The Rise In Concussion Treatment In Toronto

By Jana Serrano


Alarming statistics are coming out of Ontario concerning the rate of concussion. According to a study published in 2014 by York University, the number of young people attending for concussion treatment in Toronto rose by 50% between 2003 and 2010. Some people think this is a good thing, because it suggests that parents are becoming more aware of the problem.

The Mayo Clinic defines concussion as a trauma to the head that causes changes in brain function. These changes may be expressed in the form of memory loss, problems with coordination and balance, headache or difficulties in concentration. Even a seemingly innocuous head injury can cause lasting damage to the brain. Concussions are most commonly the result of a severe blow to the head, although they may also be a consequence of violent or prolonged shaking of the upper torso and head.

The evidence of concussion may be very subtle and not even noticeable for days, weeks or months. Symptoms include headache, confusion and memory loss, as well as nausea/vomiting, ringing in the ears, seeing stars, slurred speech or a sense of pressure from within the head. Pre-schoolers may lose interest in their favorite toys, change their sleeping and eating habits, cry a lot and become even more cranky and irritable than the typical toddler.

A knock on the head does not need to be overtly serious in order to cause a lasting injury to the brain. Sports players are notorious for wanting to get back into the game after being knocked on the head. This should not be permitted, as people have died or become permanently disabled after seemingly trivial head injuries. This is a high price to pay for a moment of glory, and there is always next year!

Young men and women who take part in rigorous contact sports are especially vulnerable to concussive head injury, especially those who play hockey. This is because a routine defense move in hockey is what is called a bodycheck. This is when a defensive player rams into an opponent at high speed in an effort to deflect the puck and increase ticket sales. This maneuver is only permitted against the player who actually has the puck.

In 2010, bodychecking to the player's blind side or to the head was outlawed in an effort to reduce the number of concussions suffered by young players. So far, this has not been the case. What is particularly worrying is that women hockey players, in whose sport bodychecking is prohibited completely, are experiencing higher rates of concussion than their male counterparts.

This disturbing trend is not seen only in the college and pro sports. According to pee wee coaches, little girls of 9 and 10 years old are receiving large numbers of knocks to the head. This increase is not limited to hockey players, either. It happens in other sports.

A chief neurosurgeon at a hospital in Massachusetts suggests that women may be more susceptible to concussions than men and that this merits further study. This increased vulnerability may be because women do not train their neck muscles as aggressively as do men. Higher rates may also indicate that women are more honest about reporting their head injuries.




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