Concussions

Concussion education for student athletes

If a student athlete suffers a concussion, he or she needs to make sure they get the appropriate medical treatment before returning to the playing field.

When can athletes return to play?

A student athlete should not resume any physical activities, including gym, exercise, practices or games, as long as his or her symptoms persist. If they experience any symptoms at all, during rest or physical activity, they are not well enough to return to play. Physical exertion should be increased gradually. The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) recommends following a step-by-step exertion protocol.

Do not move onto the next level until you are completely free of symptoms at the current level of activity.

Student athletes, learn more about the CDC recommendations >

Concussion education for parents

If your child has a concussion, you will not be able to see it, but you can observe changes in your child’s behavior. Consult your child’s doctor if you notice any of the following:

• Confusion about time and places
• Difficulty holding items
• Difficulty learning
• Easily tired or needs more sleep
• Forgetfulness
• Frequent loss of temper
• Impulsiveness
• Inattention
• Irritability
• Needing more time to get things done
• Restlessness
• Speech problems
• Vision or hearing problems

What do I do if I think my child has a concussion?

• Seek immediate medical attention
• Keep your child out of play
• Talk to your child’s coach
• Communicate with school staff

Parents, learn more about the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) recommendations >

Concussion education for coaches

Pre-season baseline testing can be crucial to the proper treatment of concussions. When given in the pre-season, the ImPACT™ test provides a measure of an athlete’s normal cognitive ability.

If an athlete suffers a concussion during the athletic season, the results of the post-concussion ImPACT™ test are compared against his or her pre-season test results to highlight cognitive deficiencies, determine the extent of the athlete’s injuries, and formulate a return-to-play treatment plan.

Learn more about ImPACT™ testing available at Atlantic Neuroscience Institute at Overlook Medical Center’s Concussion Center >

Coaches and athletic trainers, learn more about the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) recommendations for when an athlete has a concussion >

Concussion education for physicians

Children and teenagers who have sustained concussions need to be closely monitored. Attentive care from pediatricians and physicians can help keep them from suffering long-term, possibly permanent damage.

Who should be screened for concussions?

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), physicians should screen individuals who have been injured in:

• High-speed activities (car accidents)
• Sports and recreational activities
• Falls, especially from a significant distance
• Physical mistreatment
• Blast exposures (military personnel)

How do I determine when my patients can resume their normal activities?

According to the CDC, a patient should not undertake any activity that causes concussion symptoms to reemerge. Physical and mental rest are key components of recovery.

Clinicians can review detailed guidance here: CDC concussion return-to-activity recommendations

People can have a concussion without loss of consciousness. In fact, only about 10% of people who suffer concussions lose consciousness, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Concussions are the most common brain injury in sports. Each year in the United States, about 300,000 sports and recreation-related traumatic brain injuries are reported. Experts at the Centers for Disease Control believe that thousands more go unreported.

Recovery time varies from person-to-person, ranging from several minutes to days, weeks, months or even longer. Research suggests that children and adolescents need more time to recover from concussions than college students or professional athletes. If properly diagnosed and treated, individuals who suffer concussions will make a complete recovery. The best way to manage a concussion is to rest, limiting mental and physical exertion.

Concussion symptoms usually appear immediately, but can also develop several days after the injury and may be physical, cognitive, emotional or sleep-related in nature:

• Physical – headache, nausea, vomiting, balance problems, dizziness, visual problems, fatigue, sensitivity to light, sensitivity to noise, numbness and tingling
• Cognitive – feeling mentally “foggy,” feeling slowed down, difficulty concentrating, difficulty remembering, forgetful of recent events or conversations, confused about recent events, repeats questions
• Emotional – irritability, sadness, more emotional, nervousness
• Sleep-related – drowsiness, sleeping more than usual, sleeping less than usual, trouble falling asleep

It’s important to remember that even mild concussions can have significant negative results, and the effects of multiple mild traumatic brain injuries can be cumulative. Furthermore, ongoing headaches and other concussive symptoms may indicate an incomplete recovery.