Concussion Facts Versus Myths

Despite efforts by MomsTeam, the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and others to educate athletes, parents, and coaches about concussions in sport and the dangers they pose, and increased media coverage of the subject prompted by the deaths of high-profile former NFL stars and the disabling of numerous other football players from the long-term effects of multiple concussions, myths and misconceptions about concussions still abound.

Here are some of the most common myths:

How and in what sports do concussions occur?

Myth: A concussion only occurs as a result of a direct blow to the head.

Fact: A concussion may be caused by a direct blow to the head, face, neck, or elsewhere on the body if the blow is transmitted to the head.

Myth: Players suffer concussions only when hit on a particular part of the head and the force of the blow to the head reaches a certain impact magnitude.

Fact: Recent studies of college football players have shown that concussions occur from blows to different parts of the head and of varying magnitude. There is therefore no way to know for certain whether a particular blow will lead to a concussion. A relatively minor impact may result in a concussion while a high-magnitude hit to the head may not.

Myth: Only athletes in aggressive contact sports like football, hockey and lacrosse suffer concussions.

Fact: While football has the highest number of concussions, and concussions are common in hockey, lacrosse and wrestling, concussions also occur frequently in boys' and girls' basketball and soccer.

Myth: Football players participating in helmet-only practices are at lesser risk of concussion because they aren't hit as hard as in games or scrimmages.

Fact: A recent study establishes that head impacts sustained in helmets-only practices are as severe as games or scrimmages. As the study's authors concluded, "There seem to be no 'light' days for football players."