Ice hockey is a sport where players are often hit with a bang on the head and the number of concussions within the sport has increased in recent years. But all bangs do not lead to concussion.

- As a spectator, you may think that some bangs look really difficult without, while the more mild bangs have severe consequences, says Anna Nordström.

When a person suffers from concussion, the brain is damaged despite being protected by the skull and resting in the brain fluid.

- Then it becomes like bruises in the brain.

Greater risk of new concussion

Those who have suffered a concussion are at greater risk of suffering further concussions, but also other injuries.

Researchers, for example, have seen that football players, at international level, have a doubled injury risk within the first year after a head injury.

- If we put athletes back in games where there are situations where you have to take in and process information to react lightning fast, then the brain sometimes does not catch up due to the present effects of previous concussion. This can lead to increased injury risk, says Anna Nordström.

Concussions in equestrian sports

A new cooling cap has been developed to alleviate the effects of concussion. Something that could come in handy even in equestrian sports, where concussions are also common.

- If test results show that there is an improvement in healing, it is good. You look at all the ways to prevent injuries and to be able to rehabilitate faster, Therese Kreisel, chair of the Västerbotten Equestrian Association.

In the clip above, Anna Nordström tells what happens in the brain during a concussion.