A big tackle in the footy, a clumsy fall in netball, or a sudden jolt in a car. In the moments after a head knock, confusion is common—not just for the person affected, but for everyone around them. What’s our next step?
When head injuries occur, we often encounter outdated or misleading advice. This information, passed down from old-school coaches, well-meaning parents, and even some doctors, can tragically lead to incorrect treatment, significantly slower recovery, and serious long-term health challenges. These Concussion Myths are particularly dangerous.
A concussion is frequently called an “invisible injury” because, unlike a broken arm, it doesn’t appear on a standard X-ray. This invisibility makes understanding the facts absolutely critical. When it comes to your brain, we simply cannot afford to risk its health by believing in Concussion Myths over science.
This guide will empower you by tackling the 10 most common and dangerous Concussion Myths about concussion. We will debunk them one by one, using up-to-date science from the world’s leading experts. Whether you’re a player, parent, coach, or simply want to be prepared, our goal is clear: to equip you with the essential facts, so you can confidently make the right call when it truly matters. Let’s start busting these crucial Concussion Myths.
Before We Start: What Exactly is a Concussion?
First, let’s establish a common understanding. A concussion is a type of mild Traumatic Brain Injury (mTBI). It results from a sudden acceleration or deceleration of the head, whether from a direct hit or an indirect force.
Imagine your brain—its consistency like soft jelly—gently suspended within your skull in a protective fluid. When your head experiences a sudden jolt, your brain can forcefully impact the hard, bony inside of your skull. This impact stretches and damages delicate brain cells, triggering a chemical disruption that interferes with your brain’s normal functioning.
It’s a “Software” Problem, Not a “Hardware” Problem.
Think of it like a computer virus. The hardware—your monitor and keyboard—might appear perfectly fine, yet the software is glitching. A standard hardware scan won’t detect the virus. Similarly, a concussion disrupts the brain’s communication and energy systems without typically causing visible structural problems like a bleed or a fracture.
Key signs of a concussion typically fall into four main groups:
- Physical: Headache, nausea or vomiting, dizziness, balance problems, sensitivity to light or noise, feeling profoundly fatigued.
- Thinking/Memory: Feeling “in a fog,” slowed thought processes, difficulty concentrating or remembering things, confusion.
- Emotional/Mood: Experiencing more irritability, sadness, or anxiety than usual.
- Sleep: Feeling drowsy, sleeping significantly more or less than usual, or struggling to fall asleep.
Now that we’ve covered the basics, let’s confidently bust some pervasive Concussion Myths.
Myth 1: You Have to Be Knocked Out to Have a Concussion
The Myth: For a concussion to be “real,” you must lose consciousness. If you remain awake, it’s just a “ding” or you’ve “had your bell rung.”
The Reality: Less than 10% of sports-related concussions actually involve being knocked out.
Why This Myth is So Dangerous:
This stands as perhaps the most common and damaging of all Concussion Myths. It’s precisely why countless athletes have been mistakenly sent straight back onto the field with a serious injury.
If you wait for someone to pass out, you will miss over 90% of concussions. The true indicators are symptoms like dizziness, “brain fog,” headache, and memory problems. A concussion is defined by a disturbance of brain function, not by whether someone is conscious.
Phrases like “getting your bell rung” are relics of a bygone era. Any sign or symptom following a head knock, no matter how minor, signifies a brain injury has occurred and demands proper management.
The rule is simple and life-saving: “When in doubt, sit them out.” If someone takes a hit and then reports a headache, appears dazed, or is unsure of the score, immediately remove them from play. This Concussion Myth can have severe consequences.
Myth 2: A “Normal” CT or MRI Scan Means You’re in the Clear
The Myth: If you go to the hospital and your brain scan comes back “clear,” you don’t have a concussion, and you’re good to go.
The Reality: Standard scans like CTs and MRIs are designed to detect structural brain injuries, not the functional disruptions of a concussion. This is another persistent Concussion Myth.
The Difference Between Structure and Function:
Recall our “software vs. hardware” analogy? A CT or MRI scan excels at identifying “hardware” problems—the major, potentially life-threatening issues such as:
- Brain bleeds (haemorrhages)
- Blood clots (haematomas)
- Skull fractures
- Major swelling (edema)
An emergency doctor orders a scan specifically to rule out these catastrophic injuries. However, a concussion is a “software” issue—a disruption at a microscopic level. It remains invisible on a standard scan.
A concussion diagnosis relies on observed symptoms and a clinical examination of functions like balance, eye movements, and cognitive abilities. So, when the doctor informs you your scan is “normal,” that’s fantastic news! It confirms you do not have a brain bleed or fracture. It is not a dismissal of your injury. You still need to follow a proper, guided recovery plan if you are experiencing symptoms. This crucial distinction helps us move past dangerous Concussion Myths.
Myth 3: You Must Rest in a Dark Room Until Symptoms Vanish
The Myth: The only way to recover is “cocoon therapy”—lying in a dark, quiet room, strictly avoiding all screens, reading, and activity until you feel 100%. This Concussion Myth advises extreme isolation.
