An elbow to the head, a blow from the ball,
a collision with another athlete, a fall, a tackle…
It can happen in an instant. The mechanical trauma that causes a concussion can be a direct blow to the head, face and neck, or an indirect blow elsewhere on the body.
What is a concussion?
A concussion is a mild traumatic brain injury (MTBI), induced by mechanical forces that immediately disrupt the normal functioning of the brain.
- Concussion is the most common type of brain injury sustained in sports.
- An athlete does not have to lose consciousness to have sustained a concussion.
- Once an athlete has sustained a concussion, that athlete is at greater risk of sustaining additional concussions.
- Multiple concussions can have cumulative and long lasting consequences.