Concussions: Myth vs Fact

Concussions are generally misunderstood. Today we will debunk some of the most common myths and highlight the truth:

Myth 1: You must lose consciousness to have a concussion.
Losing consciousness after a concussion is a persistent widespread myth. In truth many concussions do not cause a loss of consciousness, or even pain in the moment of injury. Symptoms can appear immediately, and they often do, but it can take hours or even days before a concussion symptom is shown.

Myth 2: Helmets or other equipment can prevent concussions.
Helmets or special equipment cannot prevent against a concussion but they do decrease the chance of getting one. A concussion occurs when the brain collides with the inside of the skull and since the brain floats in cerebrospinal fluid any change in speed results in you as the person stopping, but the brain continues forwards and colliding with the skull. Helmet can and do prevent against skull fractures and other major injuries so always wear a helmet when appropriate.

Myth 3: You need to hit your head to get a concussion.
As mentioned above, the concussion happens when there is a rapid change in speed. Whiplash injuries such as a car crash or a fall can lead to a concussion without direct head contact. This can arguably one of the most dangerous concussions as in some cases such as a fall, people aren’t looking out for concussions.

Myth 4: Recovery means staying in a dark room until you’re symptom-free.
Recovery has perhaps the most amount of myths in a concussion. The common consensus is that one should rest in a dark room until symptoms are going and stay there until all symptoms are gone. Personally I found the dark room method helpful when symptoms were overwhelming, but, as mentioned in the previous blog, after the first 48 hours, rest should includes non-strenuous activities indoors or outdoors if symptoms do not worsen. You should slow return to normal activities as long as symptoms do not worsen. If symptoms do worsen seek a healthcare professional.


Myth 5: Concussions always show up on brain scans.
Most concussions do not show up on CT or MRI scans. They are mainly used to check for internal bleeding and skull fractures and will only show concussion if there was serious significant change to the brain. However, the microscopic changes on a neuron-to-neuron level cannot be detected.

Myth 6: Kids recover back faster than adults.
Research show that children could be more susceptible to permanent chemical changes brought about by a concussion. A child’s brain is still developing and do not have a base ‘self’ and these changes often don’t or can’t show up until later in life. For example, decreased coordination or challenges when faced with increased academic difficulty.