The Increased Need For Concussion Treatment In Toronto

By Jana Serrano


Alarming statistics are coming out of Ontario concerning the rate of concussion. According to a study published in 2014 by York University, the number of young people attending for concussion treatment in Toronto rose by 50% between 2003 and 2010. Some people think this is a good thing, because it suggests that parents are becoming more aware of the problem.

The Mayo Clinic defines concussion as a traumatic brain injury that alters the way the brain operates. Such alteration may be temporary or permanent and varies in severity. The symptoms include problems with balance, coordination and concentration or loss of memory. The seriousness of the injury does not always correlate with the level of symptoms. Even a slight blow to the head can cause serious or permanent damage.

The symptoms of concussion may be very subtle and may not present themselves for days, weeks or even months after the injury. They include loss of memory, headache and confusion. They may also include slurred speech, nausea and vomiting, ringing in the ears, seeing stars or a feeling of pressure inside the head. Toddlers and children may become irritable or cranky, cry excessively, display altered eating and/or sleeping patterns or lose interest in their favorite toys.

An adrenalin-fueled sports player is likely to insist on getting back in the game after suffering a blow to the head, especially if they do not perceive the knock as serious. This can be a big mistake, as players can become severely disabled or even die if they do not receive treatment.

Concussions are particularly common in people who participate in contact sports. Hockey players are in a particularly high-risk group. Bodychecking is a defensive maneuver in which the player forcibly drives his shoulder, hip, elbow and upper arm into an opponent. According to the rules, this move is only legal when carried out against the player who has control of the puck.

Bodychecking was outlawed in 2010 in order to protect younger players from suffering concussions from a body check to the head. However, this strategy does not appear to be working. Not only are the overall numbers of concussions on the increase, but women are receiving more head injuries than the guys.

The increase in numbers of concussions in female hockey players, and indeed sportswomen in general, is not confined to professional or even college players. Pee wee coaches of girls aged 9 and 10 are reporting high numbers of head injuries. Despite the absence of bodychecking in the women's game, women are experiencing similar, or even higher, levels of concussive head injury.

The chief of neurosurgery at a large Massachusetts hospital seems to believe that women may just be more vulnerable to concussion than men, and that there should be more research into this. Another possibility is that women do not work as hard to train their neck muscles as men do. This is most likely for cosmetic reasons. Women may also be more forthcoming about reporting head injuries.




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