Doctors usually suspect a concussion after a player takes a hard hit, bangs his or her head, and either loses consciousness for a moment or appears to be dizzy or confused. After a head injury, someone could appear to be healthy for several hours or days, unaware that bleeding and swelling may be occurring inside the head. Doctors will often take scans to make sure the silent problems are not building up. A football helmet protects the head from a lot of the shock the head suffers during a tackle. Falling in a way that protects the head so it does not hit the turf is important, too.
Quarterbacks often try to avoid being tackled by running out of bounds or passing the ball.
But hard hits are part of football, and Aikman may now have to retire in order to prevent further concussions. He has told reporters that the decision is based on how much he still wants to play and whether he feels he can still perform at the professional level. Doctors and trainers will watch how well Aikman can snap back from this concussion. In addition to being able to do the things like throw and run, they will have to watch how well he can think, remember things, focus his attention, and speak. They will need to check his balance, strength, and emotional well-being as well.