CDC: Sports-Related Brain Injuries in Young Athletes on the Rise; Tennessee Families Should Take Note

Why it matters locally: The CDC's report on rising sports-related brain injuries directly impacts Tennessee families and young athletes. With a population of over 7 million, a significant number of children and adolescents in Tennessee participate in sports, from football to soccer to cheerleading. The rise in TBIs means more Tennessee families may face the challenges of dealing with a child's concussion or more severe brain injury which impacts quality of life and puts a strain on the healthcare system and family. The increased emergency room visits highlighted in the report suggest a potential strain on Tennessee's healthcare infrastructure, and highlights the need for Tennessee schools, sports leagues, and parents to reevaluate safety protocols, invest in better protective equipment, improve coach training, and consider more robust concussion awareness and management programs.

---

Atlanta — The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recently released a report documenting an increase in sports- and recreation-related traumatic brain injuries (TBIs) among children and adolescents. The report highlights a significant rise in emergency department visits for these injuries over the past decade. The data indicates that emergency room visits for sports- and recreation-related TBIs, which include concussions, rose by 60% in the studied age group. Further details regarding the number of patients involved and specific sports contributing to the rise are expected from the CDC. The report does not include an analysis of factors contributing to the increases, but rather focuses on reporting the data collected from emergency department visits.