The Hidden Impact of Concussion

A concussion is often called a “mild” traumatic brain injury, but there is nothing mild about its potential impact. Every day, people sustain concussions from sports, falls, motor vehicle accidents, work injuries, and everyday activities. Yet many never seek medical attention, and countless others are misdiagnosed or told to simply “rest it off.” Because symptoms can be subtle or delayed, concussions frequently go unrecognized, allowing individuals to continue working, playing, or attending school while their brains are still recovering. Early recognition and appropriate management can make a meaningful difference in recovery.

The numbers tell a remarkable story. Globally, traumatic brain injuries affect an estimated 27 million new people each year, making them one of the leading causes of disability worldwide.¹ In the United States alone, traumatic brain injury results in more than 214,000 hospitalizations annually, but these statistics capture only a fraction of the true burden, because many concussions are treated in urgent care clinics, primary care offices, and athletic settings, or never evaluated at all.² Recent research summarizing CDC surveillance data suggests that traditional healthcare-based tracking methods dramatically underestimate how often concussions actually occur, missing a large share of cases entirely.² This gap in diagnosis means that millions of individuals may not receive the education, monitoring, and treatment they need.

Awareness is the first step toward better outcomes. A concussion is more than a bump on the head, it is a brain injury that deserves careful evaluation and individualized care. Through this weekly blog, we’ll separate myths from science, explore the latest research, and provide practical information to help patients, families, athletes, healthcare professionals, and the community better understand concussion. Because when concussion is recognized early and treated appropriately, recovery doesn’t just happen; it can be optimized.

About the Author

Shan Patel, PsyD, is a neuropsychologist and concussion specialist who completed his fellowship through the UPMC Sports Medicine Concussion Program. He is the Owner and CEO of the Patel Concussion Institute (PCI), a telehealth-based practice serving patients nationally via PSYPACT, and serves as Clinical Director of the University Orthopedic Care Concussion Program and Integrative Behavioral Health Program, overseeing operations across 14 hospital-based clinics.

References

1. GBD 2019 Traumatic Brain Injury Collaborators. Global, regional and national burden of traumatic brain injury and spinal cord injury, 1990–2019: a systematic analysis for the Global Burden of Disease Study 2019. BMJ Open. 2023;13:e075049.

2. Daugherty J, et al. Summary of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Traumatic Brain Injury–Related Surveillance and Self-Reported Concussion Data. Journal of Head Trauma Rehabilitation. 2025.

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