Sports Concussion Testing
Did you know at least one player sustains a mild concussion in nearly every American football game? It’s also estimated that 140,000 high school athletes suffer concussions annually nationwide and many return to play before the injury has fully healed. As a result of the staggering injury numbers, Florida passed the Youth Concussion Law in 2012 making it mandatory for an athlete suspected of having a concussion to be cleared by a physician before returning to practice and play.
At the Orlando Orthopaedic Center Sports Medicine Center, we have the tools and resources necessary to test and clear athletes to return to the game they love. And with same day, next day appointment scheduling available we may be able to safely return the athlete to play sooner than you think.
Concussion FAQs
Below you’ll find a list of our most commonly asked questions relating to concussions. If you have a question or concern not addressed here, we would be happy to answer during an appointment with one of our primary care sports medicine specialists.
A concussion is a form of traumatic brain injury, typically caused by a blow to the head that shakes the brain inside of the skull. Many concussions do not leave visible signs of injury (such as bruises or cuts), but that does not mean an internal brain injury did not occur.
In some cases, concussions may lead to more serious problems, especially if someone has sustained multiple concussions in the past or has experienced a severe concussion. Long-lasting problems may include social development issues, a dampened learning ability, difficulty moving or speaking, permanent brain damage or death.
Because the chance for permanent and severe damage exists, it’s recommended you visit a specially trained physician if your or someone you know is suspected of having a concussion.
Another provision of the law mandates that parents must sign a concussion-information form before their child can participate in school sports.
- Headaches
- Nausea/vomiting
- Dizziness/lightheadedness
- Fatigue
- Sensitivity to light/sound
- Foggy/confused
- Difficulty with memory
- Altered sleep habits
- Emotional/depressed/irritable
- Poor school performance
- Do NOT necessarily have loss of consciousness (is actually uncommon to be “knocked out”)
- Many other symptoms are possible
- Report of a collision, etc. that results in concussion-type symptoms
- Unusual symptoms noticed by athletic trainer, coach, teammate, or parent
- Sideline testing after injury shows confusion, loss of memory, etc.
- Evaluation by physician or medical professional trained in care of concussions
- Computer-based testing to evaluate for level of brain functioning
- Immediate removal from game/practice
- Do not return to play until properly evaluated by a trained medical professional, even if symptoms resolve within a few minutes
- Report injury to athletic trainer, coach, etc.
- Immediate emergency evaluation if worsening headaches, vomiting, drowsiness, confusion, or any other concerning symptoms
- Plan to be evaluated by a trained medical professional for diagnosis and treatment plan
- Most uncomplicated concussions heal with time and rest
- Important to rest both physically (from exercise, sports) and mentally (from excessive reading, studying, etc.)
- Specialized treatment is available for injuries that take longer to heal
- Symptoms may last anywhere from hours to many months
- Improper rest or repeat injury before the brain heals can cause serious complications
- Prolonged symptoms and even permanent injury are possible
- Every injury is unique, and everyone heals at different rates
- Evaluation by medical professional to diagnose concussion and rule out more serious conditions
- Rest until symptoms completely resolve
- Computer-based testing (ImPACT, etc.) shows return to baseline (if available) or to expected level of functioning for age, etc.
- Gradual increase in physical activity over the course of 4-5 days under the guidance of a trained medical professional
- Return to full participation once these steps are completed without return of concussion-type symptoms
- Final clearance by your physician
- Failure to properly diagnose and treat concussions can lead to post-concussion syndrome
- Improper treatment can cause severe complications, including permanent disability and in some cases death
- Possible long-term mental and/or psychological problems if poorly treated or neglected
- ImPACT, and other similar programs, are computer-based concussion evaluation programs
- Measures verbal and visual memory, processing speed, and reaction time in order to evaluate brain function.
- Baseline tests done before the season allow for a comparison if the athlete is later injured
- Used to help diagnose concussions if the diagnosis is unclear,
- Also used to help determine when an athlete’s brain has returned to full function after an injury
Orlando Orthopaedic Center’s Michael D. McCleary, M.D., is a primary care sports medicine specialist with the ability and necessary equipment to easily, safely and quickly test, manage and clear athletes of all sports. By using the computer-based ImPACT test, Dr. McCleary is able to test a patient’s ability to recall and process information to measure the brain’s functional level.
The test detects abnormal brain patterns, which may be associated with a concussion even when there are no obvious signs or symptoms. Dr. McCleary can then help create a treatment plan and clear the athlete to return to play.
