Preventing, Managing, and Rehabilitating Concussions

Every year over 1 million athletes are treated for traumatic brain injury. Athletes who play contact sports are especially at risk for these injuries, as are those ages 5-18, who account for 65 percent of all brain injuries in the emergency room.

Sometimes, concussions can be difficult to diagnose. Some symptoms may appear right away, while others may not be noticed for hours, days or even months following an injury. Symptoms may include, difficulty thinking clearly, irritability, headaches or a feeling of pressure int he head, blurry vision, balance problems, and trouble falling asleep.

The long-term effects of concussions are not fully known. It is generally accepted that multiple concussions may lead to long-term memory loss, psychiatric disorders and other neurologic disorders. More importantly, sustaining additional head trauma, while not fully recovered from concussion, can be life threatening. This is commonly referred to as second-impact syndrome.

So how can an athlete’s risk of concussion be reduced? There are several steps that can help decrease your risk of concussion:

1. Know the signs and symptoms of a concussion and respond quickly and appropriately
2. Teach and practice safe, proper sport techniques
3. Encourage sportsmanship and insist that safety rules be followed
4. Wear proper protective equipment for your sport

Those who want to be even more proactive in protecting their brain from traumatic injury can take advantage of new state-of-the-art testing technology designed to help athletes susceptible to concussions. ImPACT™ is a computer-based program that tests multiple aspects of brain function. Athletes, especially those involved in contact sports, should have a test before their season begins, to establish a baseline neurocognitive test. If they sustain a head injury, athletes should then be retested. Comparing the two tests gives athletic trainers, physicians and other health care professionals a comparison to determine if it is safe for the athlete to return to play.

+ Learn more about Concussion Management and Rehabilitation.
+ Find an ImPACT™ Neurocognitive Testing location near you!