More children in the United States are needing treatment for concussions (and other related traumatic brain injuries) resulting from injuries sustained on the playground, reveals a recent report from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The increase in such injuries occur despite increased safety seen in playground equipment over the years.
It was found in 2001 that 18,000 children, under the age of 14, were treated in the emergency rooms for playground related brain injuries and concussions which rose to a staggering 29,000 children in 2013, according to recent statistics from the CDC.
It's not just sports that are causing these types of injuries. Equipment like playground gym, monkey bars, and swings are found to contribute to the maximum number of injuries and about two thirds of the accidents were reported to have taken place in schools and other sports recreational facilities. Those who reported injuries, it was seen that 60% of those children we boys with half of them are between five and nine years of age.
Now, what I'm not saying is that we should not allow our children to play on playground equipment, but parents need to ensure that there is some form of appropriate supervision in the event that an injury does take place.
I do want to let you know that these type of injuries can be easily overlooked for they aren't easily diagnosed via CT or MRI. What those can do is determine if there is any structural damage to the brain or bleeding.
What you need to do is monitor for any changes in behavior and/or Secondary conditions such as:
- Physical symptoms such as neck pain, headaches, nausea, and dizziness.
- Cognitive or thinking symptoms, such as feeling like they are thinking through a fog or poor concentration.
- Sleep issues
- Anxiety and mood disorders (irritability or increased sadness)
What's often overlooked is the effect of an impact to the head to the neck, especially the area of the Atlas. The atlas is the vertebra that connects the head and neck. Where every other vertebra is locked in place by a disc and facet joints, that atlas is supported solely by ligaments and muscles.
When the head gets jarred, then the atlas may shift and can create changes in the ligaments, muscles and blood vessels of the head.
Ultimately, this can affect the drainage system of the head and lead to inflammatory chemicals staying within the brain causing chronic inflammation.If you suspect that your child suffers from even one, you want to make sure that you seek out medical attention. Reason being, a child's developing brain can be more vulnerable to the impact of a concussion.
Remember, head impact and neck impact go hand in hand. While, I believe that everyone should have their neck checked for Atlas Displacement Complex, it's even more important for children who may be subject to repetitive head trauma (whether on the playground or playing field).
Not only is it safer to take on head impacts with a structurally sound neck, it's also an effective way to prevent subsequent neurological problems that are associated with head injuries.
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Dr. Harris is a Life By Design Chiropractor practicing in Annapolis, MD.