What is a Concussion? Concussions are brain injuries. They are caused by a bump, blow, or jolt to

the head. They can range from mild to severe and can

disrupt the way the brain normally functions.Quite often signs of a head injury do not

appear immediately after trauma but hours after the initial injury which is know as post-concussion syndrome.

• Nausea (feeling that you might vomit)• Balance problems or dizziness• Double of fuzzy vision • Sensitivity to light or noise• Severe headache• Feeling sluggish• Feeling foggy or groggy or just out of it• Concentration or memory problems• Confusion

Signs and Symptoms a Guardian or Loved one Should be Aware of: Appears dazed or

stunnedIs confused about

assignment or position

Forget an instruction

Is unsure of game, score, or opponent

Moves clumsily

Answers questions slowly

Loses consciousness (even briefly)

Shows behavior or personality changes

Can’t recall events prior to hit or fall

Can’t recall events after hit or fall

Second Impact Syndrome(SIS)An individual who receives a second

concussion before symptoms from a previous one has healed may be at risk of developing a rare but deadly condition called SIS

Brain swells catastrophically after even a mild blow can cause the debilitating or deadly results

CT Scan (computed tomography) to detect acute intracranial bleeding

Who Gets Second Impact Syndrome?Any athlete who returns to a sports competition

while still experiencing concussion-like symptoms is at risk

Between 1.6 and 3.8 million sports related concussions occur every year. Injury rate per 1 thousand exposures

Football (2.34)Mens Ice Hockey(1.47)Womens Soccer(1.42)

Wrestling (1.27)Cycling even greater than football

•SIS has a higher mortality rate in young athletes.•The key to preventing SIS is to ensure that athletes do no return to sport with any post-concussion symptoms.•Legislation is trying to mandate that athletes do not return to sport on the same day that they are concussed and they do not return to sport unless they have been cleared by a sports medicine professional.

New Research and Statistics for ConcussionsA 2007 study that post-concussion symptoms

resolved in three days or less and more then 50% of high school athletes.

50% of these high school athletes return to play in nine days or less.

ALARMING 30-80% of those athletes still had post-concussion symptoms three months after being injured.

1/7 were still symptomatic after one year

Impact TestingThe Impact Test assists qualified practitioners in

making sound return to play decisions following concussions.

In the test there are five cognitive categories and one category on self-reporting of symptoms.

There are times when the concussed athlete scores very well on the Impact Test, but is still experiencing symptoms. If this occurs we don’t send athlete to competition until symptom free for one week and is able to remain symptom free after graded exercise.

Impact Testing remains as a tool to the practitioner.Impact Testing is not the final criteria to return to

competition.

Left doesn’t have a concussion and the right with a concussion, the red areas indicate electrical activity during a memory test.

Recommendations for Coaches(By Dr. Jeff Radel at KU Medical Center)

When and doubt, sit them out

Insist your school to do neurocognitive testing

Use standard sideline decisions-if athlete is showing concussion-like symptoms-safety first do not return athlete to competition

Create a team culture that emphasizes these student athletes good health

Discourage plays with direct head contact

Make a point of obtaining yearly concussion waivers and making sure they are filed along with the students school records