White matter of the brain protects the nerve fibers from injury and improves the speed and transmission of electrical nerve signals.
New Recommendations for Sports-Related Concussion Released for Children and Teens
Children and teenagers with a suspected concussion should be kept off the sporting field for at least two weeks under new recommendations.
Children and teenagers with a suspected concussion should be kept off the sporting field for at least two weeks under new recommendations.
‘Athletes who had more severe symptoms at the time of the concussion were more likely to have alterations in the brain's white matter six months later.’
The study involved 17 high school and college football players who experienced a sports-related concussion. The participants underwent MRI brain scans and were assessed for concussion symptoms, balance problems, and cognitive impairment, or memory and thinking problems, at 24 hours, eight days and six months following the concussion. Researchers also assessed 18 carefully matched athletes who had not experienced a concussion. At all time points, all participants had advanced brain scans called diffusion tensor imaging and diffusion kurtosis tensor imaging to look for acute and chronic changes to the brain's white matter. The scans are based on the movement of water molecules in brain tissue and measure microstructural changes in white matter, which connects different brain regions. Those who had concussions had less water movement, or diffusion, in the acute stages following concussion (24 hours, six days) compared to those who did not have concussions. These microstructural changes still persisted six months after the injury. Also, those who had more severe symptoms at the time of the concussion were more likely to have alterations in the brain's white matter six months later.
Despite those findings, there was no difference between the group of athletes with and without concussion with regard to self-reported concussion symptoms, cognition, or balance at six months post-injury.
Concussion Recovery Time Longer Among Children and Teenagers
Children and youth who have had a concussion end up returning to normal activities before they are fully recovered, making them vulnerable to another injury.
Children and youth who have had a concussion end up returning to normal activities before they are fully recovered, making them vulnerable to another injury.
Source-Newswise
Children More Prone to Concussions in Playgrounds
The number of children sustaining brain injuries at the playground is increasing in the United States and sports is not the main reason for the rise.
The number of children sustaining brain injuries at the playground is increasing in the United States and sports is not the main reason for the rise.
Number of Medical Complaints Before Concussion Predicts the Athlete's Recovery Time
Athletes who have medical complaints, like aches and pains, that have no known physical cause may take longer to recover after a concussion.
Athletes who have medical complaints, like aches and pains, that have no known physical cause may take longer to recover after a concussion.
