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What You Should Know
Sports Concussions: What You Should Know
What is a concussion?
A concussion is a mild brain injury. You do not need to lose consciousness to have a concussion.
What are the signs and symptoms?
Thinking Symptoms
- Poor attention/concentration
- Problems remembering
- Difficulty following conversation
- Answers questions slowly
- Asks same question repeatedly
- Mentally foggy
Physical Symptoms
- Headaches
- Vacant stare
- Appears dazed or stunned
- Dizziness
- Clumsiness/balance problems
- Fuzzy/blurry vision
- Sleeps more or less than usual
- Appears fatigued, tired, or sleepy
- Vomiting/nausea
Emotional Symptoms
- Nervousness/anxiety
- Sad
- Irritability
- Personality changes
- Plays less
Athletes themselves are not necessarily the most reliable reporters of symptoms. It is important to be observant of symptoms that may not be evident to the athlete or not reported by them.
What are the risks of prematurely returning to play?
- Increased vulnerability to re-injury: 75% of repeat concussions occur within the first seven days.
- A second injury to the brain before it heals from prior injury may result in serious or even fatal injury as a result of rapid brain swelling. This occurs almost exclusively in teens.
How do I assess on the field? When is it safe to return?
Ask yourself, “Do I have the expertise to do this assessment?” If not, consult your physician and/or experts in brain injury.
What can I do to reduce the risk of serious injury?
- Do not allow the athlete to return to play if there are any observed or reported symptoms.
- Spread the word–a “ding” or “getting your bell rung” means you’ve had a brain injury.
- Put athlete safety first. Educate others to encourage reporting and increase awareness.
Important But Little-Known Facts:
- Loss of consciousness occurs only in a small percentage of individuals who sustain a concussion.
- Premature exertion can prolong recovery and worsen the outcome.
- Headaches indicate incomplete recovery.
- Amnesia may be a better predictor of severity of injury than loss of consciousness.
- Children and teens may be more vulnerable than collegiate or adult athletes.
- More than one million children sustain a mild brain trauma/concussion each year.
If an injury occurs, report to the nearest urgent care center or emergency department. For more information, call 301-790-8025.
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