Concussion

What is a concussion?

A concussion is a type of traumatic brain injury—or TBI—caused by a bump, blow, or jolt to the head or by a hit to the body that causes the head and brain to move rapidly back and forth. This sudden movement can cause the brain to bounce around or twist in the skull, stretching and damaging the brain cells and creating chemical changes in the brain.

Red Flags:

For the first 24 – 48 hours, the following problems could arise.

The athlete should not be left alone and must go to a hospital at once if they:

Have a headache that gets worse
Are very drowsy or can’t be awakened
Can’t recognize people or places
Have repeated vomiting
Behave unusually or seem confused; are very irritable
Have seizures (arms and legs jerk uncontrollably)
Have weak or numb arms or legs
Are unsteady on their feet
Have slurred speech
Patient is repeating themselves

Remember, it is better to be safe. Consult your doctor or go directly to the nearest Emergency Department after a suspected concussion.

How Athletic Therapy Can Help?

Certified Athletic Therapists are highly trained professionals, who are specialized in the assessment and treatment of sports injuries, ie. concussions and can help ensure a safe and rapid return to play, work and/or school. We can help decrease general MTBI signs and symptoms, including physical, cognitive, emotional and autonomic (sleep and exercise).

In clinic and on the field we utilize the SCAT5 concussion assessment tool , which is a standardized tool for evaluating for a suspected concussion and can be used on individuals aged 13 years and older. http://scat5.cattonline.com/

The Child SCAT5 is utilized for children age 5-12 years old. http://childscat5.cattonline.com/

Physical: