Shaking your head back and forth following a blow could be a sign of concussion A majority of athletes and nearly all football players say they’ve done this following a concussion This sign could help detect up to 33% of otherwise undiagnosed concussions, experts say WEDNESDAY, Oct. 23, 2024 (HealthDay News) -- Maybe you've seen a cartoon character shake their head back and forth following a sharp blow -- clearing away whatever stars or birds are circling their noggins. Turns out, that same move might help coaches and physical trainers identify a that’s occurred on the field.
About 72% of athletes -- and 92% of football players -- said they’ve quickly shaken their head back and forth following a concussion, researchers report. These SHAAKEs -- Spontaneous Headshake After a Kinematic Event -- might help identify up to 33% of concussions that might otherwise be missed, researchers argued. “Sports and medical organizations should immediately add SHAAKE to their lists of potential concussion signs,” said researcher , co-founder of the Concussion Legacy Foundation.
“Coaches, medical professionals and concussion spotters should be trained to recognize when a SHAAKE happens and remove athletes for further assessment,” Nowinski added. “It’s an easy change, with no downside, that could prevent catastrophic outcomes and save careers.” A SHAAKE occurs within seconds or minutes of an impact, researchers said.
People shake their heads side to side two to eight times a .
