Did you know that concussions are one of the main causes of disability in young adults? Concussions can occur from a number of different accidents, including car accidents, bike accidents, and sports injuries. In this blog post, we will discuss the five main risk factors for suffering a concussion. If you are aware of these risk factors, you can take steps to protect yourself and your loved ones from this serious injury.
Five Main Risk Factors
1. Lack of Protective Equipment: One of the major risk factors for suffering a concussion is not wearing appropriate protective gear while engaging in activities that can lead to a head injury. Dr John Manzella suggests that wearing a helmet when playing sports, riding a bicycle, or participating in other activities that can involve contact is essential to reduce your chances of suffering a concussion.
2. Poor Form and Technique: Proper form and technique are important when it comes to avoiding concussions. Whether you are playing football, soccer, basketball, or any other sport, make sure you know how to properly execute each skill so that you can avoid injuries from being hit in the head with another player’s body or an object.
3. High Physical Activity Levels: Participating in physical activities that involve contact can increase your risk of suffering a concussion. The more physically active you are, the more likely you are to take part in activities that put your head at risk for injury.
4. Age: Children and adolescents are at an increased risk of suffering a concussion because they tend to participate in more physically active sports than adults do, such as football and soccer. However, even adults who engage in high-impact sports like boxing or martial arts are also susceptible to concussions.
5. Substance Use: Using drugs or alcohol can impair your judgment and reaction time when participating in physical activity, which increases the chances of sustaining a head injury due to another player’s body or an object coming into contact with your head. It’s important to remain sober while participating in physical activities to avoid a traumatic brain injury.
How does knowing these risk factors help you to protect yourself and your loved ones from suffering a concussion?
- Firstly, make sure that everyone wears the appropriate protective gear when participating in activities that can involve contact.
- Secondly, practice proper form and technique so that you can reduce your chances of being hit in the head with another player’s body or an object.
- Thirdly, limit physical activities for children and adolescents, particularly those that involve contact sports.
- Fourthly, remain sober while engaging in physical activity to reduce the risk of a head injury.
- Finally, be aware that age can contribute to an increased risk of concussion and take extra precautions accordingly.
Understanding the five main risk factors for suffering a concussion can help you to better protect yourself and your loved ones. Make sure everyone wears protective gear, practice proper form and technique, limits physical activities for young people, and avoid substance use before engaging in any physical activity. By taking these steps, you can reduce your risk of sustaining a traumatic brain injury.
