By: Meghan Runte
Concussions have become a regular occurrence for students across the country. A concussion’s damage is permanent and can have long-term effects on students.
Mr. Peter Collopy, McNicholas’ Sports Performance Director, has been working to strengthen and prevent injuries in student athletes. Collopy said concussions are simply an “injury to the brain” and they are all different. Severities can include dizziness and even unconsciousness. Since all concussions are different, the recovery process is different for each concussion. Gabi Mathews, McNicholas’ Athletic Trainer, says that the average recovery time is 7-10 days.
Mathews said that the first concussion is usually either the slowest recovery, or the fastest; it depends on the athlete. All concussions are different, so recovery times vary based on the athlete and severity of the injury.
There are steps that go into the recovery process. According to Mercy Health, the first step is to have no activity at all. Rest is the most important thing in this step and doctors even suggest staying home from school/work. The next step is to participate in very light movement exercises, but no resistance training. The third step in the recovery process is “sports specific exercise.” For example, throwing exercises with a pitcher in baseball. Next, players should continue with drills containing no contact. After that, players should participate in a normal practice, after the appropriate medical permission. Lastly, the player is cleared to return to game play.
Student athletes are at very high risk for concussions, however athletes aren’t the only ones in danger. Concussions can affect anyone. Collopy said that, “It doesn’t just occur in sports. There’s also an associated risk with not playing sports because being inactive leads to a long list of health risks. The number one thing I would do is make sure you have a strong neck!” Students can get concussions at any time, whether it is a seemingly dangerous task or not. Car accidents are common among teens and can put students at high risk for brain damage.
There are ways to prevent concussions. One of the things McNicholas’ training does to lower the risk of damage from concussions is to make sure athletes have a strong neck. “Strong and stable neck muscles support the head and will greatly reduce the likelihood of a concussion,” Collopy said.
Junior Ryan Moss has had three concussions. He participates in McNicholas’ Men’s Volleyball team. He also played football until his concussions prevented his participation. “Concussions have forced me to find new ways to stay attentive in my classes, as well as find new ways to get involved,” Moss said. Collopy notes that concussions can affect a student’s performance in the classroom. He said concussions “can cut down on the amount of time that a student is able to concentrate.” Brain injuries can make it hard for students and adults to look at screens for long periods of time and make it harder to sleep. Without proper sleep, students can have even more trouble focusing in class.
While concussions are common in athletes and students, following proper protocol and safety procedures can prevent brain injury and help students remain focused on school activities and extracurriculars.
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