Testimonials from former NFL players Steve Young, Trent Green, Ryan Clark, along with neurologists describe the signs and symptoms of a concussion and the severity of head trauma.

The push for national concussion legislation continues throughout the United States. In the spring of 2010, NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell sent a letter to 44 U.S. Governors to encourage them to push for concussion legislation to protect young athletes in their states: “Given our experience at the professional level, we believe a similar approach is…

A “Silent Epidemic” In sport, no injury is cloudier than concussion, and few are as catastrophic. Often though, the identification of concussion does not take place. While cases that involve a loss of consciousness are easily recognized to someone with an untrained eye, subtle concussion cases are not. For years, many people have used the labels bell-ringer or ding to describe…

The best-case scenario for sport coaches, administrators and parents is to have a Certified Athletic Trainer at all sport practices and games.13,25,26 Athletic Trainers are highly educated health care professionals who specialize in preventing, diagnosing, managing and rehabilitating injuries that result from physical activity. Their medical education is unique to the sport setting. Athletic Trainers possess skills that…

Even though they may be academically-strong students, concussed kids may struggle to return to normal in the classroom. Sometimes what they hear is comparable to what Charlie Brown heard when his teacher spoke…       “Wa wa wa wa…” Athletes recovering from concussion can appear normal to school personnel, to parents and to their friends. However they can…

Returning to play too soon following a concussive injury, even a bell ringer or a ding, can turn catastrophic.Therefore, once it is decided that an athlete is ready to return to play, coaches, parents, and athletes should follow a stepwise sequence to ensure the healing process is complete. Stepwise Return to Play calls for a…

School, Texting, Video Games & Television Concussion affects the brain’s ability to function. The healing process requires giving the brain an opportunity to rest. Children and teenagers recovering from concussion should be monitored closely. Until they fully heal, they should be restricted from activities that are considered to be cognitive stressors. Injury to the developing…

Computerized neurocognitive testing programs can be a valuable tool for concussion assessment. They can also help coaches, parents, and athletes determine when it is safe to return to play by assessing brain function after a head injury is sustained.13,Many neurocognitive assessments, including ImPACT™, are software-based and administered on a computer. These tests make possible a quantitative…

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