By Yana Khanevska, MD
I am still getting used to just how special fall is here in Minnesota. Friday night football games, weekend soccer tournaments, and those early morning drives to the hockey rink become part of life for so many families. As a family medicine resident, I love seeing kids stay active and play the sports they enjoy.
Sports help them build confidence, make friends, and learn how to work as a team. You can feel the excitement as kids put their uniforms back on and get ready for another season. We also, however, see sports injuries in the fall, and one that deserves a little extra attention is concussion.
The good news is that most concussions get better with time and proper care. The key is to recognize them early. A lot of people think a concussion only happens after a huge hit or when someone gets knocked unconscious. That’s actually not the case. Most young athletes who have a concussion never lose consciousness. Sometimes the signs are much more subtle. Maybe your child tells you that they have a headache after the game. Maybe they seem quieter than usual on the drive home. Maybe they’re dizzy, nauseated, or having trouble concentrating. Sometimes they’ll simply tell you, “I just don’t feel right.” As simple as that sounds, it’s something I hope parents and coaches always take seriously.
A concussion is a brain injury caused by a hit to the head or even a hard hit to the body that makes the brain move quickly inside the skull. It can happen during a football tackle, when two soccer players collide going for the ball, or after a fall on the ice. Sometimes the hit doesn’t even look that bad from the sidelines. If you think a child might have a concussion, remove them from the game or practice. Have them get evaluated. I know sometimes that is easier said than done. Kids want to keep playing. Coaches are focused on the game. Parents don’t want to see their child disappointed. But protecting a growing brain is much more important than one more quarter, one more shift, or one more play.
Most children recover very well. They just need time. Recovery usually includes rest, staying hydrated, getting enough sleep, and slowly returning to school and sports with guidance from a healthcare provider. Every child recovers at their own pace, so it’s important not to compare one athlete’s recovery with another’s. One thing I always remind families is that you can’t always see a concussion. There may not be a bruise or swelling. That’s why listening to your child is so important. If they tell you something feels off after a hit, believe them and have them checked.
Parents also ask me about helmets. Helmets are extremely important because they help protect against serious head injuries, but they don’t prevent every concussion. The best protection is a combination of properly fitted equipment, safe play, and making sure kids know it’s okay to speak up if something doesn’t feel right.
As another Minnesota sports season gets underway, I hope our fields are full of cheering fans, our soccer sidelines are busy with families, and our hockey rinks are packed with excited players. I also hope every child finishes the season healthy and ready for the next one. Wins and losses will be forgotten before long. Keeping our kids healthy is something they’ll benefit from for years to come.
Dr. Khanevska is a family physician at Allina Health United Family Physicians, 233 Grand Ave, St. Paul, MN 55102, 651-241-5200.
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