Issue link: https://fredparent.uberflip.com/i/1172724
28 Fredericksburg Parent and Family • October 2019 Q. WHAT IS A CONCUSSION? Ryan Lockwood: A concussion falls under the umbrella of a traumatic brain injury, which is an impairment of your cognitive abilities, your physical functioning, and/or a disturbance in your behavioral or emo- tional functioning. Q. HOW DO CONCUSSIONS OCCUR? Ryan Lockwood: Usually by a jolt or a blow to the head or body. You do not have to have a loss of consciousness or be knocked out to sustain a concussion. Understanding Concussions in Youths Q. WHICH SPORTS POSE THE GREATEST RISK FOR CONCUSSIONS? Ryan Lockwood: Football, lacrosse, soccer and cheerleading are some of the organized sports that have a higher incidence of concussion. Recreational sports often do not have the same amount of supervision and safety rules and regulations making them a higher risk as well. Q. WHAT ARE THE SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS TO WATCH IF YOU BELIEVE YOUR CHILD MAY BE CONCUSSED? Ryan Lockwood: There are physical symptoms like sensitivity to light, sensitivity to noise, vision- related problems, dizziness, balance issues, neck pain and headaches. There are cogni- tive symptoms like changes in school performance, difficulty with concentration, difficulty remembering, forgetfulness and confusion about events and when they happened. There are emotional symptoms like increased irritability, sadness, anxiety and possibly depression-related concerns. There can also be sleep-related symptomology—trouble falling asleep, or sleeping too much, as well as disruptions to the normal sleep-wake cycles. The amount and types of signs and symptoms are highly variable from one person to the next. For many children, fall signals the start of organized sports. From football and cheerleading to field hockey, baseball and soccer, sports can be a great way for kids to have fun, learn new skills and develop character. On the flip side, sports accidents happen, concussions in particular. The CDC estimates, 1.6-3.8 million sports and recreation-related concussions occur each year in the U.S. Ryan Lockwood, a physical therapist at Children's Hospital of Richmond at VCU's Fredericksburg Therapy Center, discusses what concussions are, how they hap- pen and what you can do to help prevent them. INTERVIEWED BY CHRIS JONES HEADS UP Ryan Lockwood, physical therapist at Children's Hospital of Richmond at VCU. "You do not have to have a loss of consciousness or be knocked out to sustain a concussion."