By: Lauren Krasner Walsh, MS, AT, CSCS
What is a Sports-Related Concussion (SRC)?
Concussions are a common issue in sports, with around 3.8 million cases happening each year. Unfortunately, many concussions go unreported, especially at the high school level. It’s crucial to advocate for, and report head injuries as soon as possible. Early reporting can make a big difference in how quickly you recover. On average, it takes 19.8 days (roughly three weeks) to recover from a concussion, but recovery times can vary. In general, adolescents take longer to recover compared to adults. If your school is lucky to have an athletic trainer, make sure to report any suspicion of a concussion in yourself or your team to your athletic trainer. Athletic trainers specialize in sideline concussion evaluation, diagnosis, and management, whether you are playing on a field or a court.
What Happens During a Sports-Related Concussion?
A sports-related concussion happens when your head, neck, or body takes a hit, or you experience a jolt that makes your brain shake. This shake causes temporary changes in how your brain functions, even though scans like CTs or MRIs do not show damage. Most SRCs do not involve a loss of consciousness, but some might, so it is important to remove from activity immediately.
The most common sign of a concussion is a headache, but symptoms can vary and might resemble other conditions like dehydration or anxiety. Your recovery plan should focus on your specific symptoms and be customized to the level of activity you are working to return to for your sport.
What happens next?
Once a concussion occurs, it is crucial the athlete is immediately removed from play, medically assessed, and monitored for concussion-related symptoms.
Athletes should be medically assessed by a Qualified Medical Professional trained in concussion management.
How to Treat a Sports Related Concussion
Decades ago, the standard treatment for a concussion was to rest completely for two weeks. Nowadays, the approach is very different.
A qualified medical professional should oversee your concussion management and will let you know, based on their evaluation, what is the best plan of action for you.
Returning to School and Sport
Getting back to your school and sport should be done in stages. You may or may not need academic accommodation, consult with your concussion management team. Every concussion will need to be fully returned to academics prior to returning to play. The process should be gradual and tailored to your needs.
Return-to-Learn: It’s crucial to prioritize your return to the classroom. While not all athletes require a return-to-learn plan, some might need adjustments like shorter school days or frequent breaks to help manage symptoms. Ensuring that your cognitive load is manageable is the first step before reintroducing physical stress. If you do need academic accommodations, here is the process involved with return-to-learn communication:
- Notify school personnel after injury to prepare for return to school.
- Obtain consent for communication between medical and school teams.
- Designate point person to monitor student’s status related to academics, recovery and coping with injury, and communicate with medical team.
- Develop plan for missed assignments and exams.
- Adjust schedule to accommodate reduced or modified coursework and/or attendance if needed.
There are both classroom adjustments and school environment adjustments, that can be made to better accommodate athletes in recovery at school, including:
Classroom adjustments:
- Breaks as needed during school day
- Reduce in class assignments and homework.
- Allow increased time for completion of assignments and testing
- Allow testing in a separate, distraction-free environment.
- Delay exams until the student is adequately prepared and symptoms do not interfere with testing.
- Provide preprinted notes or allow peer notetaker.
- Avoid high-risk or strenuous physical activity.
School environment adjustments:
- Allowed use of headphones/ear plugs to reduce noise sensitivity
- Allowed use of sunglasses/hat to reduce light sensitivity
- Allow student to leave class early to avoid crowded hallways.
- Limit use of electronic screens as needed
- Avoid busy, crowded or noisy environments—music room, hallways, lunch room, vocational classes, assemblies.
Return-to-Play Process:
The return-to-play plan includes six steps, it is a graded process that begins with being symptom free and light activities and slowly increases in intensity. Remember, this plan must be implemented by a qualified medical professional trained in concussion management. Here’s a breakdown of the process:
- No Activity
- Aerobic Exercise
- Sport-Specific Exercise
- Non-Contact Training
- Full Contact Practice
- Return to Play
Monitoring and Adjustment: Throughout this process, it’s crucial to monitor how you feel. If at any point symptoms return, stop the activity. Recovery isn’t a race, and sometimes it takes longer than expected. Communication with your athletic trainer, coach, and other health care providers is key to ensuring a safe return.
Handling Persistent Symptoms
If symptoms persist, it might be time to see a specialist. Sometimes, you’ll need a team of experts, including neurologists, sports medicine physicians, occupational therapist, speech-language pathologists, and physical therapists, in addition to your athletic trainer, to help you fully recover. They can provide specialized care to address symptoms and help you get back to your daily activities.
Have you or your child suffered from a sports related concussion and want to start the transition back into a normal routine? Reach out to one of our skilled Vestibular Rehabilitation Specialists to start the healing process. Schedule and appointment today!
References:
- Broglio SP, Register-Mihalik JK, Guskiewicz KM, Leddy JJ, Merriman A, Valovich McLeod TC. National Athletic Trainers’ Association bridge statement: Management of sport-related concussion. Journal of Athletic Training. 2024;59(3):225-242. doi:10.4085/1062-6050-0046.22
- Harmon KG, Clugston JR, Dec K, et al. American Medical Society for Sports Medicine Position Statement on Concussion in sport. British Journal of Sports Medicine. 2019;53(4):213-225. doi:10.1136/bjsports-2018-100338
- Patricios JS, Schneider KJ, Dvorak J, et al. Consensus statement on concussion in sport: The 6th International Conference on Concussion in sport–Amsterdam, October 2022. British Journal of Sports Medicine. 2023;57(11):695-711. doi:10.1136/bjsports-2023-106898