Keep your (and your child's) head in the game

As parents, we often like to encourage our kids to play sports. There are many valuable skills to be learned through sports: improved hand and eye coordination, teamwork and sportsmanship, just to name a few. And, of course, sports are also fun!

Each sport carries with it some risk of injury. Every young athlete gets minor injuries, like a scraped knee or elbow. But, more attention is being paid to the serious risk of concussions in young athletes.

A concussion is a type of head injury that occurs when the brain has been hit with considerable force. The force of impact causes a temporary interference in the way the brain works. This may affect memory, judgment, reflexes, speech, balance, coordination and sleep patterns.

Can you recognize the signs that your child has suffered a head injury? What are the symptoms associated with a concussion? How long should kids stop playing sports after suffering a concussion?

Our experts at Arnold Palmer Hospital are here to help you better understand what a concussion is and how it can affect your child.