Hockey is a sport of speed, strength, and power. As a result, injuries can and do happen. One of the worst types of injuries that you could get, however, is a concussion.
Your brain is incredibly important and with the risk of trauma being a real concern, you need to be sure that you are taking all proper steps to keep your brain protected. Wearing a hockey helmet is key to preventing concussions on the ice. The team at Hockey Pursuits made a list of the best hockey helmets that they kindly shared with us, so that hockey enthusiasts like you and I can keep head injuries at bay.
But what else should you know about protecting your brain?
What is a Concussion?
Let’s start with the basics. A concussion is a traumatic brain injury that happens when you hit your head or something hits your head, forcing your brain to spin in the opposite direction of impact. They are common in all contact sports, but that does not mean that you should not take them seriously.
In hockey, you are most likely to receive a concussion from falling on the ice, running into the side of the rink, or colliding with other players.
Signs of a Concussion
The exact statistics on concussions in hockey is not known because some players might not have considered that they might have one due to a lack of symptoms.
Common signs of a concussion include:
- Dizziness
- Nausea and/or vomiting
- Extreme headache
Many of the signs will be discounted because most people do not lose consciousness or get “knocked out” when they receive a concussion. If you have any of the signs of a concussion following an impact to the head, you should be medically evaluated immediately.
Risks of Concussion
Even if it did not seem like a big deal when it happened, all concussions have a risk of becoming something more serious or life-altering. These risks include:
- Second-Impact Syndrome: This is when you get hit a second time and your brain hasn’t recovered from the first injury. This has a 50% mortality rate and a good chance of having a long-term neurological condition.
- Seizures: In 5% of head injuries, seizures will develop. Sometimes they will happen immediately after an injury and other times they appear later.
- Post-Concussive Syndrome: The most common of all concussion injuries is PCS. The symptoms can persist for the rest of your life. Symptoms include: fatigue, vertigo, nausea, headaches, sensitivity to light, emotional changes, and even cognitive impairment.
Concussion Prevention
You are still going to be playing, regardless of the concussion risk. Hockey is a contact sport, which means in order to be competitive; you are going to be at risk of colliding with other players in the rink.
Still, you can take the right steps to prevent a concussion, much of which includes wearing the right helmet. A helmet is not effective if it is not the perfect fit for your head. With an improper fit, the helmet will slide around and not give you the protection you need.
Helmets are not the only way to prevent concussions, however. Another way to protect yourself is to strengthen your neck and shoulder muscles. This can help absorb the shock of an injury. Being healthy in general can also improve your chances when you are hit in the head.
Your team and the league you are in should also watch out for dirty plays. With appropriate training and following the rules, players can learn to be more aware of others and prevent head injuries as much as possible.
What to do if you think you have a Concussion
If you are struck during a game and think you have hit your head, you need to get medical care immediately. Do not try to shake it off and return to the game. You need to have yourself evaluated quickly to make sure there are not larger or long lasting concerns. While a CT scan cannot show a concussion, a doctor can examine you and determine what you should be doing next.
Do not continue to play or play again until you are sure that your brain has recovered. Your brain is far too important to put at such a risk.