LYNDON - High school athletes are running into new problems that prevent them from playing their favorite sports.

Concussions in teenagers has become a hot topic in the sports community.  According to WebMD, ignoring the necessary steps to treat or recover from a concussion could result in long-term injury such as brain damage or memory loss.

In a recent report released by the Government Accountability Office, nearly 400,000 concussions occurred from the year 2005 to 2008 that were not recognized and diagnosed as concussions.  That number alone shows the volume and seriousness of the issue.
Concussions can happen in a wide variety of sports and sports seasons.

Soccer playoffs are happening all across Vermont.  Schools such as Danville, St. Johnsbury, Lyndon, and many others, who are playing deep into the post season, need to make sure that they are not playing athletes who may be concussed.
A study published in TIME Magazine stated that nearly 41% of athletes that received concussions during a game, returned to game-action too soon under the guidelines set by the American Academy of Neurology.

Dr. Tony L. Strickland, an associate clinical professor of neurology at UCLA says he believes it is important to have all athletes medically cleared before heading back out onto the field.

"Baseline evaluations are needed for all athletes," said Strickland in an article on the American Academy of Neurology website.  "Athletes that are suspected to have suffered a concussion should be evaluated by neurologists trained in the evaluation and management of sports concussions before returning to play."

Here in Vermont, the Vermont Principals Association has a webpage set aside for coaches where there is information and resources for most medical questions a coach, parents, or referee may have.  The web page includes many features on concussions, including videos for coaches to better understand this injury.  If there is even one more informed person on the field who can spot concussion symptoms, it could be a huge advantage to preventing problems with concussions in high school athletes.

So how can you prevent a concussion?  Well, there really isn't much you can do if you are playing a contact sport, says Strickland.  Wearing the correct padding and helmet's that fit is a start.  If you think you have a concussion or concussion like symptoms, you should seek immeadiate medical attention.