Concussion Baseline Testing and Post-Concussion Treatment

CONCUSSION:

Is a traumatic brain
injury that alters the way your brain functions, induced by biomechanical
forces. Effects are usually temporary, but can include problems with headache,
concentration, memory, judgment, balance and coordination.

 

Recovery
time most of the time is 7-10 days but some individuals may take longer due to
genetics, predisposition etc.

 

Symptoms:
headache, feeling like in a fog, ringing in ears, nausea, dizziness, blurred
vision, sensitivity to light, sensitivity to noise, difficulty concentrating,
difficulty remembering, fatigue, confusion, more emotional, irritable, sadness,
anxious

 

(Br
J Sports Med 2013;47:250-258 doi:10.1136/bjsports-2013-092313 - Consensus
statement on concussion in sport: the 4th International Conference on
Concussion in Sport held in Zurich, November 2012)

 

Concussion Baseline
Testing

Pre-Season
testing done to give a baseline for individuals before any concussion symptoms
or incidents at sport. The SCAT3 test is the latest standardized tool for
concussion baseline and concussion testing. It consists of several sections
ranging from history, observations, memory, balance, and recall.

The
second part of the testing is the King-Devick test is a two-minute test that
requires an athlete to read single digit numbers displayed on cards. The
athlete is given the test to give a baseline time.  

After
testing is done, times and scores are kept in player’s file and on hand for any
cases in which concussion is suspected during sport.

If
concussion is suspected, both tests are done again to compare scores and times.
After suspected head trauma, the athlete is given the tests and if the time
needed to complete the tests are longer or have errors or memory loss than the
athlete’s baseline the athlete should be removed from play and should be
evaluated by a licensed professional.

A
medical doctor should also be consulted for return to play, and return to
learn.

 

Post-Concussion
Treatment

REST
– resting from school, play, TV – absolute rest

Return
to Play – 6 Stages – with 24hrs of no symptoms in between

Therapist can help
with Return to Play stages, as well as passive treatment for stiffness and
mobility issues; balance and proprioception improvement.