A lot of focus recently has been on preventing head injuries in youth sports, and while it’s certainly something we should be focusing on, it’s not the only way kids are suffering concussions.

According to researchers at the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP), who reviewed a random selection of 20 percent of diagnosed juvenile concussions at their hospital between 2012 and 2014, only 40 percent of concussions were from organized contact sports, like football, soccer, basketball or hockey. That being said, about 70 percent of concussions can be attributed to what researchers define as “sports and recreational activity.” The other 30 percent were attributed to nonrecreational activities, like falls, car accidents and assaults.

“While sports concussions have been important in raising awareness of concussions, it is important to remember that many nonsports/life activities can result in concussion as well and that it is a common injury in childhood and not just in sports,” said senior study author, Christina Master, MD, pediatric primary care sports medicine specialist at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP), Pennsylvania.

Concussions in Children

So while the majority of concussions are caused by sports and recreation, only 40 percent are caused by organized sports. So what other recreational activities contribute to youth concussions? According to researchers, other contributors to youth concussions include:

• The playground
• Recess
• Gym class

“This study tells us that we need to extend traumatic brain injury prevention and management outside of youth sports to ensure all children who sustain a concussion receive the necessary care to return to daily childhood activities including school and play,” said  study lead author, Juliet Haarbauer-Krupa, PhD, from the CDC’s National Center for Injury Prevention and Control.

Needless to say, parents need to be vigilant about monitoring their children for signs of a concussion on and off the playing field. If your child has an increased difficulty concentrating, headaches, sensitivity to light, loses consciousness, experiences confusion or has been vomiting and you suspect a head injury, have your child evaluated by pediatrician or primary care physician.

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