Concussions.....

The bane of the high school athlete...concussions. High schoolers are the most prone to getting a concussion. This is because their brain and skull aren't fully developed, yet they are going at everything 100%, or more in some cases. Younger athletes don't push themselves as hard, and thus aren't as likely to get a concussion as an older athlete. At the same point in time, adult athletes have a fully developed skeletal system, so are less likely to sustain injury to the brain.

A concussion is a traumatic head injury that occurs both from mild and severe blows to the head. It is typically caused by a severe blow during which the brain moves around violently in the skull. Brain cells will fire all at once, much like a seizure. This may result from a fall or when an object hits the head. A sudden turning of the head, like from a punch will more often result in unconsciousness.

Symptoms
Some early symptoms of concussions include

• Confusion
• Disorientation
• Memory Loss
• Unconsciousness
• Unequally sized pupils
• Headache
• Dizziness
• Tinnitus
• Nausea
• Vomiting
• Vision Changes

Later symptoms would include

• Memory disturbances
• Poor Concentration
• Irritability
• Sleep disturbances
• Personality changes
• Fatigue

At the beginning of each season, an ImPACT test is done so there is a base line to measure against to see if a concussion is present. ImPACT stands for Immediate Post-Concussion Assessment and Cognitive Testing. If there is a concussion, the best that can be done is rest. That is really the only way it is going to get better. No physical activity can be done immediately following the concussion, for at least a week, usually 2 or 3 weeks, then the athlete will start to work their way back up to full activity.

ImPACT Testing

I met with Kim again today. Usually I spend about 1.5 hours with her per day, today I spent a good 2.5 hours. Just meeting with Kim this week has fulfilled my 8 hour requirement...that's not taking into account the mentor meeting, the class meeting, the research I've done, the time online writing the blog. If I keep up this pace, I will be in good shape come May or June.

The reason I was with Kim for so long today was because we were doing ImPACT Testing at 5 o'clock. The ImPACT Test measures how your brain works if you don't have a concussion so you have something to compare to in order to see if you do have a concussion. I don't know if I've written about this before, but I think I have. Sorry for the repetition. Anyways, so I was just going to watch to see how the test was done, but Kim suggested that I take it as well. Let me tell you. That thing was a pain in the butt.

The test itself is 6 sections. It all has to do with memorization and things of that ilk. The first thing you do is fill out a section about demographics-who you are, what you weigh, etc. Then you start the actual test. This is the obnoxious part. They flash words up on the screen and you have to memorize them. Then at the end, they will ask you if certain words show up...annoying right? Well, that's just the first section, they then do the same thing with shapes, and the shape is a line that is all squiggly. At the end when they are showing you the shape, they will turn it every which way, and you have to do the exact shape or you are wrong. So, they had 6 of these sections. Then they throw you for a loop. At the very end of the test, when you think you are all done, they ask you to remember the words and shapes from the beginning and be able to identify them again. Ugh. It was so annoying. It took a good 15 to 20 minutes for the test. Something I never want to go through again.

I Met With Kim Again

Day 3 of meeting with Kim. I love it. I have so much fun, not only with the IC students and Kim herself, but with a lot of the students that come in there. The girl who had to put her foot in the ice bucket yesterday, Harmony, came back today for another round. We were joking around because Kim wasn't in there when she got there. Throughout the time that she was in the ice bucket, we were joking and laughing and having a good time. It's a lot of fun. I'm so glad that I decided to do this for my project.

Today started Impact Testing. If you don't know what it is, you get asked a series of questions, and it tests how your brain works normally, or when you don't have a concussion. That way, they can more easily tell in the future if you have a concussion or not; all they have to do is compare the scores that you got on the two tests and they can figure out if you have a concussion or not. I was going to get tested myself, but I had to leave before I could. Kim told me I should take the test, that way I can get more acquainted with the process.

I am going back for Day 4 tomorrow, so I will likely take the test then...with the guys that are going to be taking it as well. Should be fun...