Back-to-School Sports Injuries: Concussion By Bryan Jones, Certified Athletic Trainer MCG Sports Medicine Center

What do football player Troy Aikman, hockey player Eric Lindros and major league baseball player Marcus Giles all have in common? They are all athletes who have been sidelined by one of the most common sports injuries, concussion.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, more than 300,000 people will experience a concussion this year. And 50 percent of these people will never tell anyone that they’ve had the signs and symptoms. But concussions are a serious injury, actually a form of traumatic brain injury, and should be taken seriously by athletes, parents and coaches.

It’s vitally important for athletes, parents and coaches to recognize the signs of concussion. If athletes have sustained a bump or blow to the head, and think they may have experienced a concussion, they should immediately stop play and tell their coach or a parent. If an athlete sustains a concussion but returns to the game and receives another concussion, permanent brain damage, even death could follow.

Symptoms of concussion include:
· Headache
· Nausea and vomiting
· Vacant stare or inattention
· Sensitivity to light or noise
· Delayed response
· Inappropriate emotions (including sadness or depression)
· Difficulty with balance or dizziness
· Fatigue or sluggishness
· Confusion or loss of memory
· Loss of consciousness

The severity of a concussion should determine when an athlete can return to play. A sports medicine specialist should examine the athlete to help determine severity of the concussion, order CT scans if needed and advise on when the athlete can return to play. In general, athletes should not return to play until they no longer have symptoms, both at rest and during exertion. Remember too that while some symptoms appear immediately, others may not show up until hours, even days after the initial impact. So it’s important to wait until all symptoms go away.

The best way to prevent concussion is to wear a helmet appropriate to the sport and one that fits properly. Chin straps should be attached and should hold the helmet firmly in place. Sports medicine professionals or certified athletic trainers can help advise athletes on proper fit. And remember, a helmet can’t protect an athlete if it isn’t worn, so athletes should wear one for each practice and game.

In addition, athletes should follow their coach’s rules for safe play and practice good sportsmanship, avoiding risky tackles or slides that involve the head and neck.

Most athletes, particularly if they are young people, believe that they are invincible. Because there are no visible signs of injury, it’s easy for a young athlete to ignore symptoms and continue playing. But since concussion can lead to severe secondary side effects, particularly if athletes are injured again, it’s vitally important for all those who support sports programs to be aware of the symptoms and know what to do to help keep athletes safe.

MCG Health System is composed of three separate organizations — MCG Health, Inc. and the clinical services offered by the faculty employees of the Medical College of Georgia and the members of the MCG Physicians Practice Group Foundation. The physicians of MCG Health System are community physicians, faculty employees of the Medical College of Georgia, or employees of the MCG Physicians Practice Group Foundation, not employees of MCG Health, Inc. MCG Health, Inc. is a not-for-profit corporation operating the MCG Medical Center, MCG Children’s Medical Center, the MCG Sports Medicine Center, MCG Ambulatory Care Center, the Georgia Radiation Therapy Center and related clinical facilities and services. MCG Health, Inc. was formed to support the research and education mission of the Medical College of Georgia and to build the economic growth of the CSRA, the state of Georgia and the Southeast by providing an environment for faculty employees of the Medical College of Georgia and the MCG Physicians Practice Group Foundation and community physicians to deliver the highest level of primary and specialty health care. For more information, please visit www.MCGHealth.org.


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