Every year about 3.8 million concussions occur in the U.S. from sports-related injuries, making concussions a top concern for parents with children active in sports.
A concussion is a brain injury that can occur in any sport, not just traditional contact sports. They are caused by a blow to the head or body that causes the brain to move rapidly inside the skull. Even what seems to be a mild bump or blow to the head can be serious and if left untreated, can be dangerous.
Understanding concussions and recognizing the signs and symptoms of one can help ensure your athlete has a safe sports season.
Signs and symptoms of concussions
Recognizing the signs of a concussion is crucial for ensuring timely and appropriate medical care, which can prevent further injury and promote recovery. Concussion symptoms to look out for include:
- Balance problems.
- Blurred vision.
- Confusion or difficulty concentrating/remembering
- Dizziness.
- Drowsiness.
- Fatigue or low energy.
- Feeling slowed down or in a fog.
- Headache.
- Irritability.
- Nausea and/or vomiting.
- Neck pain.
- Nervous and/or anxious.
- Pressure in the head.
- Sadness.
- Sensitivity to light or noise.
- Trouble falling asleep.
Knowing these signs is important as concussions can have serious long-term effects on brain health if not properly managed.
How are concussions diagnosed?
A concussion assessment involves a cognitive and physical evaluation. Health care professionals will use a symptom severity score, orientation, immediate memory, delayed recall and concentration to evaluate a patient's cognition. Then, balance and coordination examinations are used to evaluate the athlete's physical status.
Signs and symptoms of a concussion can show up right after the injury or may not appear or be noticed until days or weeks afterward. If a concussion is suspected, even before ‘officially diagnosed’, the athlete should be removed from physical activity and should not return until properly assessed by a health care professional.
When to go to the emergency department?
If your school-age son or daughter has sustained a head injury, you should be especially observant and seek medical attention at the nearest emergency department right away if your child reports any of the following symptoms:
- Headache (especially one that increases in intensity)
- Seizure activity
- Nausea or vomiting
- Blurry or double vision
- Difference in pupil size from right to left eye, dilated pupils
- Slurred speech
- Decreased or irregular pulse or respiration
- Difficulty awakening or losing consciousness suddenly
When can an athlete return to sports?
Although it's hard to hold athletes back, concussions are serious injuries, and recovery should not be rushed. Full recovery time can vary from athlete to athlete and often involves physical therapy to help with post-concussion recovery.
While the athlete is recovering, a health care professional may grant the athlete a gradual return to non-contact activity as long as the activity:
- Does not put the athlete at risk of hitting his/her head.
- Does not elevate concussion symptoms.
Once the concussion symptoms have resolved completely, another evaluation should be completed by a health care professional. If no cognitive or physical deficits are identified, the athlete will be granted medical clearance to return to sport.
After the athlete is medically cleared, a gradual return to play protocol is highly recommended. If symptoms return at any stage, the athlete should immediately stop activity and speak to a health care professional.
Where to get care?
Good concussion care starts with an honest, open relationship between the student athlete and their coaches, coaching staff and parents. Many athletes can downplay their symptoms because they don't want to be pulled from participating in their sport. Building an open dialogue about the importance of concussion care is crucial to a student athlete's health and well-being.
When head injuries happen, it’s important to see a health care provider right away. Undiagnosed concussions can result in further damage. Do not attempt to judge the severity of a head injury alone. If you or someone you know has experienced a head injury, take them to your local urgent care location or emergency department.
