Patient-Centered Concussion Care Begins Here
A concussion is a mild traumatic brain injury that interferes with normal brain function. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that there are 300,000 sports concussions among children and adolescents each year in the United States. A concussion is usually caused by a blow to the head but may occur with a whiplash injury or when the head strikes the ground. Only about 5-10% of people are knocked unconscious with a concussion. Most are confused, dazed, or complain of a headache.
The past decade has seen a revolution in the management of sports-related concussions. What was once considered a relatively benign condition is now recognized as a critical medical issue with distressing, potentially permanent consequences.
Slocum’s Sports Concussion Program
Ensuring the Safety of All Athletes
Our Sports Concussion Program at Slocum Center for Orthopedics & Sports Medicine offers a comprehensive approach to the evaluation of sports-related concussions in youth, high school, and collegiate athletes. We have developed a program that emphasizes the significance of recognizing and properly diagnosing sports-related concussions. We also design individualized Return to Activity Plans to allow for a safe return to sports and other activities following a concussion.
Our Sports Concussion Program has four distinct and important components to ensure the safety of all athletes.
Education
Not all sports-related concussions can be prevented, but the risk may be lessened through proper tackling techniques and following the rules of good sportsmanship. Our physicians are actively involved in educating athletic trainers, primary care physicians, athletes, and coaches in concussion prevention and recognition.
Recognition
The key to proper management of a sports concussion is the early recognition of the concussed athlete by certified athletic trainers in our high schools when possible. Coaches, teammates, officials, and parents must be able to recognize the subtle signs of a concussion as well, and a proper diagnosis should be made by a physician.
Decision
Neuropsychological testing plays an important role in the decision of when an athlete is ready to return to play. An athlete who returns too quickly to normal activities may have a prolonged concussion recovery time and an increased risk for another concussion.
Evaluation
We use a variety of tools to evaluate the presence of concussions in athletes and monitor the resolution of symptoms to determine when they can safely return to school and sports, including a thorough history and neurologic assessment, neuropsychological testing, balance assessment, and more.
The neuropsychological test we use to evaluate cognitive function is called ImPACT. Through ImPACT, we can evaluate, document, and measure various brain functions, including memory, processing speed, reaction time, and symptoms. With proper medical care and neuropsychological testing, our physicians can determine when an athlete has recovered from a concussion and can safely return to sports.
The concussion experts
Frequently Asked Questions
What Is a Concussion?
A concussion is a brain injury in which trauma to the head results in a temporary disruption of normal brain function. The injury occurs when a person’s brain is violently rocked back and forth or twisted inside the skull due to a direct or indirect force. A concussion disturbs brain activity and should be handled as a serious injury. Proper healing and recovery time following a concussion are crucial in preventing further injury.
What happens if an athlete doesn’t fully recover from a concussion before returning to normal activities?
Athletes who are not fully recovered from an initial concussion are significantly vulnerable to recurrent, cumulative, and even catastrophic consequences of a second concussive injury. Such difficulties are prevented if the athlete is allowed time to recover from a concussion and if return-to-play decisions are carefully made. No athlete should return to sport or other at-risk participation when symptoms of a concussion are present, and recovery is ongoing. In summary, the best way to prevent difficulties with a concussion is to manage the injury properly when it occurs.
What Are the Symptoms of a Concussion?
A concussion may present multiple symptoms. Many symptoms appear immediately after the injury, while others can develop over the following days or weeks. The symptoms may be subtle and are often difficult to fully recognize. It is not unusual for symptoms to worsen with physical activity. In many cases, even simple things, such as going to school or reading a book, may worsen symptoms.
Some common symptoms include:
- Headache
- Difficulty concentrating
- Easily confused
- Slowed thought processes
- Difficulty with memory
- Nausea
- Lack of energy, fatigue
- Dizziness, poor balance, lightheadedness
- Blurred vision
- Sensitivity to light and sound
- Poor sleep
- Mood changes (irritable, anxious, or sad)
ATHLETES SHOULD NOT RETURN TO PLAY UNTIL SYMPTOM-FREE
What Should Be Done When an Athlete Has Suffered a Concussion?
All athletes who sustain a concussion need a medical evaluation by a physician. If the concussed athlete is vomiting, suffering a severe headache, having difficulty staying awake, or answering simple questions, he or she should be taken to a local emergency department.
Call (541) 485-8111 to make an appointment to see Michael C. Koester, MD, ATC, sports medicine specialist and director of Slocum Center’s Sports Concussion Program.
Diagnostic testing, which includes CT and MRI, may be needed. While these are helpful in identifying life-threatening brain injuries, such as a skull fracture, hematoma, or a contusion, they are typically normal even in athletes who have sustained a severe concussion.
How Long Do the Symptoms of a Concussion Usually Last?
The symptoms of a concussion will usually go away within 5 to 7 days of the initial injury. However, in some cases, symptoms may last for several weeks or even months. Symptoms such as headaches, memory problems, poor concentration, and mood changes can interfere with school, work, and social interactions. The potential for such long-term symptoms indicates the need for careful management of all concussions.
How Many Concussions Can an Athlete Have Before He or She Should Stop Playing Sports?
There is no “magic number” of concussions that determines when an athlete should give up playing contact or collision sports. The circumstances surrounding each individual injury, such as the mechanism of injury and length of symptoms following the concussion, are very important and must be considered when assessing an athlete’s risk for further, and potentially more serious, concussions. The decision to “retire” from sports can only be reached following a thorough review of the athlete’s concussion history, coupled with a thorough and frank discussion between the treating physician and the athlete and his or her parents.
Neuropsychological Program
In conjunction with the Concussion Program, the Neuropsychological Program at the Slocum Center for Orthopedics & Sports Medicine offers a comprehensive approach to the mental, emotional, and biological aspects of brain injuries through the evaluation and early management of sports-related concussions in youth, high school, and college athletes. We have developed a program that emphasizes the significance of recognizing, properly diagnosing, and managing sports-related concussions. We then design an individualized Return-to-Activity Plan to allow for safe return to school, sports, and other activities.
