I’ll never forget a client I worked with years ago. He was the kind of student everyone admired—straight A’s, a natural athlete, surrounded by friends, and full of passion and drive for his future.

But after 2-3 concussions, everything began to change. What started as headaches became debilitating pain, constant nausea, and overwhelming fatigue. His once effortless grades dropped significantly. He began struggling to keep up, not just academically but socially, too. His mental health took a serious hit—he experienced severe depression and even hallucinations.

Concussions are a type of traumatic brain injury caused by the brain knocking against the inside of the skull.

Picture this...

The brain is like the yolk of an egg sitting in a fluid (the egg white). The brain’s fluid is called cerebrospinal fluid.

When the egg shakes, the yolk knocks against the egg shell, just like the brain inside the skull.

But here’s the difference between an egg and the brain: the brain’s outer covering, the skull, is not smooth. It has many sharp protrusions.

As a result, when the brain knocks against the inside of the skull, it hits these sharp points and damages the brain cells.

No amount of covering on the outside of the skull-think helmets-will prevent this from happening.

Imagine wrapping an egg in bubble wrap. When you shake it, the egg yolk will still bounce around inside the shell knocking against the sides. No amount of bubble wrap can prevent the yolk from shaking.

No helmet or amount of padding will prevent a brain from knocking against the sharp protrusions inside the skull.

Helmets can prevent skull fractures and decrease severity of injuries like brain bleeds.

Helmets do not prevent or even decrease the likelihood of a concussion (Alfrey, E. J. et al, 2021).

With each concussion, the brain becomes more susceptible to subsequent concussions, even from impacts with less force.

Repeated concussions can have cumulative, long-term impacts on the brain, especially if they occur before the brain has fully healed from a previous injury.

Impacts of Concussions:

Memory problems
Difficulty concentrating or sustaining attention
Slower processing speed
Executive function challenges (planning, organizing, decision-making)
Higher risk of depression and anxiety
Increased irritability and mood swings
Possible changes in impulse control or emotional regulation
Persistent headaches or migraines
Dizziness or balance issues
Sleep disturbances

Youth Sports in Order of Highest Concussion Rates

Boys’ tackle football
Girls’ soccer
Boys’ lacrosse
Boys’ ice hockey
Boys’ wrestling
Girls’ lacrosse
Girls’ field hockey
Girls’ basketball
Boys’ soccer
Girls’ softball

Between 33.6% to 63.4% of diagnosed concussions in high school athletes occurred among football players.

Reference: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). HEADS UP: Concussion in Youth Sports.

What parents should do if their child has had a concussion:

Seek medical attention right away

Follow medical guidance closely
Prioritize rest, but not complete isolation
Monitor symptoms daily
No sports or risky activities until medically cleared

When should kids go back to sports if they’ve had a concussion:

Get medical clearance to return to playing
Ensure ALL symptoms are fully resolved before returning them to play
Monitor academics and daily life first: the child should be back to their normal school routine without symptoms before returning to sports.
Academic recovery comes before athletic recovery.

“When in doubt, sit them out.”

Gradual “Return-to-Play” Progression:

Light aerobic activity (walking, stationary bike)
Sport-specific exercise (no contact)
Non-contact training drills
Full contact practice (only with medical clearance)
Return to competition

If symptoms return at any step, the child should stop and rest until symptom-free again.

Reference: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). HEADS UP: Concussion in Youth Sports.

My client attempted to go to college and ended up having to drop out after just a few weeks due to all of his symptoms. He sought every concussion specialist he could and tried every treatment protocol he was given with only minimal improvements. His life was dramatically altered by the lasting effects of repeated brain injuries.

His story is a powerful reminder: concussions are never “just a bump on the head.” They can change the entire trajectory of a young person’s life. Protecting the brain—and giving it the time and care it needs to heal—is not optional. It’s essential.

REFERENCES

Alfrey, E. J., Tracy, M., Alfrey, J. R., Carroll, M., Aranda-Wikman, E. D., Arora, T., Maa, J., & Minnis, J. (2021). Helmet Usage Reduces Serious Head Injury Without Decreasing Concussion After Bicycle Riders Crash.

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC, 2024): About Repeated Head Impacts and Concussions — notes the cumulative risks and possible link to CTE.

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). HEADS UP: Concussion in Youth Sports.

Mayo Clinic. Concussion: Diagnosis and Treatment.

Mayo Clinic. (2022, July 2). Concussion. Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research.

McCrory et al., 2017: Consensus statement on concussion in sport (British Journal of Sports Medicine) — outlines long-term impacts.

Guskiewicz et al., 2005: Found retired football players with a history of multiple concussions were at increased risk for depression.

One Brain, One Chance: Concussion Facts Parents Can’t Afford to Miss

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