The warm weather is here and many of us head to outdoor pools, the beach, lakes, swimming holes and rivers for summertime fun.  We hear a lot about concussions in contact sports, but not so much about water sports such as tubing, surfing, jet skiing, wake boarding, water skiing, white water rafting and, even, swimming.  Yet emergency departments see a lot of head injuries from water sports every year. 

When a water skier hits the water at high speeds from a fast-moving boat, the water is like concrete.  A jolt to the head can occur when being pulled behind a boat on a board or inner tube in choppy water can cause a concussion.  While swimming isn’t supposed to be a contact sport, accidental contact with other swimmers, hitting one’s head when diving, diving incorrectly and hitting the pool wall can and frequently do result in concussions.

Since one doesn’t have to hit his or her head or be knocked unconscious to have a concussion, it’s important to be able to recognize the symptoms.  Concussion symptoms include chronic headaches, depression, problems with thinking and memory, vision and balance issues, and sleep disorders.[1]  Sometimes the person cannot recognize the symptoms him or herself, do not want to admit to the symptoms and/or don’t want to stop the sport or activity. As many as five in ten concussions in sports go unreported or undetected.[2]  This means that friends, coaches and others often need to be the ones to recognize the symptoms and seek medical attention for the person with a suspected concussion.

The Mayo Clinic provides a list of physical signs and symptoms to watch for at: https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/concussion/symptoms-causes/syc-20355594

Here at Oxeia Biopharmaceuticals, we are developing new, innovative therapeutics for mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI), known as concussion. Our aspiration at Oxeia is for people to stay safe and take steps to avoid concussions in their everyday lives, and to bring relief to those who have sustained a concussion. 

[1] https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/concussion/symptoms-causes/syc-20355594

[2] UPMC  Sports Medicine.