Concussions are the most common form of brain injury. They are caused by a hard blow to the head, neck, or body resulting in rapid movement of the brain within the skull. This movement causes damage to the nerve fibres within the brain and can change the way the brain functions.
The causes of concussion are from falls, motor vehicle crashes, and sports and recreation activities. In BC, 61% of concussion hospitalizations are males. The highest hospitalization rates are in the 0-19 and 65+ age groups.3
You may have a concussion even though you did not hit your head, or if there are no immediate signs or symptoms—concussion symptoms can be delayed for hours or even a few days. Concussion symptoms vary from person to person and case to case. Some people may experience only one or two symptoms, while others experience many more.
Most concussions resolve without complications when managed appropriately. Most people recover from concussion within 2 to 4 weeks, but 15 to 30% of people with a concussion will experience persistent symptoms. An injured brain is vulnerable to stress and re-injury. When you have a concussion, you are at a three times higher risk of suffering another concussion. Delaying seeking treatment of a concussion can lead to long-term consequences.
Click here to view the Concussion Pathway (PDF) to learn how to respond to a potential concussion.
If you have any symptoms, unusual behaviour, or you are just feeling strange after the incident, seek medical care from a licensed medical professional who can diagnose a concussion.
The first step in concussion recovery is to rest for 24 to 48 hours.
After the first two days it is important you gradually start to be more active. Follow a Return to Activity (PDF) plan in consultation with a licensed medical professional.
CATT modules are available in both English and French, providing tailored concussion eLearning educational resources for medical professionals, coaches, parents and caregivers, school professionals, high performance athletes, workers and workplaces, and women’s support workers working with survivors of intimate partner violence.
Work is in progress to create and evaluate a new CATT module for high school participants in sports.
Learn more about the Concussion Awareness Training Tool (CATT)
Researchers at BCIRPU are conducting a study to improve recognition and management of sports-related concussion in youth. Surveillance in High Schools to Reduce Concussions and Consequences of Concussions (SHRed Concussions) is a three-year longitudinal, Canada-wide, cohort study aimed at reducing the burden of sport-related concussions and their consequences across youth sport populations. Researchers are recruiting high school athletes who participate in rugby.
Visit the SHRed Concussions study page for more information.
Taking steps to prevent concussion requires a combination of increased awareness, action, and education.
1. Cassidy, J. D., Carroll, L., Peloso, P., Borg, J., Von Holst, H., Holm, L., … & Coronado, V. (2004). Incidence, risk factors and prevention of mild traumatic brain injury: results of the WHO Collaborating Centre Task Force on Mild Traumatic Brain Injury. Journal of rehabilitation medicine, 36 (0), 28 – 60. Available from https://www.medicaljournals.se/jrm/content/abstract/10.1080/16501960410023732
2. Ryu, W. H. A., Feinstein, A., Colantonio, A., Streiner, D. L., & Dawson, D. R. (2009). Early identification and incidence of mild TBI in Ontario. Canadian Journal of Neurological Sciences, 36(4), 429-435. Available from https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/canadian-journal-of-neurological-sciences/article/early-identification-and-incidence-of-mild-tbi-in-ontario/F18D5FA11A6655640CEBFE0969275774
3. Data Source: Discharge Abstract Database (DAD), Ministry of Health, BCIRPU Injury Data Online Tool, 2021.