Head injuries and concussion are not unusual in the world of cycling. Even the most careful cyclist or the most protected mountain biker can suffer this condition if the blow to the head they receive, through accidents or crashes, is hard enough. While it's common, it's also sometimes overlooked and misunderstood, and proper diagnosis, treatment and recovery is essential to prevent complications down the line. You only have one brain, so make sure you look after it.
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We spoke to UK-based charity Headway about what concussion is, what to do if you encounter someone who has a head injury, and how to recover after a concussion. Headway is a brain injury association that runs awareness campaigns and provides advice and guidance around head injuries, concussion and related conditions.
What is concussion?
According to Headway, concussion is "a temporary disturbance in the brain’s functioning that occurs when the brain gets shaken around in the skull following an impact. It’s also often referred to as a minor head injury or minor traumatic brain injury.”
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In sports that often result in crashes, which certainly includes cycling and mountain biking in particular, impacts to the head are not unusual. So being aware of concussion, its symptoms and what to do if you encounter someone with a head injury or suffer one yourself, is very important.
What to do if you suspect someone has concussion
If the person is unconscious, you need to call for help immediately. Notify the emergency services of the location of the injured person, either using street names, GPS locations, map grid references or trail markers, and let them know what condition they are in. Do not move them or remove a helmet or neck brace if they are wearing one, as you may unintentionally injure them further .
If the person is conscious, and only around 10 percent of concussions involve a loss of consciousness, it's worth being aware that they may still have a minor head injury.
How to recover from a concussion
You can read more at BikeRadar.com
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