WINTER LIFESTYLE: Sports & Wellness Q&A
All About Concussions
By Dr. Rick Bortz / Photo by Carter Photographics
Q. What is a concussion?
A. A concussion is a disturbance of neurological function caused by trauma. The brain is made up of soft tissue and is cushioned by spinal fluid, encased in a hard protective shell (the skull). During a head injury, the brain can slosh around inside the skull and even bang against it, causing blood vessels to tear and injuring nerves.
Concussions are fairly common, butfewer than 10 percent result in a loss of consciousness. A simple concussion usually heals within a week to 10 days, while the symptoms of a complex concussion can be long-lasting or permanent. If the person suffers unconsciousness for more than one minute or has had a previous concussion (no matter how long ago), doctors also label it as a complex concussion.
Symptoms to watch for include fatigue, headaches, equilibrium disturbances or difficulty concentrating. A more acute concussion may cause any of the aforementioned symptoms as well as dizziness, visual disturbances and loss of memory.
 Q. Why is a concussion considered such a serious injury?
A. Concussions can potentially lead to death from second-impact syndrome (re-injury before symptoms of the first concussion have been completely resolved). Re-injury of a concussion can also lead to permanent neurological impairment and post-concussion syndrome (fatigue, headaches, dizziness or difficulty concentrating that may persist for weeks or months). For this reason, it is important to recognize the symptoms of a concussion and to wait for all symptoms to disappear before resuming sports again.
If it is a first-time or simple concussion, the patient can resume athletic or strenuous activity after a week. If it is a second concussion, two or more weeks of rest are recommended, and if there is a history of more than two concussions, I refer the patient to a neurologist for follow-up and baseline neurological testing.
Dr. Bortz has been practicing Family and Emergency Medicine at 7 Mile Clinic at the base of Winter Park Ski for 16 years. Despite that, he still likes to ski, snowboard, and ride his mountain bike.
Kids and Sports
By Dr. Tim Bohlender / Photo by Carter Photographics
Q. To prepare for sports, adults often train in the gym, run, or take fitness classes. How should kids prepare for sports?
A. It’s very important to develop a love of exercise and the outdoors early in life. An estimated 15 percent of American children are overweight, and this can lead to many other diseases such as diabetes and high blood pressure. Kids should be given the opportunity to play, run, climb, jump and dance as much as possible, and encouragement to take up winter sports.
 Get involved in your child’s sports conditioning by taking nature walks together, assigning pet walking duties, and doing anything as a family that gets your kids moving and using their muscles. Limit TV and video game time as well.
Some kids enjoy weight lifting, but make sure it is supervised and that low weights are used, as they can overdo it due to enthusiasm. Cross training is essential to prevent boredom and overuse injuries. The aerobic benefits of cross country skiing complement biking and running while working the upper body. Skateboarding and snowboarding have similar balance challenges.
Q. How do I keep my kids from getting sports injuries?
A. Although sports injuries come with the territory, many can be prevented with proper safety equipment – helmets, knee pads, elbow pads, wrist guards and padded pants. Year-round sports conditioning can keep joints and muscles strong and pliable, and this can also help prevent sprains and dislocations. Providing coaching is also key. This allows kids to progress quickly under guidance, and discourages peer-pressure-induced activities that are unsafe.
Dr. Bohlender, a native of Colorado, received his medical training from the University of Colorado and did his residency training at St. Joseph Hospital in Denver. He began practicing medicine in Grand County in 1986 at Seven Mile Medical Clinic and has lived in Grand County for 18 years. He currently practices medicine at St. Anthony’s Granby Medical Center and continues to enjoy living in the county with his wife, Shirra, and infant son, Luke.
Follow the links below for more articles within the Winter Lifestyle section.
READ MORE STORIES FROM THE WINTER LIFESTYLE SECTION:
• Mushing Through The Slush: Grand County Mushers
• Bob Holme: From Olympic Nordic Jumper to Terrain Park Guru
• Solve Your Ski Boot Problems Once and For All: One of the premier boot fitters in the world
• Sports & Wellness: All About Concussions & Kids and Sports
• Grand Lake Touring Center: In the Shadow of Rocky Mountain National Park
• 2009 Feature Articles |
