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Nov 29
2014

How Severe Is Your Child’s Concussion?

Concussions are the hot topic in the news and on the sidelines—especially now in football season. Even though there has been advancements in the diagnosis and treatment of traumatic brain injuries, knowing when to pull an athlete out of the game isn’t an exact science.

No matter how hard the impact, any trauma to the head or neck can cause a potential concussion. It’s important to immediately assess a player’s safety—remove the athlete immediately once a symptom is reported and evaluate them right away.

Concussion Facts

Let’s get the facts on concussions:

• A concussion is considered a brain injury
• You can have a concussion with or without loss of consciousness
• Younger athletes experience concussions with greater severity and can take longer to recuperate
• A concussion can occur with or without a hit to the head
• After having one concussion, an athlete is 1 to 2 times more likely to receive a second one

What are Common Symptoms of a Concussion?

Keep in mind that these concussion symptoms may not be noticeable right away. Here are a few warning signs a concussion has occurred:

• Answers questions slowly
• Difficulty thinking clearly or loss of memory
• Feeling lazy, sluggish or groggy
• Headache or blurry vision
• Nausea or vomiting
• Appearing dazed, stunned or confused
• Difficulty sleeping
• Sensitivity to light and sound

Concussion—Now What?

Physical therapists can evaluate and treat many problems related to concussion. After an examination, the physical therapist will design an individualized treatment program to help stop dizziness, improve balance and reduce headaches.

Above & Beyond Physical Therapy recognizes the importance of providing concussion management training to our physical therapists. Schedule an appointment with us today for your young athlete!