Texas Sports Medicine Center
Sports Concussion Management Program
Signs and Symptoms
What is a concussion?
A concussion is a brain injury in which trauma to the head results in a temporary disruption of normal brain function. The injury occurs when a person’s brain is violently rocked back and forth or twisted inside the skull as a result of a direct or indirect force. A concussion disturbs brain activity and should be handled as a serious injury. Proper healing and recovery time following a concussion are crucial in preventing further injury.
Athletes who are not fully recovered from an initial concussion are significantly vulnerable for recurrent, cumulative, and even catastrophic consequences of a second concussive injury. Such difficulties are prevented if the athlete is allowed time to recover from concussion and return to play decisions are carefully made. No athlete should return-to-sport or other at-risk participation when symptoms of concussion are present and recovery is ongoing. In summary, the best way to prevent difficulties with concussion is to manage the injury properly when it occurs.
Signs and Symptoms
ATHLETES - If you feel any of the following, symptoms, you may be suffering from the effects of a concussion.
- Headache
- Nausea and/or vomiting
- Problems balancing
- Double vision
- Sensitivity to light and/or sound
- Feeling sluggish, dazed and/or foggy
- Cognitive changes
- Changes in sleep patterns
- Concentration or memory problems
PARENTS - If you observe any of the following signs, then your child may be suffering from the effects of a concussion.
- Appears dazed, stunned or confused
- Is unsure of the game, score or opponent
- Moves clumsily
- Answers questions slowly
- Loses consciousness, even temporarily
- Shows behaviors or personality change, such as unusual crying or laughing
- Forgets events prior to injury (retrograde)
- Forgets events after injury (anterograde)
Symptoms may worsen with exertion.
ATHLETE SHOULD NOT RETURN-to-PLAY UNTIL SYMPTOM FREE
WHAT DO I DO WHEN I HAVE A CONCUSSION?
- All athletes who sustain a concussion need medical evaluation by a physician.
- Call (281) 378-4300 to make an appointment to management your concussion at the Texas Sports Medicine Center with a physician in the Primary Care Sports Medicine Fellowship Program.
Diagnostic testing, which includes CT and MRI, may be needed. While these are helpful in identifying more serious injuries (e.g. skull fracture, hematoma, contusion), they are typically normal, even in athletes who have sustained a severe concussion. The reason for this is that concussion is a metabolic rather than structural injury.
Did you know?
- An athlete who sustains a concussion is 4-6 times more likely to sustain a second concussion – unless they have completely healed
- High school age athletes take longer to recover from a concussion than adults
- Repeated concussions can have an additive effect, lowering the threshold for symptoms from future concussions and potentially leading to permanent cognitive injury called “Chronic Traumatic Brain Injury”.
- Effects of concussion are cumulative in athletes who return-to-play prior to full recovery
- The best way to prevent concussion problems is to effectively manage them when they occur
- No athlete should return-to-play while experiencing signs and/or symptoms of a concussion
- Many concussions go unreported to coaches and trainers because athletes do not know the risks of concussions going untreated and are afraid of letting their team down.
