Researchers suggest concussions need a new moniker
Katelyn Dingman

It’s very possible you know someone, whether it be a family member or a close friend, who has suffered from at least one concussion.

But how many of us know of the true damages that hitting your head can have on your health?

Carol Dematteo, an occupational therapist and associate member of the CanChild Centre for Childhood Disability Research at McMaster University, believes that if the scientific term, ‘mild traumatic brain injury,’ is applied to concussion patients, a more serious approach will be taken to dealing with the injury.

In a clinical study, Dematteo, along with a group of Canadian researchers, found that children diagnosed with a concussion spent fewer days in the hospital and returned to school sooner than children with head injuries that were not diagnosed as a concussion.

The research team for the Brain Injury Association of Canada argue that concussions are mainly diagnosed via an extensive examination of symptoms – concussions are a largely invisible injury in which a CT scan of the individual’s brain will show no abnormalities.

“During a concussion, the brain itself is being damaged,” said occupational therapist Ellen Pettell. “Axons, which are the long fibres of a neuron, capable of carrying outgoing messages in the brain, are stretched, torn or inflamed and this damage does not show up on CT scans.

“The term, ‘mild traumatic brain injury,’ is meant to mainly target parents, but it is also important to raise awareness of the seriousness of this condition in sports organizations, both professional and amateur,” she said.

The term, ‘mild traumatic brain injury,’ will replace the term ‘concussion,’ not through isolated public campaigns, but through a simple trickling down affect.

“The term is quickly being adopted by medical professionals, along with sports coaches who then inform parents of the seriousness of a mild traumatic brain injury,” Pettell said.

Michelle Fisher, a parent of two adolescent girls, one of which has had several concussions, said that although steps were taken following her daughter’s accidents, if she had been told that her daughter had a ‘mild traumatic brain injury,’ she would have prohibited her from sports and vigorous activity for a longer period of time.

Through their research, the Brain Injury Association of Canada found concussions to have long-term effects if not treated properly.

If a concussion goes untreated, symptoms can worsen and continue for the individual for long periods of time, a condition referred to as ‘post concussion syndrome.’
Most of the time, these symptoms include long-term headaches along with dizziness and balancing difficulties. Depending on the severity of the concussion, other symptoms become apparent.

“In a more serious injury, individuals may have difficulty processing information at a regular pace, which could affect the individual’s mood, making them agitated and irritable, and externally having a negative effect on the individual’s learning capabilities in both school and workplace settings,” Pettell said.

Canadian occupational therapists concur that concussions must be taken more seriously and it is the responsibility of the public to acknowledge the seriousness of the condition.

Utilizing the term, ‘mild traumatic brain injury,’ becomes a helpful tool in this awareness initiative. If a concussed individual receives proper treatment for their condition, it is likely that they will experience no long-term effects.
“Treatment for a mild traumatic brain injury includes following rest recommendations and not straining yourself following the injury until all symptoms disappear,” said Pettell. “In the majority of cases, this [rehabilitation process] takes seven to 10 days, but can take several weeks to a month.”

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