A concussion is defined as a Traumatic Brain Injury
that results from biomechanical forces transmitted via
direct or indirect blow to the face, head, or elsewhere on
the body (McCrory et al., 2017). Concussions are closed
head injuries that are typically not life threatening. The
majority of concussions occur as a result of participating
in contact (e.g., soccer, basketball) or collision (e.g.,
American football, rugby) sports. Concussions are manifested
in one or more of the following: symptoms
(somatic, cognitive, emotional), physical signs, behavioral
changes, balance and cognitive impairment, and
sleep disturbance. Often, the neurological impairment
that accompanies a concussion is transient. Most concussed
adult athletes recover within 10 14 days,
whereas symptomatology for children and adolescent
athletes (,18 years old) typically resolves within 30
days. A smaller percentage of athletes are slow to
recover and can experience concussion symptoms for
longer periods of time (i.e., months, years).
