Roswold Law Group Blog

CONCUSSIONS ARE SERIOUS INJURIES

At the outset, let me say that we do not know whether the allegations made this week against Texas Tech football coach, Mike Leach regarding his treatment of player Adam James, following James suffering a concussion in practice. Having said that, regardless of the details of this situation, there continues to be the troubling indication that coaches are still having a hard time accepting that concussions are serious injuries.

By definition, a concussion results from a blow to the head causing an alteration in brain function, including a change of mental status and level of consciousness. Although concussions involving a brief loss of consciousness with a quick return to normal alertness may typically be referred to as “minor” head injuries, such “minor” head injuries have the very real potential to result in serious consequences.

One of the most common consequences of a “minor” traumatic brain injury is postconcussion syndrome. The symptoms of postconcussion syndrome are dizziness, headache, faulty memory, irritability, impaired concentration, and lack of energy. These symptoms may be present at the time of the injury or show up even weeks later. A young person who returns to play too soon risks developing or aggravating postconcussion syndrome.

Similarly, a young person who returns to activity too soon and receives a second concussion before symptoms from the other have healed, may be at risk for developing a condition called second impact syndrome in which the brain swells catastrophically after even a mild blow, with debilitating or deadly results.

Coaches, parents and others in authority need to get with it and understand that there is really nothing “minor” about concussions.