During the recent Stanley Cup Playoffs there was a good deal of attention related to the topic of concussions.
As we witnessed the media has turned their attention to the effects of collision sports such as hockey and football. The dramatic hits which result in a player being knocked unconscious, stumbling off the field or having slurred speech get the most attention. However, there are greater concerns to which our parents, coaches and athletes need to be aware.
Just because someone does not experience the dramatic effects mentioned above, they may still have suffered a concussion. It's not uncommon for athletes to hide the truth about symptoms they are experiencing in hopes of continuing to play or returning to play sooner.
As strength and conditioning professionals we usually deal with athletes as they prepare to make it back to competition after a concussion. Coaches, parents and Athletic Trainers are on the front lines (attending the games and practices where many athletes are injured). However, many middle school and high school programs don't have the luxury of a licensed and Certified Athletic Trainer (ATC) present during games or practice.
Parents must be engaged in their athlete's performance, especially if their child has experienced a "hard hit," collision, or "Got their bell rung," as some would say.
If an ATC (or medical professional) is present and suspects a possible concussion they should assess the athlete with a complete battery of questions and test for symptoms of memory, cognition, balance, and coordination impairments. These results will determine if the athlete should be taken to the hospital for further evaluation.
Computer based testing has become commonplace in professional sports, collegiate settings and now it's making its way into high level, amateur and private schools.
Many teams and leagues are using the ImPACT test (
http://impacttest.com). ImPACT is used for neuropsychological testing when evaluating concussions. ImPACT stands for Immediate Post-concussion and Cognitive Test.
During the pre-season all players take the test to establish a baseline neurological profile. 22 different symptoms (listed below) are rated by the athlete on a scale of 0-6. 0 meaning they are not experiencing that symptom and 6 being the worst that symptom could be. The cognitive portion of the test has 6 modules which measure the athletes' Verbal Memory, Visual Memory, Reaction Time, Processing Speed, and Impulse Control.
Here are the symptoms: (Parents if there is no ImPACT test available be on the look out for these)
Headache Nausea Vomiting Balance Problems Dizziness Fatigue Trouble falling asleep Sleeping more then usual Drowsiness Irritability Sensitivity to noise Sadness Nervousness Feeling more emotional Numbness or tingling Feeling slowed down Fogginess Difficulty concentrating Difficulty with memory Visual problems
Post injury testing is administered 24-48 hrs after the concussion and compared to the athlete's baseline test. If scores are not at baseline levels a Neuropsychologist or tending physician will intervene and provide direction on how to proceed with the recovery.
In Part 2 we will discuss the 6 step process an athlete must progress through when recovering from a concussion.
Just a reminder that next week I will be presenting, along with the regions medical experts on Concussions, hosted by Baystate Rehabilitation.
FREE SEMINAR:
Adolescents and Sport Concussion Injuries
Tuesday, August 2 / 6-8:30pm
Baystate Health Center, 361 Whitney Ave, Holyoke
