Falmouth High School Concussion Management Falmouth Athletic Trainer Robert J. Sullivan, M.Ed., L/ATC
What is a Concussion? • A concussion is a disturbance in brain function • •
that occurs as a result of either a blow to the head or the violent shaking of the head Incidence of sports-related concussion is estimated at 300,000 concussions per year The likelihood of an athlete in a contact sport experiencing a concussion may be as high as 19% per season
Common Signs and Symptoms • • • • • • • • •
Signs Observed Appears to be dazed Confused Unsure of game, score, Moves clumsily Answers questions slowly Loses consciousness Personality change Forgets events prior to hit Forgets events after hit
Signs Reported by athlete • Headache • Nausea • Balance problems; Dizzy • Double or Fuzzy Vision • Sensitivity to Light/Noise • Feels Sluggish • Feeling “foggy” • Change in sleep pattern • Concentration/Memory
Post Concussion Syndrome • Occurs only occasionally but is
troublesome to those individuals who experience it. It is usually defined as having concussion symptoms that last greater than a month after initial blow
Second Impact Syndrome • Suffering a blow to the head while
recovering from an initial concussion can have catastrophic consequences
• It has led to approximately 30-40 deaths a year
Second Impact Syndrome Management • No athlete with a concussion can continue to play or return to a game after showing multiple signs of a concussion • The athlete will cease doing any activity that increases heart rate • School activities may need to be modified • ImPACT test will be completed
ImPACT Program • University of Pittsburgh Medical Center
created this test • This program measures processing speed through a series of 10 test modules • Takes app. 20-30 minutes to complete • Some misconceptions of the ImPACT test are that is does not cause or prevent concussions
ImPACT Test Features • Evaluates and documents multiple aspects of neurocongnitive functioning, including: • Memory • Brain Processing Speed • Reaction Time • Post-Concussive symptoms
Baseline Tests • All Falmouth High School high risk sport
teams complete a baseline test prior to the seasons first game (Low risk sports are offered the test) • We test all Freshman and Transfer athletes and any that may have missed it previously • If an athletes misses a scheduled baseline test it is his/her responsibility to find the athletic trainer to take it • If an athlete suffers a concussion and they do not have a baseline test. Normative data is used to compare their scores
Post Concussion Test • If an athlete is believed to have suffered a concussion, the exam is taken again • The data is then compared to the baseline test • The information is then used as a tool to assist in monitoring recovery and in making safe return to play decisions
Return to Play Protocol • Once scores have returned to their
baseline numbers, the athlete needs to be cleared by his/her parents/doctor/athletic trainer • The athlete can then begin a gradual return to play protocol
Return to Play Cont. • • • • •
Day Day Day Day Day
1 2 3 4 5
Light walking/biking 20 min Jogging 20-30 min Running 20-30 min Return to practice DRILLS ONLY Return to contact sports
** If athlete has symptoms occur, during any step, the activity needs to be stopped. The athlete should then wait 24 hrs and start the previous level again
Conclusion • Each concussion will be treated
individually • No one guideline will work for each athlete • We as family, coaches, and athletic trainers need to be educated and educate our children and our athletes on signs and symptoms of concussions and let one of us know if they are experiencing them.
References • The information in this presentation was
researched at the ImPACT website • http://www.impacttest.com/ • Please feel free to contact me if you have any questions • Robert Sullivan M. Ed., L/ATC E-mail
[email protected] Cell 207-228-4408
