An injury to a high school athlete can be a significant disappointment for the teen, the family, and the coaches.

Teenage athletes are injured at about the same rate as professional athletes, but injuries that affect high school athletes often differ from those that affect adult athletes. This is largely because high school athletes are frequently still growing.

Growth is generally uneven: Bones grow first, which pulls at tight muscles and tendons. This uneven growth pattern makes younger athletes more susceptible to muscle, tendon, and growth plate injuries.

If you think you are injured, STOP, and let me or a coach evaluate you. It is the best thing you can do for your team, coaches, and more importantly yourself.

Recognizing concussions and providing proper treatment is vital, especially for younger athletes, as it typically takes them longer than adults to recover fully.

Because of the potential long-term consequences of sports concussions, athletes, coaches, and parents must know as much as possible about how to recognize them. Symptoms are not always obvious. Although it is commonly assumed that concussions cause loss of consciousness, many people with concussions have not been "knocked out." A concussion causes a variety of symptoms. These may appear immediately or may be delayed for several days after the injury. Some symptoms are physical, such as drowsiness. Others are cognitive, like memory loss. In many cases, people with concussions are more emotional than usual.

The most common symptoms of concussion include:

• Drowsiness
• A headache
• Loss of consciousness
• Memory loss Irritability
• Confusion
• Balance problems, dizziness
• Difficulty speaking and communicating
• Depression
• Nausea and vomiting
• Changes in sleep patterns