In 2008, the following activities resulted in the highest number of head injuries for all ages:

  • Cycling
  • Football
  • Basketball
  • Baseball and softball
  • Riding powered recreational vehicles such as dune buggies, go-carts, and mini bikes

According to the Brain Injury Association of America, the five leading activities responsible for concussions in children and adolescents aged 5 to 18 years of age are:

  • Cycling
  • Football
  • Basketball
  • Playground activities
  • Soccer

What’s the Proper Response to a Concussion or Other Sports-Related Brain Injury?

If you think you may have a concussion or suspect that someone else has one, the most important step to take is to prevent further injury. Stop whatever activity you are involved in and tell someone you think you may have been injured. Then get medical attention. If you’re playing as part of a team, ask to be taken out of the game and tell the coach what happened. If a fellow player has signs of being confused or a sudden loss of coordination, be sure to report this to a coach. If you are coaching a team and you notice a potential injury, take the person out of the game, and see that the person gets medical care.

Receiving medical attention as soon as possible is important for any type of potentially moderate to severe TBI. Undiagnosed injuries that don’t receive proper care can cause long-term disability and impairment. Keep in mind that although death from a sports injury is rare, brain injuries are the leading cause of sports-related deaths.Symptoms should be closely monitored often with a moderate to severe injury and may require an overnight stay in the hospital. X-rays may be used to check for potential skull fracture and stability of the spine. In some cases the doctor may ask for a CT scan or an MRI to check on the extent of the damage that occurred. More severe injuries may require surgery to relieve pressure from swelling.

If the doctor sends you home with an injured person, the doctor will instruct you to watch that person closely. That may involve waking the person every few hours to ask questions such as “What’s your name?” or “Where are you?” to be sure the person is OK. Be sure you’ve asked the doctor and understand what symptoms to watch for and, which ones require immediate attention.

Guidelines urge doctors to be conservative in treating sports-related brain injuries and to not allow someone who has been injured to return to activity that involves risk of further injury until completely free of symptoms. That usually takes a few weeks. But symptoms of severe injury could persist for months or even years. A person with a moderate to severe injury will likely require rehabilitation that may include physical and occupational therapy, speech and language therapy, medication, psychological counseling, and social support.

How Can the Risk of Sports-Related Brain Injury Be Reduced?

The most important step to take is to buy and properly use protective head gear that has been approved by the American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM). Be sure to buy the right size for a proper fit and to wear the helmet or headgear properly. According to the American Association of Neurological Surgeons, helmets or headgear should be worn at all times for the following activities:

  • Baseball and softball
  • Cycling
  • Football
  • Hockey
  • Horseback riding
  • Riding powered recreational vehicles
  • Skateboarding and riding scooters
  • Skiing
  • Snowboarding
  • Wrestling
Other important safety measures include:

  • Wear light-reflecting clothes when riding a bike at night.
  • Don’t dive in water less than 12 feet deep or any body of water where you cannot see the bottom, murky water.
  • Make sure that children’s play areas and equipment are safe and in good repair.
  • Don’t let children play sports that are inappropriate for their age.
  • Supervise and teach children how to properly use sports equipment.
  • Don’t wear clothing that interferes with vision.
  • Follow all rules at water parks and swimming pools.
  • Don’t skateboard or cycle on uneven or unpaved surfaces.
  • Don’t play sports when you are tired or very ill.