Skip to main content

Military Health System

Test of Sitewide Banner

This is a test of the sitewide banner capability. In the case of an emergency, site visitors would be able to visit the news page for addition information.

On National Concussion Awareness Day, Learn the Truth about TBI

Image of A mountain biker wearing a helmet bikes through hard terrain. On a monthly average, more than 1,000 service members are diagnosed with a first-time concussion. Most of them happen during recreational or routine training activities (Photo by: Senior Airman Chance Nardone, 52nd Fighter Wing Public Affairs, Mehring, RP, Germany)

Some service members might call a hard hit to the head having your bell rung, getting knocked out, or seeing stars. Your doctor calls it something else: a traumatic brain injury.

National Concussion Day is Sept. 16, bringing awareness to TBIs, signs and symptoms, the impact to the military community, and how to get help. 

A TBI is the disruption of normal brain function caused by a jolt or blow to the head, and the military population is especially susceptible. Nearly 459,000 service members worldwide were diagnosed with a first-time TBI from 2000 through the first quarter of 2022, according to the Traumatic Brain Injury Center of Excellence, which tracks multiple TBI-related data points for the Department of Defense. Concussion—also known as mild TBI—accounts for over 80% of these injuries, making it by far the most common type of active-duty TBI. 

A diagnosis of TBI requires a medical exam. With a population that has volunteered to put their lives on the line to protect and defend, it may be tempting to prioritize the mission over medicine, downplaying or ignoring any symptoms. 

Retired Marine Corps Capt. William Greeson, who was treated for brain injury at the end of a long military career, says this attitude is especially true for what he calls “military alphas.”

“[Their attitude is] ‘I’m going to go out front, I’m going to lead, I’m going to get it done, and we'll talk about this later,’” he said. “And then later never comes.”

The team at TBICoE believes that later should come sooner. In addition to researching TBI in service members and veterans, TBICoE provides training in the condition’s diagnosis, prevention, and treatment. Regional education coordinators, who are embedded in TBI rehabilitation and research facilities across the DOD and the Department of Veterans Affairs, offer educational programs for military medical providers, service members, veterans, families, and caregivers.

On National Concussion Awareness Day, there’s no better time to test your knowledge about the most common type of TBI. Can you separate fact from fiction in the following statements? 

Concussions only happen on the battlefield.

False. About 8% of active-duty concussions are from battle injuries, and only 20% happen during deployment. The rest are sustained while doing things like playing contact sports, participating in military training, or crashing a vehicle.

You don’t have to get “knocked out” to have a concussion. 

True. Concussions temporarily change how the brain works. This can be a brief loss of consciousness. More often, consciousness is altered, such as, being dazed or seeing stars, or unaffected.

You can have a concussion even without a blow to the head. 

True. A concussion may be caused by a sudden increase or decrease in speed, even if the head doesn’t strike anything. For example, the external forces present in cases of whiplash or blast injury may be strong enough to shake the brain, causing it to hit the skull and leading to potential damage. 

If you don’t have a headache, you’re fine. 

False. A headache is the most common symptom of concussion, but it’s just one of many. Concussion symptoms can be physical, cognitive, or emotional, causing a wide variety of issues such as irritability, fatigue, balance difficulties, sleep disturbance, dizziness, ringing in the ears, blurred vision, and concentration or memory difficulties. Some symptoms are warrant a trip to your local emergency department. These include:

  • Worsening headaches
  • Slurred speech or difficulty speaking
  • Unsteadiness on feet
  • Seizures
  • Double or blurred vision
  • Weakness or numbness anywhere in your body
  • Decreasing level of alertness
  • Disorientation (not knowing where you are, difficulty recognizing people or places)
  • Any unusual behavior (such as increased aggression, anger, irritability, or crying)
  • Repeated vomiting
  • Feeling that something "just isn't right" 

Symptoms of a concussion appear immediately after the injury.

 False. Concussion symptoms can start immediately after the injury—or gradually over the next 48 hours. The good news is that they often resolve within days or weeks.  

Common Symptoms of Concussion
Symptoms of concussion, or mild TBI, can be cognitive, emotional, and physical. (Photo by: The Traumatic Brain Injury Center of Excellence)

You Can Recover from TBI 

Most people fully recover from a concussion, particularly if it’s their first. Service members can usually return to full duty in 2–4 weeks.

However, the time it takes to heal depends on the individual, the nature of the injury, any history of concussions or migraines, and associated conditions such post-traumatic stress disorder, depression, anxiety, and substance-use disorder. 

