Tips to Prevent Concussions in Sports

Concussions can be termed as an injury to the head, which may cause a brief period of unconsciousness, and the return to consciousness is accompanied by dizziness, blurred vision and disorientation. Concussions are categorized into mild, moderate and severe, depending on the intensity of the impact.

A severe concussion may also lead to coma. Even mild concussions can have severe post traumatic effects. Cam Cleeland, who played many seasons in the NFL, is a well-known victim of post concussion trauma.

The prime reason in the aggravation of post concussion consequences is, the lack of recovery time. The players who sustain concussions do not realize its severity, and continue to play even in their disoriented state.

A concussion may sometimes not result in unconsciousness or blackouts, this makes it difficult for an athlete to identify that he has sustained a concussion. Repeated concussions may lead to irrecoverable repercussions.

Sometimes you may suffer concussions even when it is not your fault. When a player is subjected to the rash and aggressive methods on the field, he is bound to sustain blows to his head. Concussions are not completely avoidable in sports, but you should try to prevent them. You may use the following tips to preclude concussions or mitigate them.

Now this is one thing that has become a cliche, but you cannot underestimate the importance of a helmet in preventing concussions. A helmet can turn out to be a life saver. Wear a helmet that is right for your sport, and see that it follows all the quality standards. Make sure that your helmet has sufficient padding.

The head first tackling in football is a major cause of concussions. The cumulative effect of repeated concussions, due to head first tackling and blocking may turn out to be fatal. Learn different ways of tackling and blocking, to avoid concussions.

Diving in a shallow pool may lead to concussions, so gauge the depth of the pool before diving. Regulate your diving height depending on the dimensions of the pool. Try innovative techniques of diving only if they are safe.

Cheerleaders have a great chance of suffering from concussions, due to their risky stunts. Do NOT perform a stunt unless you are really sure about it. A strict pre-cheerleading exam should be made mandatory.

The right shoes are very important while participating in a sport. Slipping and taking a blow to the head, is very common in sports, so proper footwear will ensure that you minimize your chances of slipping.

The head first slides in baseball also have the potential to cause a concussion. The slides might be an act of desperation, but they might cause serious damage to your head. Try using different techniques of sliding, this will help in preventing the concussions.

In addition to the above, I recommend the athletes performing pole vault to wear helmet, and to check the padding of the landing area before taking a jump. Be careful of the pushing and the checking from behind in ice hockey. The use of helmets is not confined to collision sports, incorporate a helmet in your sport, if possible.

You might not experience the consequences of a concussion immediately, but they will surely come to haunt you in the future. Most of the athletes make a mistake of, not recuperating completely after a concussion.

This can be attributed to the fact that they do not know the post effects of repeated concussions, so they should be educated. Rest and regain your health completely, before you march on to the field. So, recover first, play later!