurological impairments that may resolve spontaneously

What happens to the brain?

What is Neuropsychological Testing?

Neuropsychological functioning refers to the ability of the nervous system and brain to process and interpret information received through the senses. The Halstead-Reitan evaluates a wide range of nervous system and brain functions, including: visual, auditory, and tactual input, verbal communication, spatial and sequential perception, the ability to analyze information, form mental concepts, and make judgments, motor output, and attention, concentration, and memory.

How do you get headaches?

Headaches are often subjective experiences, characterized by pain felt in the head. However, headaches do not occur from the bones or brain tissues itself, both of which lack pain-receptors. Instead, headaches occur from the nerves located in the facial organs (eyes, tongue, etc.) that run through the scalp of the head. The nerve receptors that sense pain, called nociceptors, can be triggered by tension, stress, hormones, dilated blood vessels, etc.

Top ten sport- related injuries for children 14 and younger

Cycling Football Baseball & softball Basketball Skateboard/Scooter WaterSports Soccer Powered Rexreational Vehicles Winter Sports 40,272 21,878 18,246 14,952 14,783 12,843 8,392 6,818 6,750

Trampolines

5,025

All the activities represent the highest number of head injuries treated in U.S. hospital emergency rooms.

Boxing V.S. Your Head

Over time professional and amateur boxers can suffer permanent brain damage . The force of a professional boxers fist is like getting hit by a 13 pound

bowling ball traveling at 20 mph,

or about 25 times the force of gravity.

When Hit by a Football Player.

Players experience changes in the brain function long before they have recognizable signs of a concussion. Researchers found that some players who take hits on the field are competing with an undiagnosed brain injury.

Use that HELMET!! ha

Not using a helmet doesnt mean that you never know when the unexpected will come and swipe you from your feet and now your upside down ready to fall on your head. The difference between falling with and without a helmet, if you have a helmet most of the force will be exerted on to the helmet and wont bang you up as much as if you didnt wear a helmet.

Web Sources
http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/bicycle-helmet/HQ00324 http://www.npr.org/blogs/health/2012/02/03/146352079/many-hits-ratherthan-a-big-one-pose-greatest-concussion-risk http://topics.nytimes.com/top/reference/timestopics/subjects/f/football/hea d_injuries/index.html http://www.aans.org/Patient%20Information/Conditions%20and%20Treatm ents/Sports-Related%20Head%20Injury.aspx http://triplehelixblog.com/2011/09/brawn-and-brains-looking-at-nfl-headinjuries/ http://www.popularmechanics.com/outdoors/sports/physics/4212171