Concussions

A concussion is the chemical changes in the brain after being bounced in the skull during an injury. Imaging is not required unless bleeding is suspected.


Possible symptoms of a concussion:

  • Headache

  • Dizziness, balance issues

  • Vision changes

  • Cognitive problems - feeling fuzzy, trouble focusing

  • Mood changes

Rest means light normal daily activities that do not provoke symptoms, ok to do light reading, drawing or cooking. NO studying, NO video games, NO driving.

May start gradual return to play after rest for 1-2 days.

Return to play:

  1. Light aerobic activity that increases heart rate (eg. 5-10 min on exercise bike, walk, light jog, no weight lifting)

  2. Moderate sport specific activity (eg. moderate jogging, brief running, moderate stationary bike, moderate weight lifting)

  3. Heavy noncontact training → reevaluate here. If minimal symptoms then hang out here for a week (eg. sprinting, high intensity stationary biking, regular weight lifting, noncontact sports drills)  

  4. Full contact practice

  5. Game play

Take 24 hours between each step. Steps 1-4 must last at least 7 days, do not be too quick to go into game play.


Return to learn:

  1. 15 min cognitive activity at a time.

  2. 30 min cognitive work at a time, gradually increase to 1-2 hours.

  3. Return to ½ day of school/work.

  4. Return to full day of school.


Resources:

Information on concussions - https://www.cdc.gov/headsup/index.html

Return to sports - https://www.cdc.gov/headsup/basics/return_to_sports.html