Updated September 13, 2024 ; written by Joe Ruzich & Caiden McPherson
As football season and school sports launch into another season, concussions are frequently a concern for athletes, parents, and coaches. Concussions, and similar head injuries, take only a moment to occur but can have lasting implications. Contact sports are not the only way to get a concussion, and everyone can benefit from understanding what a concussion is, how to spot it, and what to do next. Most concussions resolve with time, however, it is crucial that the condition is managed appropriately following the injury.
What is a concussion?
A concussion, or mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI) is a brain injury that negatively impacts the brain’s normal function. Concussions are most often caused by hard impacts to the head, but also commonly occur in motor vehicle accidents. On a physiological level, a concussion results in neurometabolic changes that temporarily alter brain function. It is this neurochemical event that causes the widespread and varying symptoms of a concussion. In recent decades, a growing amount of research is being conducted on sports-related head injuries, leading to guidelines that help coaches, athletic trainers, and health care providers promote healing after a concussion.
What are the symptoms of a concussion?
Concussions are not always obvious, and not every concussion presents the same, however there are signs and symptoms to help you determine when to seek medical care. A person with a concussion often will not show all of the symptoms associated with this injury, still it is important to be aware of the variety of symptoms that occur.
The symptoms of a concussion occur across four established domains. First, look for somatic and physical symptoms such as headache, dizziness, balance difficulties, or reported changes in vision — including blurry vision or “seeing stars” — after the impact. Second, take note of any changes in cognitive function such as confusion, trouble with short or long term memory, difficulty concentrating, or brain fog. The third domain of symptoms includes changes in the individual’s regular emotional state; this includes irritability, and new or worsening symptoms of depression and anxiety. The last group of symptoms is sleep disturbances occurring after the impact. Some people have a harder time waking, while others have a harder time falling asleep, and many people post-concussion report feelings of drowsiness. Again, an individual does not need to experience all of the symptoms listed above; experiencing any of these symptoms after a blow to the head can indicate a concussion.
Usually, these symptoms will dissipate after 10 to 14 days, but they can last longer. It is common for physical symptoms of a concussion to be noticed first, while symptoms regarding mood, sleep, and cognition may develop a few days after the initial injury. In some cases, when a concussion is severe your symptoms may take weeks to resolve. Persistent postconcussive syndrome is a condition that occurs in less than 10% of cases in which these symptoms last longer than 12 weeks. If you suspect that you, or a minor in your care, have a concussion, or if your concussion symptoms are getting worse, it is important to get treatment. Even mild concussions need to be evaluated by a certified health care provider.
How can you prevent a concussion?
Maintaining a strong core, neck, and trunk can reduce the risk of moderate to severe concussions when participating in sports. Additionally, proper helmet usage greatly reduces the risk for concussions in activities such as biking, skateboarding, hockey, baseball, football, and several other activities. In the past few years, some soccer coaches have limited the practice of ‘heading’ or hitting the ball with your head to reduce concussion risk. In work zones, hard hats may also be encouraged. Observe proper safety precautions to reduce risk of any injury, concussions included.
If you are a parent or guardian, emphasize the importance of helmets. When use of protective headgear is instilled at an early age, the child will be more likely to utilize a helmet as they grow older. Start early with this rule and be consistent. Because the brain is not fully developed until the age of 25, untreated concussions and recurring concussions in a young individual can have long lasting consequences. Help your child understand the importance of reporting concussion symptoms to their coach. Any time you, or a child in your care, participates in sports it is best practice to use the approved techniques and take the recommended safety precautions.
What is the best course of care and treatment for a concussion?
The most important step of care when a concussion is suspected, is protecting the injured person from further injury to the head or neck. Consequently, coaches and athletic trainers are instructed to ensure an athlete with a suspected concussion stops playing the sport until evaluated. Second Impact Syndrome is a life threatening condition that can occur when a second head injury takes place before the brain has healed from a prior concussion. Colorado Law requires that coaches pull youth athletes from a game or practice if there is suspicion of a concussion, and must be cleared by a medical professional before returning to their sport. Some athletes will try to press on or ignore symptoms and continue to play. This impulse is understandable, but can be very harmful. Student athletes must know, if they suspect an injury to themselves or a teammate, their coach needs to be informed. The best athletes understand the importance of prioritizing their long term health over the outcome of a game.
Every case is different, and the best guidelines for concussion recovery will come from a licensed clinician who can evaluate you in person. You may receive guidelines to limit activity in the first 2-3 days following a concussion. Returning to activity yields the best results when done gradually. Do not return to any sports participation until you receive an okay from your primary care provider.
How do we treat concussions?
At Synergy Physical Therapy & Wellness, concussion treatment entails an evaluation of brain function to determine the difficulties and most significant symptoms in the individual being examined. Based on the evaluation, we design an individualized treatment plan that can include vestibular therapy, visual therapy, neck therapy, and return to sport/activity training. Physical Therapy after a concussion can help prevent further injury as well as treat the symptoms of concussions. At Synergy, our certified, licensed clinicians are able to treat any individual, athlete or otherwise, at any age who has been diagnosed with a concussion.
Whether it is to promote injury prevention or if it’s to treat headache, dizziness or pain after the concussion…we are the local therapy experts in Pueblo CO. Call us at 719-568-9790. You only have 1 brain!
Sources:
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2024, May 16). About Mild TBI and Concussion. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. https://www.cdc.gov/traumatic-brain-injury/about/index.html
Ferry, B., & DeCastro, A. (2023, January 9). Concussion. StatPearls. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK537017/
