A concussion is a malfunction of the brain caused by an impact. The blow can hit the head or the body directly, causing the contact to swing the head.
The most common symptoms are headache or neck pain, balance disorders or dizziness, nausea or vomiting, confusion, fatigue, visual disturbances, concentration and memory difficulties.
In the days after the event, you may experience difficulty sleeping, changes in mood and behavior, and sensitivity to light and noise.
It usually takes 7-10 days to recover from a concussion. About 10–15 percent have prolonged or permanent after-effects.
A prolonged concussion is when the symptoms last for weeks. In this case, the symptoms are especially related to thinking functions and mood. It may be difficult for the person to remember things or the behavior may change in a surprising direction.
It is impossible to predict the final duration of the symptoms, but they are more likely to be prolonged or permanent if there are many symptoms or they are strong right from the beginning.
In the NHL, the number of concussions has steadily increased. Nowadays, there are an average of 80 in one season.
Sources: Duodecim Health Library, physiotherapist (TtM, FT) Matti Vartiainen, Sage Journals