Abstract
Head impacts in American football may lead to brain injuries called concussions. To study head impacts in young people who play American football, we collected data using sensors in mouthguards worn by young American football players. The sensors counted the number of hits and bumps to the head (head impacts) that players of American tackle and flag football got during the football season. We found that tackle football players had about 15 times more head impacts during a game or practice than flag football players had, and 23 times more hard head impacts. Learning more about head impacts in young American football players can help scientists find ways to lower the chances of concussions and other injuries. That way, kids can enjoy the benefits of sports while keeping their brains safe.
Highlights
CONCUSSION A type of brain injury from a bump, blow, or jolt to the head or body that leads to chemical changes in the brain that may a ect how a person thinks, acts, feels, or learns during recovery
You may already know that a concussion is a brain injury (Figure )
A concussion is a type of traumatic brain injury from a bump, blow, or jolt to the head or body. (A) When there is a jolt to the head or body, the head and brain move quickly back and forth. (B) The brain bounces and/or twists in the skull from the sudden movement. (C) Concussions can cause chemical changes in the brain’s cells, as well as stretching or other damage to the brain’s tissues
Summary
You have probably heard about professional athletes getting concussions while playing sports. You may even know someone who has had a concussion, or maybe you have even had one yourself. You may already know that a concussion is a brain injury (Figure ). Concussions can change the way a person thinks, acts, kids.frontiersin.org
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