A Quick Look at Sports Concussion Diagnosis and Recovery

Athletes and sports fans everywhere seem to be aware of concussions right now because we have been hearing about them in the media quite often lately. Sports concussions are simply concussions that occur as a result of sports. The most recent sports concussion controversy involved Cleveland Browns‘ quarterback Colt McCoy. It is estimated that of all contact sport athletes who play each season, 10 percent suffer from concussions, according to the University of Pittsburgh Schools of the Health Sciences. However, some estimate that this number could be as high as 19 percent because many people do not report concussions that are mild, and of course, if the concussion was never diagnosed, it cannot be reported.

How Do I Know if I have a Concussion?

This will involve diagnostic testing to get a definitive answer. In the case of Colt McCoy, the controversy surrounds the fact that he was not tested on the field after a very hard hit, so he returned to the field obviously a bit dazed and confused. There are different tests that can be used to determine if you have a concussion. A coach may ask you questions to determine how lucid you are, but this is not enough to truly determine if you have suffered a concussion. Heading to the hospital for more complete testing is always a good idea. There, a trained doctor can peform testing to look at your brain and assess the extent of your injury – or determine if an injury is even present. In a nutshell: if you hit your head, tell your coach right away and make arrangements to head to a doctor so that you can be properly evaluated. When it comes to head injuries, it is always better to be safe than sorry.

Can I Play with a Concussion?

No, you cannot. You risk permanent brain injury if you experience a second concussion while still recovering from the first. You will need to take off the time that was stated by the doctor that evaluated you. On average, sports concussion recovery can take as little as 24 hours or as many as 10 days. Never return to your sport early. I am a former competitive athlete, so I understand how miserable it is sitting on the sidelines, but trust me, it is better missing some practices and a few games than it is being seriously injured or putting your teammates in danger because you are not 100 percent healthy.