RINGING THE BELL

If you happened to watch PBS Frontline'sLeague of Denial this week, you may have been surprised how big problem seriousconcussions have become in both professional and amateur sports. There are morethan 300,000 concussions annually in football alone. The prevalence in highschool and college athletics is a major concern, especially considering howbig, fast and strong high school and college athletes have become.

Concussions are getting more attention now,especially given the short and long term cognitive loss, early-onset dementia,physical disability and even death resulting from traumatic brain injury (TBI).Although the only way to “prevent” aconcussion is avoiding these physical activities that may lead to an occurrence,there are some therapeutic techniques that can ease the stress and limit thedamage done.

What are the symptoms to look for when yoususpect a concussion?

· Confusion

· Loss of concentration

· Loss of memory

· Sensation of moving in slow motion

· Headaches

· Blurred vision

· Dizziness

· Nausea or vomiting

· Loss of energy

· Problems with balance

· Emotional problems

· Sadness

· Anxiety

· Sleep problems

What should you do if you suspect that a concussion hasoccurred?

1. Seek immediate medical attention. A health care professionalwill be able to decide how serious the concussion is and what the responseshould be.

2. Stay out of the game. Concussions take time to heal.Don’t return to your activity until a health care professional says it’s safe. Thosewho return too soon risk an even more dangerous second concussion. These cancause permanent brain damage.

3. Get checked for any subluxation. A misaligned vertebrathat puts pressure on the nervous system can be a precursor to symptoms such asmigraines, headaches, numbness, tingling, pain and much more. Whiplash injuriesare very common with concussions. This soft tissue injury in the neck can alsocontribute to the symptoms of a concussion, such as headaches, dizziness,numbness and tingling in the head and arms.

Chiropractic care can help re-establish balance and maximizebrain and nervous system functions. Chiropractic adjustments, massage and othermethods can help control the swelling and spasms of the soft tissue and reducethe nerve pressure from the neck. Adjustments can also help with othercomplications caused from a concussion such as headaches, tension, irregularsleep patterns and fatigue.