Five Important Things to Know About Concussions

Concussion is considered one of the most complex injuries to evaluate and manage. here are some important facts.

1. Sports concussion is common. Three to five percent of all athletes experience a concussion during a given sports season with about 40,000 concussions in high school football alone.

2. It's more common than we know. It's estimated that about half of all concussions are reported by athletes. Some stay quiet because they don't want to be withheld from competition. Others don't think the injury is serious enough to warrant reporting.

3. The first week is critical. On average, 80 to 90% of athletes achieve full recovery during the first 7 to 10 days after concussion.

4. Repeat concussions could occur the first days. Up to 90% of repeat concussions occur during the first 10 days after an initial concussion.

5. Repeat concussions bring risks. Athletes who suffer multiple concussions have greater health risks, especially if the new injury occurs before a full recovery from the initial concussion.

Visit www.prohealthcare.org/nero  for more information.