Concussion Education
There is a lot of information to help you better understand concussions, so we have broken it down into 3 separate categories: For Athletes, Parents and Guardians, For Coaches and Teachers and For Medical Professionals
When concussion is suspected, it is important that athletes be evaluated as soon as possible to accurately diagnose the injury, its severity and the type of treatment most appropriate. An athlete who is believed to have a concussion should not return to games, practices or other physical activity until he or she has seen a physician or an athletic trainer certified in concussion care and management.
With adequate physical and mental rest, most brain injuries eventually heal and the symptoms resolve. Studies have shown that if a concussion is allowed to adequately heal, there are no long-term after effects from having suffered a concussion.
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It is important to note that the symptoms present at the time of the concussion do not necessarily correlate with the severity of the concussion or the length of time it will take an athlete to heal. What might seem like a minor head injury may require a much longer healing than an injury that might seem very significant at the time of the incident but that may resolve in just a few days. That's why all concussions must be taken seriously and appropriate treatment given. Athletes who are suspected of having a concussion should be immediately evaluated by a physician or an athletic trainer certified in concussion care and management.
Symptoms of a concussion, like headache, dizziness, and memory troubles are a reflection of the injury to the brain having not yet completely healed. And until it does, the first and best treatment-and one likely to be prescribed as one component of any treatment regimen-is complete rest.
This means not only is the athlete unable to participate in physical education and their respective sport, but they often require modification of their daily activities to promote mental rest as well. This may require accommodations at school such as excused absences, shortened class periods, increased time for test-taking or a less stimulating environment for studying and testing. It certainly requires rest from nonessential cognitive activities like watching TV, playing computer or video games, texting, reading for pleasure, and internet browsing.
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At AMP, we know that when it comes to brain injury, the third string right tackle is as important to our medical team as the starting all-state quarterback. That's why each athlete is dealt with on an individual basis and receives the appropriate management for their concussion as we now know that every concussion is different in its severity, duration of symptoms, and type of symptoms.
Our approach to treating concussions reflects our understanding of their impact on every aspect of an athlete's life. That's why we, in collaboration with the physicians at Ortho Montana, have developed a five-phase approach for managing concussions, which includes education, field-side care, clinical follow-up, return to sport, and support network.
Download Resources | Sideline Assessment Tools
- SCAT Sport Concussion Assessment Tool
- SAC Standardized Assessment of Concussion
- Impact Sideline Evaluation Card
Download Resources | Clinical Assessment Tools
- Concussion RTP
- ACE Acute Concussion Evaluation Form for Physicians
- 22 Symptom Concussion Grading Scale