The Reality: While a brief period of rest (24-48 hours) is recommended, early, gentle, and guided activity is now the gold standard for treatment. Prolonged, strict rest can actually slow down recovery.
The Shift to Active Recovery:
For many years, the prevailing wisdom was “the brain is injured, so rest it completely.” This seemed logical. Yet, a vast amount of research has completely overturned this idea. We now understand that extended periods of passive rest can lead to:
- Deconditioning: Your body and brain become less fit, making it harder to return to normal activity.
- Worse Mood: Social isolation and excessive focus on your symptoms can significantly increase anxiety and depression.
- Longer Recovery: Strict, prolonged rest has been linked to a higher risk of experiencing long-lasting symptoms.
The modern approach embraces active recovery. This involves engaging in light, controlled physical and cognitive activity that does not significantly worsen your symptoms. A physiotherapist specifically trained in concussion management can help you identify your “sub-symptom threshold”—the level of activity you can handle before symptoms worsen—and then carefully build a gradual plan from there. Gentle movement actively supports the concussed brain’s healing process. If you’re seeking expert guidance for your recovery, exploring our broader physiotherapy services can be a great next step.
Myth 4: A Good Helmet Prevents Concussions
The Myth: If you wear an expensive, high-tech helmet or headgear, you are fully protected from concussion.
The Reality: Helmets and headgear are excellent at preventing skull fractures and catastrophic head injuries, but they cannot prevent a concussion. Let’s bust this dangerous Concussion Myth about helmets.
The Physics of Brain Motion:
Helmets are engineered to absorb and distribute the force of a direct impact, effectively stopping your skull from cracking. This is a crucial, life-saving function.
However, a concussion occurs because your brain sloshes around inside your skull. When a player’s head whips around, the helmet moves with the skull, but the jelly-like brain moves independently within that space. It can slam into the front, back, and sides of the skull, causing the widespread stretching and damage to brain cells that defines a concussion.
Consider shaking an egg inside a hard plastic container. The container (the helmet) will not break, but the yolk inside (the brain) will get scrambled. No helmet, no matter how advanced, can stop that internal brain movement. This explains why you can sustain a concussion without even a direct impact to your head.
The takeaway: Always wear a properly fitted, certified helmet for your sport (like cricket or cycling). But never let it provide a false sense of security regarding concussion. Safer tackling techniques in footy and rigorous enforcement of rules are far more critical for preventing concussions. To learn more about how we support athletes in injury prevention and recovery, visit our sports injuries and rehabilitation page.
Myth 5: Every Concussion is the Same
The Myth: A concussion is just a concussion. Everyone gets a headache and feels dizzy, so the recovery plan is always one-size-fits-all. This Concussion Myth simplifies a complex reality.
The Reality: Concussions are incredibly individual experiences. Each injury presents with a unique mix of dominant symptoms that demands a targeted treatment plan.
Finding Your Concussion “Profile”:
Modern concussion care has advanced far beyond a generic approach. Experts now identify distinct “profiles” or types of concussion based on which brain system is most affected.
The main profiles include:
- Balance/Dizziness (Vestibular): Problems with the inner ear and the brain’s balance system, leading to dizziness and vertigo.
- Vision (Ocular-Motor): Difficulties with eye tracking and focusing, causing headaches with reading or screen use.
- Cognitive/Fatigue: Primary issues are “brain fog,” slowed thinking, and overwhelming mental exhaustion.
- Post-Traumatic Migraine: Severe, migraine-like headaches, often accompanied by nausea and sensitivity to light/sound.
- Anxiety/Mood: Significant increases in anxiety, irritability, or low mood that hinder recovery.
- Neck (Cervical): Symptoms primarily driven by a concurrent whiplash-style injury to the neck.
Someone with a vision-based profile requires a vastly different rehabilitation plan (e.g., vision therapy) than someone with a balance profile (e.g., gaze stabilisation exercises). This is precisely why a comprehensive assessment from a health professional with specific concussion training proves so invaluable. Don’t hesitate to book an appointment for a tailored consultation.
Myth 6: Kids “Bounce Back” Faster From Concussions
The Myth: Kids are resilient. They heal quicker than adults, so a concussion isn’t as serious a concern for them. This Concussion Myth is critical for every parent and junior coach to understand.
The Reality: Children and teenagers are actually more vulnerable to concussion and often take significantly longer to recover than adults.
The Developing Brain is More Fragile:
A young brain is not simply a smaller version of an adult brain; it’s an active construction zone. This developmental stage makes it more vulnerable because:
- It’s Still Being Wired: The protective coating around nerve fibres (myelin) isn’t fully developed, making brain cells more sensitive to injury.
- Weaker Necks: Kids possess proportionally larger, heavier heads on weaker neck muscles, leading to a greater whiplash effect during an impact.
- High Energy Demand: A developing brain is an energy-hungry organ. The energy crisis triggered by a concussion can be more severe and take longer to resolve in children.
This means a child or teen with a concussion may experience more severe symptoms and require a much longer, more carefully managed recovery. The “return-to-learn” pressures of school must be thoughtfully balanced with their physical healing.
