Despite being one of today’s most common sports-related injuries, concussions remain a relative mystery to a large number of teens and adults. Particularly common among student athletes, NJ Orthopedic Surgeon, Dr. Michael Gross, is now bringing this issue to light, calling for greater concussion awareness across the board.
“When a concussion occurs, it’s not uncommon for athletes, coaches and parents to shrug it off, seeing it simply as an inevitable part of the game,” explains Dr. Gross. “It’s important to remember, however, that a concussion is actually a serious, traumatic brain injury and can lead to serious complications if not addressed immediately.” Most often caused by a direct blow to the head, concussions are most common with high-impact sports such as football.
“A topic that simply does not receive enough attention, concussions among young athletes continue to grow year after year.” Dr. Gross’ assertion confirms recent data published by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. “Each year, U.S. emergency departments (EDs) treat an estimated 173,285 sports- and recreation-related TBIs, including concussions, among children and adolescents, from birth to 19 years,” reports the CDC. “During the last decade, ED visits for sports- and recreation-related TBIs, including concussions, among children and adolescents increased by 60%.”
Speaking on potential warning signs to watch out for, Dr. Gross added this: “A concussion can affect a player’s thinking or behavior in several ways. These include confusion, issues with balance, problems recalling information and more,” explains Dr. Gross. “And, following any forceful blow to the head or body – whether or not the athlete is demonstrating symptoms – it’s important that they are removed from play and given immediate medical attention.” Dr. Gross went on to explain that if a parent, coach or player has any suspicion that a concussion has occurred, the player should not return to sports until cleared by their doctor.
Asked to comment on the importance of patient education, Dr. Gross concluded with this: “Concussions are something that every athlete, coach and parent needs to be thinking about. We recommend consulting with a Sports Medicine Physician in your area to learn tactics for preventing concussions, red flags to look out for and other ways to stay safe on and off the field.”
About Dr. Gross
Dr. Michael Gross is a highly respected orthopedic surgeon practicing in New Jersey. Board certified in orthopedic surgery, Dr. Gross also holds a subspecialty certificate in Sports Medicine.
Dr. Gross received his medical degree from New York University School of Medicine in 1983, followed by an internship in general surgery and residency in Orthopedic Surgery at Montefiore Medical Center, Albert Einstein College of Medicine. Completing advanced fellowship training in Sports Medicine at UCLA Medical Center, Dr. Gross served on the medical staff of the UCLA Bruins.
Practicing at Active Orthopaedics & Sports Medicine, Dr. Gross can be reached at (201) 358-0707 in Westwood, (201) 343-2277 in Hackensack or at www.activeorthopedic.com
