Notre Dame of Maryland University Athletics Concussion Management Protocol Neuropsychological (NP) Baseline Testing: All NCAA sports will utilize baseline NP testing. All athletes will receive baseline testing using the SCAT 3 and King Devick Test before their first season of participation in Notre Dame of Maryland athletics. Following their first season of participation, any athlete who experienced a concussion during the season will re-take their baseline NP testing prior to their next season of participation. 1. Notre Dame of Maryland Department of Athletics, its athletic training staff, and its team physician will require student-athletes to sign statements in which student-athletes accept the responsibility for reporting their injuries and illnesses to the sports medicine staff, including signs and symptoms of concussions (Injury and Illness Reporting Acknowledgement Form; and Athlete Concussion Statement). During the review and signing process student-athletes will be provided with educational material on concussions (NCAA Concussion Fact Sheet). 2. Notre Dame of Maryland Department of Athletics, its athletic training staff, and its team physician will require all coaches to sign a statement in which they take responsibility for reporting any observed or reported signs and symptoms of concussion (Injury and Illness Reporting Acknowledgement Form Coaches; and Coaches Concussion Statement). During the review and signing process student-athletes will be provided with educational material on concussions (NCAA Concussion Fact Sheet). NP Testing: All athletes suffering a concussion will retake NP testing prior to full clearance back to competitive sport. The timeline that the testing is performed may vary. Typically NP testing will be performed after the patient is asymptomatic. There are some cases, when directed by the team physician, that NP testing should be repeated earlier to help document severity of injury. In difficult or inconclusive cases, the evaluation by other formalized NP testing or additional expert consultation may be utilized when directed by the team physician. Sideline assessment of injury: The King Devick Test and SCAT 3 will be used to assess injury on the field. 1. If a concussion occurs: Physical examination and assessment of concussion symptoms by medical staff (athletic trainer, physician assistant and/or physician). If an athlete is experiencing worsening symptoms, especially worsening headache, nausea or vomiting, increased confusion, garbled speech, lethargy or extreme sleepiness, trouble using their arms or legs, convulsions or seizure activity, the student-athlete should be transported immediately via ambulance to the emergency room. Any athlete with neck pain should be treated as if a cervical spine injury is present, and the appropriate emergency procedures (see NDM athletics emergency action plan).
If no athletic trainer is available, and the athlete has minimal symptoms, contact the athletic trainer to determine a plan for evaluation of the athlete. For away contests when the athletic trainer is not available, the host institutions medical staff should be utilized and the coach should notify the Notre Dame of Maryland University athletic trainer. If an athletic trainer is on site and the student athlete is stable medically, the King Devick Test and the Sports Concussion Assessment Tool (SCAT 3) should be administered by the athletic trainer for the evaluation of the injured athlete. If the athletic trainer is on site and the assessment is concussion, the athlete cannot return to play the same day. If the athlete is evaluated by the team physician and/or other clinician and the diagnosis is concussion, the athlete cannot return to play the same day. Return to play protocol: The athlete may begin the return to play protocol when cleared by the team physician or by team physician designee in consultation with the team physician. Differences between sports will exist when participating in sports specific drills and training but the pattern should be the same for all athletes, independent of sport. Return to Play Protocol: Minimum 24 hours asymptomatic between Steps Step 1: No activity, complete rest Step 2: Light aerobic exercise (walking, stationary cycling keeping intensity <70% MPHR); no resistance training Step 3: Sports specific exercise (i.e. skating in hockey, running in soccer); No head impact activities Step 4: Non-contact training drills; Progression to more complex training drills (e.g passing drills in football and ice hockey). May start progressive resistance exercise allowed Step 5: Full contact training Step 6: Game play-full clearance *This means if your athlete suffers a concussion on Saturday, the EARLIEST she may participate in a game is Thursday, NO EXCEPTIONS. Strength Training: When cleared to participate in strength training, the advancement of the strength training progression will be at the discretion of the athletic trainer and/or the team physician. An example is found below: Phase 1: Med ball, bands and body weight exercises Phase 2: Progress to Med ball, bands and 50% max weight or less of past training loads w/ 1min rest between sets. Phase 3: Mainstream workout based on time of year and cut volume down ½ to 1/3 of protocol workout. Load should be 50-75% or less training loads. Med balls, bands and body weight exercises still okay. Rest should be 1 minute between sets. *Note for all phases: Stop with any adverse signs or symptoms. Regular reps only. No forced reps/no SS-Negatives and no isometrics.
