Concussion Management

            A concussion is a brain injury!  A concussion is a rapid onset, but short lived impairment of the brain caused by a direct blow or jolt to the head.  The use of the term “ding” or “bell ringer” generally carries a connotation that diminishes the seriousness of the injury.  If an athlete shows any concussion-like signs and reports symptoms after a contact to the head, the athlete has, at the very least, sustained a mild concussion and should be treated for a concussion.  An athlete should seek a medical professional (Physician or Athletic Trainer) immediately after sustaining the injury and showing any signs and symptoms.  If signs and symptoms deteriorate, this may indicate a more serious head injury.  The athlete should be monitored every five minutes after sustaining the injury and for the first 24 hours. 

Signs

Did the athlete lose consciousness?

Was the athlete unresponsive?
Was the athlete’s balance severely affected?

Was there any behavior that was out of the ordinary for that particular athlete?

Headache

Neck pain

Nausea

Vision/hearing problems

Difficulty concentrating/recalling

Confused or dazed

Slow or slurred speech

Balance or coordination problems

Memory problems

Drowsiness

Sensitivity to sound or light

Ringing in the ears

Unequal/ dilated/ constricted pupils

Grading Scale (According to the American Academy Of Neurology)

Grade 1 (mild) – Transient confusion, no loss of consciousness, symptoms and mental status abnormalities resolve within 15 minutes.

Grade 2 (moderate) - Transient confusion, no loss of consciousness, symptoms and mental status abnormalities last more than 15 minutes.

Grade 3 (severe) – Any loss of consciousness

Home Care Following Concussion

            ●Supervise and monitored by a responsible adult after concussion for the first 24 hours

            ●Athlete should rest, but resume normal activities of daily living as tolerated while avoiding activities that potentially increase symptoms

            ●Avoid taking medications except acetaminophen.  NO ASPIRIN!

            ●Eat a well-balanced diet

            ●Wake athlete during the night to check on deteriorating signs and symptoms.\

            **Call your family physician or go to the emergency room immediately if any signs or symptoms progressively get worse.

Prevention

Proper helmet fitting

Proper technique

Proper return to play

Proper mouthpiece

Return To Play

An athlete must NEVER return to play with any signs or symptoms of a concussion on the same day of the injury.  There is an increased risk of another concussion or a more severe concussion if an athlete returns to play too soon.  Multiple concussions can cause accumulating damage.  There are a couple of stages for return to play protocol:

            1.  Physical and mental rest until asymptomatic

            2.  Light Aerobic exercise (stationary bike)

            3.  Sport Specific exercise

            4.  Non-contact training drills

            5.  Full contact after cleared by physician or athletic trainer

            6.  Return to Play

            *If symptoms return at any time during return to play, athlete should take themselves out of the activity.

Remember

“It is better to miss one game than the entire season.”

“when in doubt – sit’em out!”

If you have any questions regarding concussions or any injuries, please call Brian Bernasconi anytime at 624-3483 or 222-7913.