You should seek medical care and follow your doctor’s progressive return to activity guidance because a concussion can impact memory, concentration, coordination, reaction time, and other areas—that may affect job performance or unit readiness and safety. This is also why you must be medically cleared before picking up that basketball or your car keys. Otherwise, symptoms like dizziness, balance problems, and fatigue can put you at risk of re-injury. 

Visit TBICoE for more information about all types of TBI, as well as provider resources and support for service members, veterans, families, and caregivers. Watch real stories of recovery and hope through A Head for the Future, TBICoE’s TBI awareness initiative. 

You also may be interested in...

PRA Training Video 4: PRA Progression Criteria

Video
7/22/2021
PRA Training Video 4: PRA Progression Criteria

In this lesson, we review the criteria for advancing through the stages of the Progressive Return to Activity (PRA) Clinical Recommendation. Each video in the PRA training series is designed to support primary care providers' ability to manage concussion/traumatic brain injury (TBI).

MHS Minute March 2021

Video
4/1/2021
MHS Minute March 2021

March marked Brain Injury Awareness month in the military. We're spotlighting efforts across the MHS to combat Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI), and better understand how TBI impacts our Service members. For more information about the National Intrepid Center of Excellence (NICoE), go to walterreed.tricare.mil/NICoE For more info on the Traumatic Brain Injury Center of Excellence (TBICoE), go to Health.mil/TBICoE

Traumatic Brain Injury Awareness

Video
3/8/2021
Traumatic Brain Injury Awareness

A TBI is a blow or jolt to the brain that can be life-altering if the symptoms are not recognized. If you or a loved one experience the symptoms mentioned in this video, speak to a health care professional for more information.

Progressive Return to Activity After Concussion Video

Video
2/25/2021
Progressive Return to Activity After Concussion Video

The PRA is an evidence-based, easy-to-use approach to help providers return service members with mild TBIs back to duty safely. TBICoE researchers have found that, if medical providers completed a two-hour, in-person training on the use of the PRA, their patients saw an overall reduction in symptoms after one week, one month, and three months, when compared to patients treated by providers who had not received the training.

Sleep and TBI

Video
2/8/2021
Sleep and TBI

Sleep disturbances are common for service members and veterans following a mild TBI, also known as concussion.

MACE 2 Provider Training Video

Video
9/29/2020
MACE 2 Provider Training Video

This video illustrates how to conduct a Military Acute Concussion Evaluation 2 (MACE 2) training event. This video supports the MACE 2 and its training materials created by the Traumatic Brain Injury Center of Excellence (TBICoE).

TBI Awareness: Memorial Box

Video
3/27/2015
TBI Awareness: Memorial Box

US Army Sgt Fox explains how his memorial box has helped him heal and remember meaningful events and people in his life.

Dr. Heechin Chae on The Mystery of the Brain

Video
3/23/2015
Dr. Heechin Chae on The Mystery of the Brain

Traumatic brain injury expert, Dr. Heechin Chae speaks on the mystery of the brain.

Army Sgt. R. Fox

Video
3/19/2015
Army Sgt. R. Fox

Army Sgt. Robert Fox describes his challenges with PTSD and how art therapy has helped him.

The Benefits of Art Therapy

Video
3/19/2015
The Benefits of Art Therapy

Art therapist Jackie Biggs describes why art therapy is an effective method of treatment for TBI and PTSD.

The Mask

Video
3/19/2015
The Mask

Marine Sgt. Jorden Smith describes his therapy mask

Marine Sgt. Jorden Smith Pt. 2

Video
3/18/2015
Marine Sgt. Jorden Smith Pt. 2

USMC Sgt. Jorden Smith discusses art therapy for treating traumatic brain injury and post-traumatic stress disorder

Art Therapist, Jackie Biggs

Video
3/18/2015
Art Therapist, Jackie Biggs

Art therapist, Jackie Biggs discusses how art therapy helps TBI patients.

Marine Sgt. Jorden Smith Pt. 1

Video
3/17/2015
Marine Sgt. Jorden Smith Pt. 1

USMC Sgt. Jorden Smith discusses art therapy for treating traumatic brain injury and post-traumatic stress disorder

Page 2 of 2 , showing items 16 - 29
First < 1 2 > Last 
Refine your search
Last Updated: September 16, 2022
Follow us on Instagram Follow us on LinkedIn Follow us on Facebook Follow us on Twitter Follow us on YouTube Sign up on GovDelivery