Did you know that 1 million Canadians are living with various forms of brain injury?1

A hit to the head or elsewhere on the body that disturbs normal brain function is known as traumatic brain injury (TBI); a major cause of death and disability. Most TBIs are known as mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI) – commonly referred to as concussions.2

Traumatic brain injury and concussion stats:

  1. Falls, motor vehicle collisions, sports injuries and violence are the leading causes of TBIs3
  2. There are nearly 50 TBI hospitalizations each day in Canada3
  3. The number of concussions in seniors is expected to rise due to our aging population and increased risk of falls4
  4. 1 in 5 sport-related injuries are concussions,and more than 9 out of 10 emergency department visits for sport-related brain injuries are concussion-related6
  5. 64% of emergency department visits among 10-18-year-olds are related to participation in sports and recreation7
  6. It is estimated that more than 50% of concussions are never reported
  7. Hockey, cycling, football, rugby and soccer injuries result in the most athletes sent to the emergency department for brain injuries6,7
  8. More than 90% of concussions do not result in loss of consciousness
  9. Concussion symptoms often disappear in 7 to 10 days but it usually takes much longer for the brain to fully recover
  10. Research demonstrates that more than 30% of concussion patients have symptoms for more than 4 weeks – this is known as “post-concussion syndrome”8
  11. The exact cause of persistent or prolonged symptoms following concussion remains somewhat of a mystery; however, research points to treatable causes such as whiplash or neck injuries, visual or dizziness issues, blood flow impairments, and psychological overlay

If you suspect that you or a loved one has suffered a concussion, it’s important that they receive proper care as soon as possible following injury as this can have significant impact on their recovery. Find a clinic here.

For more information about TBI, mTBI or awareness initiatives, visit Brain Injury Canada or follow them on Facebook.