Concussions
What is a concussion?
Concussion: A traumatic brain injury that alters the
way your brain functions. It occurs when a force
causes the brain to move rapidly back and forth
inside the skull.
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Athletes at Risk
Between 1.7 and 3
million sports- and
recreation-related
concussions happen
each year. Around
300,000 of those are
from football
Does an athlete need to lose
consciousness to experience a
concussion?
NO!
Signs and Symptoms of Concussions
(Some symptoms of concussions may delayed in onset by hours or days after injury)
⚫ Headache or pressure in the head
⚫ Temporary loss of consciousness
⚫ Confusion or feeling as if in a fog/ dazed
⚫ Memory loss (esp. surrounding the event)
⚫ Dizziness or "seeing stars"
⚫ Ringing in the ears
⚫ Nausea
⚫ Vomiting
⚫ Slurred speech
⚫ Delayed response to questions
⚫ Sensitivity to light
⚫ Fatigue
[Link]
SCAT-5
The SCAT-5, or Sports Concussion Assessment Tool, is
a standardized tool used to evaluate an athlete for a
concussion.
Part 1: On-Field Assessment
● Check for RED FLAGS (symptoms that indicate an emergency situation- neck
pain, double vision, tingling in extremities, severe headache, vomiting, etc))
● Note observable signs (how the athlete appears or looks)
● Assess immediate memory (questions about the game or what happened)
● Glasgow Coma Scale (check for eye responses, verbal responses and motor
responses)
● Cervical spine assessment (does the athlete have pain in the neck? If pain free,
can they move the neck?)
Part 2: Symptom Evaluation
● The athlete is asked to self-evaluate symptoms they may or may not be
experiencing on a scale of 0-6 (none to severe).
Part 3: Cognitive Screening
● Check for orientation (ask basic questions about day, month, year, time)
● Assess immediate memory using a series of words and numbers that the
athlete will repeat back
● Have athlete list the months in reverse order
Part 4: Neurological Screening
● Checking for range of motion in cervical spine as well as the athlete’s balance
and gait (walking)
● Finger to nose test (tests coordination)
Part 5: Delayed Recall
● The athlete is asked if they can recall any of the words that were read to them a
few minutes ago (in part 3) and to repeat as many as they can remember in any
order.
● Should be done after 5 minutes have elapsed since the end of the Immediate
Recall section (part 3).
A concussion is typically
short-lived.
Most people recover
within 7 to 14 days.
Once an athlete has
sustained a concussion, he or
she is at greater risk for
additional concussions.
Repeat concussions can have
long-term consequences, so
prevention is essential.
Recovery
Post Concussion Syndrome (PCS)
A set of symptoms that may continue beyond the
normal course of recovery (weeks, months, or a year
or more after a concussion).
Symptoms include:
⚫ Concentration and memory complaints
⚫ Irritability and other personality changes
⚫ Sensitivity to light and noise
⚫ Sleep disturbances
⚫ Psychological adjustment problems and depression
⚫ Disorders of taste and smell
When to Return…
⚫ Once free of symptoms, an athlete should gradually return to
physical and mental activity AFTER being cleared by a
doctor.
⚫ It is important to slowly return to daily activities because
being symptom-free does not mean the brain injury has fully
healed.
⚫ Diving back into activities as soon as symptoms have resolved
can bring them back on and require a return to complete rest.
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What are the dangers of returning too soon?
Puts an athlete at risk for:
⚫another concussion
⚫longer recovery time
⚫long-term problems, such as learning difficulties or
chronic headaches
Although it rarely happens, repeat concussions can cause
permanent brain damage and even death.
The Role of the Athletic Trainer
⚫ Many times they are the 1st to identify and evaluate
concussions on the playing field
⚫ Play an integral part in post-injury management and in
return to play (RTP) decision making.
If an athlete has a concussion…
⚫ It is imperative that an athlete is REMOVED FROM PLAY if
there is suspicion of a concussion.
⚫ The AT should ALSO:
1- record the time of the injury
2- document a series of tests, noting the presence or absence of
signs and symptoms (SCAT assessment)
3- monitor vital signs and level of consciousness every 5 minutes
after a concussion until the athlete's condition improves
Zac Lystedt Law
Prohibits the return to practice or game of a youth athlete
suspected of sustaining a concussion without a licensed
health-care provider's written approval.
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Treatment for Concussions
1. Take over-the-counter pain relievers such as Advil
or Tylenol for headaches
2. Rest (mental and physical)
3. Avoid sports or strenuous activity (guidelines
prescribe a progression through increasingly strenuous
activities as the student is able to manage and tolerate AFTER
they are cleared by a doctor)
Prevention
1. Wear a properly fitted helmet or safety equipment.
2. Follow safe playing techniques.
What is CTE?
[Link]