Myth 7: You Only Get a Concussion from a Direct Hit to the Head
The Myth: If you didn’t actually hit your head on something, you cannot have a concussion. This Concussion Myth often leads to under-diagnosis.
The Reality: Any force that causes the head to jolt violently can result in a concussion, including whiplash or a substantial hit to the body.
It’s All About Inertial Forces:
Remember, the injury occurs because the brain moves rapidly inside the skull. This does not require a direct impact. A classic example is whiplash in a car accident. Your head might never touch the headrest, but the violent forward-and-back snap is sufficient to slam your brain against your skull.
Similarly, a footy player who takes a massive hit to the chest can still sustain a concussion. The force travels up their body and jolts the head, causing the same internal brain motion. Looking for a bump or bruise on the head is an unreliable way to rule out a concussion.
Myth 8: Once Your Symptoms are Gone, You’re Fully Recovered
The Myth: As soon as your headache vanishes, your brain is fully healed, and you’re safe to return to sport. One of the most persistent Concussion Myths suggests this.
The Reality: The physiological recovery of the brain lags behind symptom recovery. Your brain can remain vulnerable for days or even weeks after you start to “feel” better.
The Silent Vulnerable Window:
This is a subtle but crucial concept. A period exists after your symptoms disappear when the brain is still struggling with its energy supply. Returning to contact sport during this “vulnerable window” is extremely dangerous.
A second, even minor, impact during this time can cause a much more severe injury with a dramatically longer recovery—a rare but catastrophic condition known as “Second Impact Syndrome.”
This is precisely why medically supervised, gradual return-to-play protocols are non-negotiable. These step-by-step procedures slowly reintroduce stress to the brain, enabling doctors to monitor for any subtle return of symptoms that signal the brain isn’t truly ready. Feeling good marks the first step in the return-to-play process, not the last. This is a critical factor in debunking Concussion Myths.
Myth 9: It’s Dangerous to Let Someone Sleep After a Concussion
The Myth: You must keep someone awake after a concussion, even waking them every hour during the night, to ensure they don’t slip into a coma. This is one of the oldest Concussion Myths.
The Reality: This is old-school advice. Sleep is absolutely essential for brain healing. Waking someone up is unnecessary unless a doctor has specifically identified red flags for a more serious injury.
Separating Concussion from a Brain Bleed:
This myth originates from a time when distinguishing between a simple concussion and a life-threatening brain bleed was difficult. With a bleed, a person’s level of consciousness can indeed decline rapidly, making constant monitoring vital.
Today, if there’s any suspicion of a structural injury, a hospital will promptly conduct a CT scan to rule it out. Once a major injury is excluded and the person is cleared by a medical professional, sleep becomes their best friend. Depriving an injured, exhausted brain of vital sleep can actually worsen headaches, irritability, and brain fog.
Myth 10: Concussions are a “Men’s Sport” Injury
The Myth: Concussions are an injury that primarily affects big blokes playing footy or rugby. This Concussion Myth overlooks important data.
The Reality: In sports played by both genders, such as soccer and basketball, female athletes sustain concussions at a higher rate than their male counterparts.
The Under-Recognised Female Concussion:
Study after study consistently shows that female athletes in comparable sports (like soccer, basketball, AFLW) suffer concussions 1.5 to 2 times more often than males. Research also indicates that their recovery patterns can differ. Potential reasons include:
- Neck Strength: Women, on average, have less neck muscle mass relative to their head size, which may allow for greater head acceleration after an impact.
- Hormones: Hormonal fluctuations during the menstrual cycle may influence the brain’s vulnerability and recovery process.
- Reporting: Some studies suggest women may be more open and honest in reporting their symptoms, whereas men might feel pressure to “tough it out.”
Furthermore, women may experience different symptom patterns, such as more migraine-like headaches and mood disturbances, and potentially face a longer recovery period. This means coaches, parents, and medical staff involved in women’s sport need to be especially vigilant and informed.
From Myth to Action: Your Plan
The way we understand concussion today is a world away from the “she’ll be right” attitude of the past. What we once dismissed as a “ding” we now confidently recognise as a complex brain injury that demands careful, active management. By understanding and dispelling these Concussion Myths, we create safer environments.
Empowering yourself with these facts can dramatically change an outcome. It can ensure a child receives the crucial support they need at school, prevent a player from returning to the field too soon, and guide someone towards the right rehabilitation to finally resolve their lingering dizziness or headache.
Your brain is your most precious asset. Never, ever underestimate a head injury.
Your Action Plan:
- RECOGNISE the signs—physical, thinking, and emotional.
- REMOVE from play. If in doubt, sit them out. No game is worth a lifetime of problems.
- REFER to a medical professional. Consult a GP, or a physiotherapist or sports doctor with up-to-date training in concussion management, for a proper assessment and a tailored recovery plan. Ready to take action? Book your appointment online today and start your journey to recovery.
By arming ourselves with knowledge, we can protect ourselves and the people we care about, ensuring this “invisible injury” finally receives the respect and proper care it truly deserves. Let’s work together to end the reign of Concussion Myths.
Medical Content Disclaimer: This information is for educational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice. Always seek the advice of a qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition.