Concussions in Sports

“The brain is soft, like Jell-O, and floats in fluid. It is only loosely anchored. A direct hit or whiplash-type motion can cause the brain to shake, spin, or do both.” The result is a concussion, which, if repeated, can be fatal. In clear, lively language, this volume explains the science behind concussions, and the ways sports have changed in response to growing public awareness of that science. Numerous quotes and anecdotes from coaches, athletes, and reporters enliven the material—and also point toward the work that still needs to be done. While much of the book focuses on football, it also touches on ice hockey, soccer, skateboarding, and bicycling (the last two activities are responsible for one-third of all concussions in children). Captioned photographs, many of them full-page, appear on most spreads. Sidebars pepper the layout and further clarify important terms such as “second-impact syndrome.” Back matter includes discussion questions, a glossary, selected bibliography, sources for further reading, a link to publisher-selected Web sites, places to visit, and an index.