- Basketball is second in terms of concussion rate for youth sports.
- In the past ten years, head injuries in basketball have increased 70%.
- Over half of youth concussions may go unreported.
- 53% of high school athletes admit that they would play despite a headache stemming from a head injury.
Concussions in Basketball
- Basketball players can get mild traumatic brain injuries when:
- Colliding with another player, such as a block/charge or hard foul.
- Hitting the floor for a loose ball.
- Contact with the ball or another piece of equipment.
- A head injury can occur even if the contact is not directly to the head. Impulsive force can be transmitted to the head from impact to another part of the body.
- Athletes with concussion symptoms should stop playing or practicing.
- Do not return to the game or play later in the tournament.
|· General Confusion
· Loss of Consciousness
· Short-Term Memory Loss from Before or After the Injury
· Slow Reaction Time
· Weak Concentration
· Greater Fatigue than Usual
· Decreased Playing Ability
· Irregular Sleep Habits
· Poor Co-ordination or Balance
· Vision Trouble
· Vomiting or Nausea
· Sudden Change of Emotion or Inappropriate Emotions
- Worsening symptoms – including seizures – indicate more serious head injury or bleeding in the brain.
- Consult a doctor or visit emergency room if unsure about the diagnosis.
- Avoid caffeine, sugar and alcohol.
- High school players who sustained a concussion were three times more likely to have a second (Brayley & Levine, 2015) head injury during the same season
- Second-impact syndrome (two head injuries in a short time, even if they are not high impact) can cause severe injury or death.
- Athletes must progress through a series of steps symptom-free before they can resume contact sports.
- High school players must return to the classroom without symptoms before returning to the basketball court.
- After a concussion, follow an organized return to play protocol, spending one day on each step.
- If symptoms recur, return to the previous step.
- Gradually increase the duration and intensity of the activity as the athlete recovers.
- Consult a physician if symptoms return at a later stage.
- Protect yourself: learn about concussions, monitor how you feel and advocate for yourself.
- Players must speak up for themselves.
- Brayley, J., & Levine, D. (2015, May 29). Concussion Considerations. Retrieved December 17, 2015, from USA Basketball: http://www.usab.com/news-events/news/2015/05/usa-basketball-concussion-considerations.aspx
- Castillo, M. (2014, March 20). Basketball and the brain. Retrieved December 16, 2015, from CBS News: http://www.cbsnews.com/news/basketball-concussions-a-risk-in-contact-sports-not-just-football
- ThinkFirst-SportSmart. (2010 йил May). Concussion in Sport. Retrieved 2011 йил 16-November from Concussion Education and Awareness Program: http://www.thinkfirst.ca/downloads/concussion/concussion-card-physicians.pdf