By Taylor Smith

Summertime means more outdoor time for children and teens, and sports camps are a popular way to fill that free time. While exercise and play are an important part of every child’s development, it’s essential for parents to be aware of the signs and symptoms of sports-related concussions.

Parents can also register their kids for sports activities where injuries are known to be less to avoid severe issues like head injury, concussion, etc. For instance, swimming, archery, tennis, etc., could be considered low-risk sports when it comes to sports injuries. Moreover, kids can develop new talents and improve basic cognition skills such as hand eye coordination, quick memory and response, and more from various sports activities.

Avoiding sports injuries is still crucial. In addition, head injuries are not always obvious, and physicians have reported children experiencing symptoms of a concussion from forms of low-impact play like bouncy houses and trampolines. Equipment used in high-contact sports like football and lacrosse does its part in shielding a child from more extreme injuries, but even with well-fitting, modern equipment, serious head injuries can still take place. In most incidents of concussion, blood flow is temporarily suspended from reaching the brain.

Athletes may later report headaches, nausea, vomiting, sensitivity to light, confusion, difficulty concentrating, and/or feeling groggy or sluggish. These injuries may not seem that serious at first, but their latent effects could be quite bad. Due to this, reporting these latent injuries and filing a case for damages is often overlooked. However, if you look at this Resource by Igor Hernandez and similar resources regarding how the process around personal injury law works, then you’d find that it is entirely possible to assert your rights and press your case, even months after an injury has taken place. As long as you have the evidence, reports, medical bills, and so on, you could work out how to proceed with a reputed lawyer or law firm.

Sports injuries can be very dangerous if left untreated. Mostly, kids in sports might get a sprain, twisted ankle, or spine injury, which could be severe but can be treated by a physical therapist. In such situations, parents can take their children to a professional for sports massage frisco or elsewhere for pain relief and complete recovery. However, the case is not the same for a head injury, since it can go undetected due to a lack of symptoms. So, as a parent, if you think your child could have gotten a concussion due to a sports injury, it would be beneficial to seek expert assistance.

Doctors say that all athletes suspected of a concussion should not return to play until they are free of concussion symptoms. The risk associated with sustaining a second concussion (known as second-impact syndrome) while not fully recovered from the first is severe. A second hit or jolt to the head can land an athlete in the emergency room or even result in death. The reasoning is that the brain swells dramatically. Although second-impact syndrome is rare, players will potentially be left with life-altering brain injuries. When that happens, the chances of death can be reduced with proper medical treatment. Furthermore, if the injury has occurred as a result of someone else’s negligence, it is equally important to file a case against them with the help of a personal injury lawyer such as those available at Lawtx.com.

Even if a child reports no feelings of nausea or confusion, a parent or guardian may observe unusual forgetfulness in a child, clumsy movement, mood changes, and slowed speech. Historically, parents were taught to keep a child suspected of a head injury fully alert and awake, however, most modern-day sports physicians state that sleep and brain rest are the most important tools for recovering from a sports-related concussion. Parents who fear that their child plays too many video games will be happy to know that screen time of any type keeps the brain very active and working hard processing and reacting to information; therefore, reduced computer, television, and smart device time is central to a child experiencing true brain rest and recovery.

Worried parents need not prevent their children and teenagers from getting out on the sports field this summer. Playing a sport and staying active have been dramatically shown to improve overall mood, disposition, health, social skills, reduction in stress levels, teamwork, collaboration, and responsibility – skill sets which dramatically translate into academic performance and achievement. Teach your child to never ignore an injury, and chances are it will be a safe and happy summer for everyone.