© 2024
Virginia's Public Radio
Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations

For a Healthy Brain, Don't Sit Out

Creative Commons, https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0/

Publicity surrounding head injury and sports has alarmed some parents, prompting them to pull kids out of contact sports.  At the University of Virginia, some doctors say that’s not necessary.  They say the lack of exercise is a bigger problem than the risk of injury. 

Dr. Donna Broshek is co-director of UVA’s Brain Injury and Sports Concussion Institute, and she’s not happy about kids being pulled from contact sports because they could suffer injuries.  She says exercise is important, proper precautions can minimize the risk of injury, and proper treatment can reduce the odds of long-term consequences. 

“The goal is to recognize that concussion, get them out of the game, not have them return to that same game, get them evaluated, and if they’ve had a concussion, then you manage it with brief rest and then gradually getting them back to activity.”

She says younger kids might need a month to recover from brain injuries.

“Sometimes they may need 30 days or so to resolve completely, teens, middles school, but for college age athletes, it’s typically five to ten days.”  

Protective gear can help prevent problems, but Broshek points out that children’s helmets may need frequent replacement.

“A helmet that worked a year ago may no longer be appropriate.  it’s also important to make sure you have the strap on.  I can’t tell you how many times we’ve seen kids or teens, and they had a helmet on, but they didn’t have it attached.”

Broshek says treatment should be tailored to each patient, depending on his or her symptoms.

“Some people have persisting headaches, persisting visual issues, dizziness or anxiety or depression. “

And if kids or adults are in accidents, it’s important to have their helmets checked too.  Once damaged, they may no longer provide needed protection. 

The university will be giving away some free helmets Saturday, May 16, between 1 and 3 p.m. at the pavilion on Charlottesville’s downtown mall as part of a brain health fair.  For adults, there will be free blood pressure checks to help prevent strokes. 

Sandy Hausman is Radio IQ's Charlottesville Bureau Chief
Related Content