Written by McKenzie Watkins

Sustaining and recovering from a concussion can be an overwhelming experience. Concussion research and understanding has continued to significantly grow in the medical field. Unfortunately, this has not crossed over to most of the population.

Most of the concussions portrayed in movies and books are not accurate. Knowing the facts can be super important in managing and recovering. To get the most out of your recovery let's talk about some of the most common concussion facts and myths, and what you need to know about recovering from head injuries. 

7 Myths About Concussions:

• You need to lose consciousness to have a concussion.
• You have to hit your head to have a concussion.
• Don’t let someone with a concussion fall asleep.
• If you don’t have symptoms immediately, you don’t have a concussion.
• You can return to play as soon as you feel okay.
• Concussions and their treatments are all alike.
• Helmets and mouthguards can prevent concussions.

MYTH #1: You need to lose consciousness to have a concussion.

FACT: It is a myth that you can sustain a concussion regardless if you lose consciousness. This is a common misunderstanding due to how concussions are portrayed in movies and TV shows. This is a super dangerous myth because one may not think that they sustained a concussion because they never lost consciousness. In reality, only about 10% of concussions result in a loss of consciousness.

However, regardless of whether one loses or does not lose consciousness while sustaining a concussion, it has no impact on its severity. 

MYTH #2: You have to hit your head to have a concussion.

FACT: Not all concussions occur from hits to the head commonly seen in contact sports. While concussions may be caused by a direct blow to the head, they can also occur in non-contact sports or even everyday activities. Many concussions occur following a quick change of direction or speed, causing a violent movement of the head on the body.

This can happen during a car crash, falling down the stairs, or hits to the neck or face, that impact the brain.

MYTH #3: Don’t let someone with a concussion fall asleep.

FACT: This myth came from the belief that all concussions caused internal bleeding and sleep could allow the person to fall into a coma that could lead to death. In reality, these events are rarely accompanied with concussions. The truth is that if someone with a concussion is cleared by a medical professional it is more than safe for them to sleep.

Sleep is actually super beneficial to healing as it gives a perfect opportunity for mental rest. So please allow them to rest peacefully instead of keeping them up all night or waking them up every hour. 

MYTH #4: If you don’t have symptoms immediately, you don’t have a concussion.

FACT: Sometimes it takes some time for symptoms to show up after an injury. Just like it takes time for a bruise to show up on your skin. It is common to have some symptoms immediately and have others come on anywhere from hours to days later.

This is another reason why it is important to monitor symptoms and be cautious after an injury affecting the head. 

MYTH #5: You can return to play as soon as you feel okay. 

FACT: It is not safe to judge healing based only on how one is feeling at the moment. Our last fact taught us that it may take anywhere from hours to days for symptoms to present themselves. It is very dangerous to return to sports before a concussion is fully healed because it has the potential to lead to post-traumatic headaches or even second impact syndrome which can be deadly.

One may feel physically ready to return before they are fully recovered and that is why return from concussion protocols are used! This ensures proper symptoms monitoring and appropriate graded exposure to activity and requires clearance from a medical professional.  

MYTH #6: Concussions and their treatments are all alike.

FACT: No two injuries are the same and that is true for concussions as well. Not everyone will have the same symptoms, the severity of symptoms, treatments, or recovery time. New evidence has shown differences in concussion presentations that indicate specific treatments including vestibular therapy, vision therapy, exertion therapy, physical therapy, cognitive therapy, medications, and behavioral management.

However, there is no “one size fits all program,” and these different presentations allow professionals to create specific personalized treatment plans geared towards each individual's needs. 

MYTH #7: Helmets and mouthguards can prevent concussions 

FACT: Unfortunately, it is not possible to completely prevent concussions. That is because there is no way for us to keep the brain from moving inside the head. Helmets are able to protect against injuries such as skull fractures and cuts and scrapes to the face and head. Helmets and mouthguards can even assist in dispersing forces around the head, but it can not prevent a concussion. There is even a debate that wearing helmets may actually be worse because it allows players to believe they are safe and participate in riskier behaviors on the field. Overall, it is important to wear protective gear that fits properly while playing a sport - but be aware of its limitations.

What should you do if you think you have a concussion?

If you have any of these signs or symptoms following a hit, fall, or accident make sure to speak up. Tell a coach, parent, or medical professional immediately and get evaluated by a medical professional. It is important to not hide this for fear of getting pulled from activity. Concussions are serious injuries and can have lasting consequences if it is not treated properly.

Navigating concussion recoveries and return to activities can be overwhelming but the staff at Move Strong Physical Therapy are here to help. 

References:

• ReThink Concussions. 2016. Concussion Myths & Facts | ReThink Concussions. Available at: <https://rethinkconcussions.upmc.com/concussion-myths-facts> 

• Concussion.org. 2019. Concussion Myths Debunked | Concussion.org. Available at: <https://www.concussion.org/news/concussion-myths-debunked/>