| |
|
|
| |
|
|
| |
Keep your head in the game
Children’s National helps young athletes recognize, prevent, and treat concussions
As the school sports season continues, it’s important to know what to do to help keep kids injury free. Unlike a broken bone or a cut, concussions, also known as mild traumatic brain injuries (mTBI), can be hard to recognize.
Concussions are caused by a blow to the head. Even a “ding,” “getting your bell rung,” or a mild bump to the head can be serious. Signs and symptoms of concussion can show up right after the injury or may not appear or be noticed until days or weeks after the injury. It is estimated that as many as 3.8 million sports and recreation-related concussions occur in the United States each year.
World-renowned traumatic brain injury expert, Gerard Gioia, PhD, chief of Neuropsychology at Children’s National Medical Center and director of the Safe Concussion Outcome, Recovery and Education (SCORE) Program, has published a report on a successful concussion management program based on his pioneering work in concussion management in children. Dr. Gioia’s “Ten Steps” to a Successful Concussion Management Process are detailed in the latest edition of Brain Injury Professional (Vol. 4, Issue 4, pp14-15).
Dr. Gioia has partnered with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) initiative, to create “Heads Up: Concussion in Youth Sports.” This initiative offers information about concussions to coaches, parents, and athletes involved in youth sports. From that toolkit, here are some tips about recognizing and preventing concussions:
How to know if a young athlete has a concussion:
Unlike a cut or a bruise, a concussion can’t be seen. Symptoms may appear minutes, hours, or days after receiving a blow to the head. If you suspect a concussion, see your healthcare provider as soon as possible. An undiagnosed concussion can lead to learning/comprehension problems and further brain damage.
Signs (things that you can see) that a young athlete may have sustained a concussion:
- He/she appears stunned or dazed
- He/she is confused or forgetful about events, past or present
- He/she answers questions slowly
- He/she repeats questions
Symptoms of a concussion:
Physical:
- Nausea or vomiting
- Balance problems or dizziness
- Double or fuzzy vision
- Sensitivity to light or noise
- Headache
- Fatigue
- Numbness/Tingling
Cognitive:
- Feeling sluggish
- Feeling foggy or groggy
- Concentration or memory problems (forgetting game plays)
- Confusion
Emotional:
- Irritability
- Sadness
- More emotional than usual
- Nervousness
What to do if a young athlete received a concussion:
- Remove the athlete from play.
- Ensure the athlete is evaluated immediately by an appropriate healthcare professional.
- Allow the athlete to return to play only with permission from a healthcare professional with experience in evaluating concussions.
Visit http://www.cdc.gov/ConcussionInYouthSports to order or download the toolkit or to order additional fact sheets.
|
|
|
|
|
|
