CONCUSSION IN SPORTS. Corona del Sol High School Athletics

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Joshua Thornton
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1 CONCUSSION IN SPORTS Corona del Sol High School Athletics

2 WHAT IS A CONCUSSION? A concussion is a brain injury All concussions are serious Can occur in any sport Can occur without loss of consciousness Recognition and proper management of concussions when they first occur can help prevent further injury or even death. Even a ding, getting your bell rung, or what seems to be a mild bump or blow to the head can be serious

3 WHAT IS A CONCUSSION?

4 CONCUSSION FACTS One in 10 athletes Approximately 38 million boys and girls play organized sports 3.8 million reported sports-related concussions Most sports- and recreation-related concussions seen in ERs (65%) occur in youth 5-18 Even mild concussions may impair thinking and memory, and cause emotional and behavioral changes ER visits increased 62% in nonfatal traumatic brain injuries between 2001 and 2009

5 CONCUSSION FACTS Collegiate & High School FB players who have had at least one concussion are at an increased risk for another concussion Athletes who have sustained 2 concussions have nearly 3x greater risk; those who have sustained 3+ concussions have a 3.5x higher risk Second Impact Syndrome A repeat concussion that occurs before the brain recovers from the first usually within a short period of time (hours, days, weeks) reportedly can result in brain swelling, permanent brain damage, and even death

CONCUSSION FACTS A concussed athlete should not be returned to athletic participation on the day of the injury Once a concussion diagnosis has been made, the athlete should

6 CONCUSSION FACTS A concussed athlete should not be returned to athletic participation on the day of the injury Once a concussion diagnosis has been made, the athlete should undergo a daily focused exam to monitor course of recovery More than 50% of high school athletes & 70% of collegiate athletes did not report concussions sustained in football

7 SYDNEY S STORY

8 SIGNS & SYMPTOMS OF A CONCUSSION Cognitive Physical Emotional Sleep Difficulty thinking clearly Headache Visual problems Irritability Drowsiness Feeling slowed down Nausea/ vomiting Dizziness Sadness Sleeping more than usual Difficulty concentrating Answers questions slowly Sensitivity to noise or light Balance problems More emotional Sleeping less than usual Difficulty remembering new information Fatigue, having no energy Nervousness or anxiety Trouble falling asleep Confused about recent information Numbness/ tingling

9 SIGNS & SYMPTOMS OF A CONCUSSION Signs Observed by Others Appears dazed, stunned Forgets instructions Moves clumsily Answers questions slowly Loses consciousness Behavior, personality changes Can t recall events prior to hit/fall Can t recall events after to hit/fall Symptoms Reported by the Athlete Headache Nausea/ vomiting Balance problems Dizziness Sensitivity to light, noise Feeling sluggish, foggy Concentration problems Confusion

10 LOSS OF CONSCIOUSNESS Historically pivotal event in the grading of concussion severity & return to play Today recent literature reviews fail to support loss of consciousness as a predictor in either concussion severity or return to play timeframe YOU DO NOT HAVE TO LOSE CONSCIOUSNESS TO HAVE A CONCUSSION

11 SUSPECT A CONCUSSION? Immediate removal from play Coaches, ATs, Parents, Teachers, Physicians work together to support the athlete And athletes support and look out for each other Physicians and Athletic Trainers work together to make return to play (RTP) decision Will use gradual RTP plan Will use cognitive testing for contact sports

12 COGNITIVE TESTING Gaining recognition as a valuable tool to access cognitive impairment in post concussive athlete Baseline and After-Injury tests Baseline: benchmark for comparison Recommended every year After-Injury: taken post-injury when other symptoms have resolved

13 TODAY, WE KNOW Most mildly concussed athletes: Recover cognitive function in 5-10 days More severe concussions: May take 1-3 months to resolve cognitive function Recovery of cognitive function does not parallel recovery from physical and emotional symptoms Cognitive function usually lags behind physical symptoms

14 TODAY, WE KNOW Best to evaluate athletes in post-concussive period for cognitive, physical, and emotional signs and symptoms Cognitive testing aids the identification of persistent cognitive impairment Clinical exam and attention to history important in evaluating physical and emotional dysfunction

15 AFTER INJURY RISK In a concussion, the Athlete s brain is damaged Healing time and rest required for recovery Affects thinking May consider postponing academic activities (exams, placement tests) If RTP too soon Exacerbate condition longer recovery time Affects academics and sports participation Risk second-impact syndrome

16 RECOMMENDED ACTIONS Manage athlete s cognitive health along with physical and emotional health Complete annual baseline test Suspected Concussion? Immediate removal from play Consult with medical providers (AT, physician) about recuperation, and return to school and return to play decisions Complete an after-injury test to aid in RTP decisions

17 MORE INFORMATION Centers for Disease Control & Prevention Traumatic brain injury ImPACT Cognitive testing sportslegacy.org nata.org azsportsconcussion.org

18 MORE INFORMATION Athletic Training Parent Handbook About athletic training Guidelines & Operations Injury prevention Rules & Regulations Sample forms

2017 Youth Soccer Program

Central Klickitat County Parks and Recreation District 2017 Youth Soccer Program For girls and boys ages 4 14 Age division will be determined by child s date of birth on July 31, 2017 Registration forms