Sports Medicine and the Concussion

Many of us have seen it. The football player gets tackled and hits his head on an opponent's helmet or the ground and lies motionless on the turf. Most often the player has received a concussion and is often unconscious. If this kind of head injury is suspected, the injured person should see a sports medicine physician right away.

What is a sports related concussion? It is a serious injury to the brain that comes from being hit on the head very hard during a sporting event. Some concussions look to be mild, but could still have a more long-term effect on the injured person. Having several of them could make even the mildest concussion worse. When you have this injury your brain moves very quickly and traumatically inside your head, similar to a seizure. There is some recent research that concussion patients sometimes have brain activity that is similar to someone in a coma.

How does a concussion happen? Often it is the result of a person hitting their head on something during a fall or getting hit on the head by a solid object. It can also happen when your head and neck get twisted quickly by such things as being punched in the face in boxing or martial arts.

What are some of the most common signs of a concussion? Sports medicine physicians recommend that you bring the injured person to the clinic if they have had a head injury and show any of these early symptoms of a concussion: Confusion and disorientation, memory loss, headache, unconsciousness, nausea and vomiting, and changes to their vision. It is also recommended that they see a sports medicine physician if memory, concentration, and sleep problems, changes in personality, and mood swings continue for a prolonged period of time.

How is the injury evaluated? The sports medicine physician, usually a team doctor, will make sure that there is no injury to the airway and spine and determine whether the patient is conscious. Once the doctor knows that there is no spinal injury the patient can be moved to the sideline or locker room for further observation and questioning. If further observation is needed, the injured person will be sent to the hospital to get the care he needs to heal properly.

If you have received a head injury and suspect a concussion, stop what you are doing immediately and seek help from a sports medicine physician so that he can evaluate your injury. Take it easy and get plenty of rest as returning to the activity too soon could cause serious permanent damage, even from an apparent mild concussion.