Christus Health: The Children's Hospital of San Antonio

Heading for a Concussion? DID YOU KNOW? Strong neck muscles help absorb the force of a blow to the head and limit the movement of the brain inside the skull. Strengthening these muscles is important for young athletes, particularly girls, who typically have weaker necks than boys. From 1990 to 2014, the number of U.S. Youth Soccer- registered players nearly doubled, from approximately 1.6 million to more than 3 million. During the same period, the annual injury rate among 7- to 17-year-old players rose 111 percent, according to a 2016 study published in the journal Pediatrics. The annual rate of reported concussions, which accounted for only 7 percent of injuries in the study, increased 1,596 percent, due in part to greater head injury awareness among players, coaches and parents. Some may think soccer concussions mostly occur when a player tries "heading" the ball, striking it with the forehead. "The majority of the concussions we see in soccer players typically occur not because of contact with the ball, but because one player elbowed another in the head while both were trying to play the ball in the air," says Shaylon Rettig, M.D., MBA, section chief of sports medicine at The Children's Hospital of San Antonio. "However, playing a contact sport for years starting at a young age increases the number of subconcussive exposures to the head, such as those a player receives when heading the ball. These injuries don't present as concussions, but as they add up over time, they can harm the brain." In 2015, U.S. Soccer banned heading for players age 10 and younger. Play It Safe Focusing on concussion prevention can help your young soccer player keep her head in the game. Encourage her to: • Communicate with teammates. A simple "I got it" can prevent a clash of heads by players on the same side. • Head the ball properly. Players should keep their eyes on the ball and strike it in the strongest part of the skull: the center of the forehead. • Play by the rules. Research shows a significant portion of concussions happen due to illegal plays. • Speak up. Report headache, blurry vision, dizziness, nausea, confusion, and problems with concentrating or recalling information to a coach, referee or parent. • Train well. "Proper conditioning is essential," Dr. Rettig says. "When players tire, they lose form and set themselves up for injury." Concerned your child may have a concussion? Call (844) 778-KIDS (5437) to find a pediatrician or (210) 704-4708 to find a sports medicine specialist. Search for a physician online at chofsa.org/findadoc. Youth soccer's popularity has soared in the past two decades, and so have concussions among players. How can your child stay safe on the field? Shaylon Rettig, M.D., MBA 4 Forever First | Spring 2017 • To find a physician, call (844) 778-KIDS.

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