Injury and Illness Reporting Acknowledgement Form I,, acknowledge that I have to be an active participant in my own healthcare. As such, I have the direct responsibility for reporting all of my injuries and illnesses to the Notre Dame of Maryland athletic training staff or team physician. I recognize that my true physical condition is dependent upon an accurate medical history and a full disclosure of any symptoms, complaints, prior injuries and/or disabilities experienced. I hereby affirm that I have fully disclosed in writing any prior medical conditions on the Pre-Participation Exam Medical History and/or the Returning Student-Athlete Questionnaire. I will also disclose any future conditions to the Notre Dame of Maryland athletic trainer or team physician. I further understand that there is a possibility that participation in my sport may result in a head injury and/or concussion. I have been provided with education on head injuries and understand the importance of immediately reporting symptoms of a head injury/concussion to the sports medicine staff. By signing below, I acknowledge that Notre Dame of Maryland has provided me with specific educational materials on what a concussion is and its signs and symptoms. I have also been given an opportunity to ask questions and receive clarification about issues that are not clear to me regarding concussion. I,, have read the above and agree that the statements are accurate. Student-athlete s name (PRINTED) Signature of student-athlete: Date: Signature of Parent/Guardian: (Only required if athlete is a minor) Date: Name of Person Obtaining Consent: Signature of Person Obtaining Consent: Date:
Student-Athlete Concussion Statement I understand that it is my responsibility to report all injuries and illnesses to my athletic trainer and/or team physician. I have read and understand the NCAA Concussion Fact Sheet. After reading the NCAA Concussion fact sheet, I am aware of the following information: A concussion is a brain injury, which I am responsible for reporting to my team physician or athletic Initials trainer. A concussion can affect my ability to perform everyday activities, and affect reaction time, balance, Initials sleep, and classroom performance. You cannot see a concussion, but you might notice some of the symptoms right away. Other Initials symptoms can show up hours or days after the injury. If I suspect a teammate has a concussion, I should report the injury to my team physician or athletic Initials trainer. I will not return to play in a game or practice if I have received a blow to the head or body that Initials results in concussion-related symptoms. Following a concussion, the brain needs time to heal. You are much more likely to have a repeat Initials concussion if you return to play before your symptoms resolve. In rare cases, repeat concussions can cause permanent brain damage, and even death. Initials Signature of Student-Athlete Date Printed Name of Student-Athlete
Injury and Illness Reporting Acknowledgement Form (Coaches) I,, acknowledge that I have to be an active participant in my athletes healthcare. As such, I have the direct responsibility for reporting all injuries and illnesses that I am made aware of, either through observation or through report from a student athlete or student athlete s teammate, to the Notre Dame of Maryland athletic training staff or team physician. I recognize that my athletes healthcare is dependent on full disclosure of any prior medical conditions, and future disclosure of any conditions that arise, to the Notre Dame of Maryland athletic trainer or team physician. I further understand that there is a possibility that participation in my sport may result in a head injury and/or concussion. I have been provided with education on head injuries and understand the importance of immediately reporting symptoms of a head injury/concussion that I observe or are made aware of, to the sports medicine staff. By signing below, I acknowledge that Notre Dame of Maryland has provided me with specific educational materials on what a concussion is and its signs and symptoms. I have also been given an opportunity to ask questions and receive clarification about issues that are not clear to me regarding concussion. I,, have read the above and agree that the statements are accurate. Coach s name (PRINTED) Signature of coach: Date: Name of Person Obtaining Consent: Signature of Person Obtaining Consent: Date:
Coaches Concussion Statement I understand that it is my responsibility to report all injuries and illnesses that I am made aware of, either through my own observation or through a report from a student athlete or student athlete s teammate, to the athletic trainer and/or team physician. I have read and understand the NCAA Concussion Fact Sheet. After reading the NCAA Concussion fact sheet, I am aware of the following information: A concussion is a brain injury, which I am responsible for reporting to the team physician or athletic Initials trainer. A concussion can affect an athlete s ability to perform everyday activities, and affect reaction time, Initials balance, sleep, and classroom performance. You cannot see a concussion, but you might notice some of the symptoms right away. Other Initials symptoms can show up hours or days after the injury. If I suspect one of my athletes has a concussion, I should report the injury to the team physician or Initials athletic trainer. I will not return and athlete to play in a game or practice if she has received a blow to the head or Initials body that results in concussion-related symptoms. Following a concussion, the brain needs time to heal. Your athlete is much more likely to have a Initials repeat concussion if she returns to play before her symptoms resolve. In rare cases, repeat concussions can cause permanent brain damage, and even death. Initials Signature of Coach Date Printed Name of Coach
MILD TRAUMATIC BRAIN INJURY INSTRUCTIONS Name: Date: You have just sustained a mild traumatic brain injury (concussion), which is a very serious injury and needs to be monitored. There are various signs and symptoms of a mild head injury that may show up immediately or several hours since initial injury. These include, but not limited to: HEADACHE NAUSEA VOMITING BALANCE PROBLEMS / DIZZINESS FATIGUE SENSITIVITY TO LIGHT / NOISE ALTERED EMOTION/BEHAVIOR RINGING IN THE EARS NUMBNESS/TINGLING FEELING SLOWED DOWN FEELING IN A FOG DIFFICULTY CONCENTRATING DIFFICULTY REMEMBERING CONFUSION / DISORIENTATION DELAYED VERBAL / MOTOR SKILLS SLURRED / INCOHERENT SPEECH SLOWING OF PULSE CONVULSIONS / TREMORS BLURRED VISION SADNESS CLEAR FLUID DRAINAGE FROM EAR/NOSE BREATHING DIFFICULTY AMNESIA (ANTEGRADE/RETROGRADE) CONTINUED DOUBLE VISION BLOOD/FLUID FROM THE EARS OR NOSE WEAKNESS IN EITHER ARM OR LEG VOMITING MORE THAN ONCE OR TWICE UNCONTROLLABLE EYE MOVEMENT Please remember to report back to the Athletic Training Room tomorrow at for a follow up evaluation. Please review the marked symptoms above. If these symptoms worsen, or if any of the additional symptoms appear report to the emergency room immediately. Otherwise, follow the instructions below: It is OK to: -Use Acetaminophen (Tylenol) for headaches (Do not take anything before your appointment) -Use ice pack for neck and head for comfort -To walk to and attend class -Go to sleep at a decent hour -Rest DO NOT: -Take aspirin/ibuprofen (Advil/Motrin) for headaches -Do any physical/strenuous activity -Drink Alcohol/caffeinated beverages -Stay up late -Watch TV, play video games, sit at a computer or listen to loud music for a long period of time (i.e. greater than 20 30 minutes) Emergency Phone Numbers Emergency: 911 Public Safety: 410-532-5360 or x6666 Athletic Trainer: 410-279-3840