Researchers at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP) found that many young children between ages 5 and 12 get concussions from activities like playing and other fun things, not just sports. These injuries often aren’t seen by doctors right away, unlike sports-related concussions.
(Juhan Sonin via Flickr Creative Commons)Their study, published in The Journal of Pediatrics, shows that we need more research on concussions in kids who get hurt while playing and doing activities outside of sports. Doctors who first see these injuries, like in emergency rooms or regular doctor visits, could give better care if they had more training and information about concussions in kids. This could help make sure all kids with concussions get the right help, no matter how they get hurt.
Kids between ages 5 and 12 are active in sports and play a lot. Even play can sometimes lead to a concussion, and athletic trainers, nurses, doctors, and other healthcare providers need to understand these injuries better, especially since not all concussions happen during sports. The study found that injuries from playing (like during gym or playing outside) are common in this age group, and they can be just as serious as sports injuries.
“In prior research, recreation-related injuries are not often differentiated from sports-related injuries, yet this study shows that these injuries can be just as serious and occur more frequently in this age group, suggesting that education and awareness about concussion needs to be emphasized to those who interact with children in these less structured settings,” said senior study author Kristy Arbogast, PhD, director of the Center for Injury Research and Prevention and co-director of the Minds Matter Concussion Program at CHOP. “Patients injured outside of sports and recreation experienced a higher burden of symptoms and more changes to daily life, and delays in appropriate care could exacerbate these negative effects.”
This research helps us see that kids who get concussions while playing need attention, too. Doctors and nurses at schools and hospitals could use this information to help kids recover faster and stay safe while they play.
