Citation

Glang A. J. Adolesc. Health 2018; 62(3): 249-250.

Affiliation

Center on Brain Injury Research & Training, University of Oregon, Eugene, Oregon.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2018, Elsevier Publishing)

DOI

10.1016/j.jadohealth.2017.12.005

PMID

29455754

Abstract

Each year, approximately 300,000 high school athletes experience sports-related traumatic brain injuries (TBIs) [1]. It is well documented that even mild injuries to the developing brain can result in persistent neural alterations and significantly affect social and educational functioning [2]. Brain injury sequelae can lead to increased school absences, decreases in school performance, and reduced social interaction, which has a significant impact on health-related quality of life.

Media attention in football in the 2000s put a spotlight on concussion in high school athletics. Based on emerging evidence that concussion symptoms could emerge over a few days following injury [3], states began enacting youth sports concussion laws to protect young athletes from further injury. Many of the laws were named after deceased or seriously injured athletes (e.g., Lystedt Law in Washington, Max's Law in Oregon). Today, youth concussion laws exist in all 50 states and the District of Columbia. The laws generally include three components: (1) any athlete on a high school athletic team who suffers a blow to the head or body and then exhibits signs and symptoms consistent with a concussion must be immediately removed from the game or practice; (2) the concussed athlete is not allowed to return to play until he/she is cleared to do so by a qualified health-care professional; and (3) all high school athletic coaches must complete annual concussion education training. Recent findings report an increase in emergency department visits for concussion, which may be attributed to the awareness of the importance of a medical assessment raised by these mandates [4–6]...

Language: en