concussion awareness concussion education o role of cognitive testing concussion management...
TRANSCRIPT
Concussion in SportsAn Overview for
Parents
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International experts: ◦ “a complex pathophysiological process affecting
the brain, induced by traumatic biomechanical forces -- either a direct blow to the head, face or neck; or a blow elsewhere on the body with an ‘‘impulsive’’ force transmitted to the head.”
A concussion is a brain injury caused by traumatic force
Definition
Concussions can occur in any sport – contact with players, equipment, or facilities
Most common at the high school level:o Footballo Boys & Girls Soccero Lacrosseo Wrestlingo Basketball
“Honorable Mentions”o Cheerleading, Baseball, Ice Hockey
Which Sports?
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Cognitive - Amnesia, confusion, disorientation Physical - Balance difficulty, vertigo, tinnitus,
blurry vision, nausea Emotional - Change in mood, anxiety,
depression, agitation
Concussion Signs & Symptoms
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May not develop until minutes, hours, or days after injury Athlete Complaints o Headacheso Dazed feeling, not right, bell ringing, "out of it”o Blurry visiono Dizziness, unsteady
Athlete Injury Symptomso Lethargy, mentally slow, perseveration
Harder to get them up in the morningo Loss of muscle tone, slow speech, aimless pacingo Detachment from game, anti-social, withdrawo Memory loss, cognitive dysfunction
Common Signs and Symptoms
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Cognitive = ThinkingoAbility to problem solveoWorking memory & attention to taskoIndependent from amnesia, orientation,
number recall
Cognitive Function
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Presence of amnesia or memory loss is an important clinical sign of concussion
May be delayed by 20 to 30 minutes following initial trauma
Amnesia may predict injury severity
Memory Loss
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Heat Exhaustion and Heat Stroke
Dehydration Medication Weight lifters
headache Hypoglycemia
Migraine First week of
contact football Soccer Heading Altitude
sickness
Conditions that can Mimic Concussion
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Gaining recognition as a valuable tool to assess cognitive impairment in the post concussive Athlete
Baseline & After Injury testsoBaseline - A benchmark used as a basis for
comparison • Recommendation: Beginning of the sports season, or
every 12 monthsoAfter Injury - A test taken post or After Injury when
other symptoms have resolved
Cognitive Testing
In the pre-season, or before the first contact practice of the sports season, establish a Baseline to measure brain speed and accuracy oBest effortoShare results with your Medical Provider
In the event of an injury, consult your Medical Provider oTake an After Injury test when other symptoms have
disappearedoMedical Provider can compare results to help ensure
cognition has returned to Baseline level
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How to use Cognitive Testing
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Most mildly concussed Athletes: o Recover cognitive function in five to 10 days
More severe concussions: o May take one to three months to resolve cognitive
function Recovery of cognitive function does not parallel recovery
from physical & emotional symptomsoUsually lags behind
Today, we know…
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It’s best to evaluate Athletes in the post-concussive period for cognitive, physical, and emotional signs and symptomsoCognitive testing aids the identification of persistent
cognitive impairmentoClinical exam and attention to history important in
evaluating physical and emotional dysfunction
Today, we know cont.
In a concussion, the Athlete’s brain is damagedoHealing time and rest required for recovery
Affects ThinkingoMay consider postponing academic activities that
concern an Athlete’s future (final exams, college placement exams)
If Return To Play too soonoExacerbate condition – longer recovery time
• Affects school (academics) & sports participation
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After Injury Risk
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You do not need to lose consciousness to have a concussion
Memory loss is an important clinical sign of concussion Most mildly concussed Athletes recover cognitive
function in five to 10 days More severe concussions may take one to three months
to resolve cognitive function Recovery of cognitive function does not parallel recovery
from physical and emotional symptoms
Summing Up
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Manage Athlete’s cognitive health along with physical and emotional healtho Complete annual Baseline Test. See www.axonsports.com
Be sure staff (Athletic Trainer, Coach, qualified Medical Provider) is knowledgeable about concussions and available on the sidelines to evaluate injuries
If Athlete suffers or is suspected of suffering from a concussiono Immediately remove from playo Consult with Medical Provider about recuperation, as well as
return-to-classroom and return-to-play decisions• Have Athlete complete an After Injury test to aid return-to-
play decisions
Recommended Actions
Dr. James Moriarity Head Team Physician –
University of Notre Dame Sports Medicine Consultant –
Axon Sports More than 10 years of
experience in Athlete concussion testing and the clinical application of computerized cognitive testing -- tenure matched by very few in American sports.
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Prepared by Dr. James MoriarityPresented by Axon Sports