Search Results for: concussion

Summarized by Esha Patel, DO   Concussions can occur after hitting your head really hard. Concussions can affect sleep. Problems with sleep can affect mood, function, and quality of life. This can make patients miss school, work, and extracurricular activities. The article “Exercising more than 150 minutes per week after concussion is associated with sleep quality improvements” published in The Journal of Head Trauma Rehabilitation showed how exercise can help sleep.   The study split 36 kids into 2 groups. All the kids were under the age of 18 and had concussions in the past 3 weeks. They still had symptoms of a concussion. They all wore devices on their wrist that tracked their movement. One group exercised less than 150 minutes a week. The second group exercised more than 150 minutes a week. The study lasted 1 month. The kids did aerobic exercise which increases the oxygen the body uses. Examples of aerobic exercise are walking, running, swimming, dance, or bicycling.   Before and after the study, the kids filled out the “Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index” survey. Some questions included how many hours they slept, if they had trouble falling asleep, or if they felt tired during the day. Kids who did more than 150 minutes per week of aerobic exercise had better sleep after 1 month. It also helped decrease symptoms of low mood and dizziness. The biggest change was seen 5 weeks after the study started.   Exercise can be another tool to help patients with concussions sleep better. Patients should start aerobic exercise as early as possible after the concussion. They should aim to exercise more than 150 minutes per week.   https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/38032838/ 

Attend to learn more about concussion innovations and technology, updates on the international consensus, concussion nutrition, mental health effects and more!

Summarized by Dr. Ally Ferber, MD February 2024 The article talks about athletes who experience a concussion while playing sports. A concussion is a type of brain injury that can happen when the head is hit hard or moves very quickly. This impact can lead to changes in how the brain works, affecting the cells (neurons) and causing different symptoms. The article focuses on symptoms related to the vestibular-ocular-motor (VOM) system and how they impact an athlete’s return to sports and school performance. The VOM system involves balance, vision, and movement. If this system is disrupted, it can cause issues like dizziness, nausea, blurred vision, and difficulty reading. Testing for problems in the VOM system isn’t common yet, but the article suggests it could be helpful. Using a screening tool to identify athletes with balance, vision, and movement issues, they found that those with symptoms in this system took longer to recover, had more severe symptoms, missed more school, and needed more time overall to get better. In summary, using the VOM screening tool in the first two weeks after a sports-related concussion might help doctors identify athletes with specific issues. This can give athletes and their families an idea of how long the recovery might take, when they can return to sports, and when they can go back to school. It also allows doctors to recommend specific exercises to help athletes heal better. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33896286/

Summarized by Arielle Berkowitz, DO November 2023 When a player experiences a bump to the head during a sports game or practice, he/she may begin to experience headaches, dizziness, blurred vision, trouble concentrating, or a brief loss of consciousness known as a Sports Related Concussion (SRC). These symptoms are often troubling and may make it difficult to immediately return to school, work, and/or sports. SRC can occur at any age and at any level of athletic training. Recovery after a SRC is different for each individual. Athletes who are female, who have had prior concussions, learning disabilities, and/or psychiatric illness may have more trouble returning to their normal daily activities. During this tough time, it is important to follow with experts who can help with the recovery process and provide education, guidance, and encouragement. In the past, it was recommended that athletes who have sustained a SRC completely rest their minds and body- avoiding television, phones, computers, and school-work- so that their brains could fully heal. More recent guidelines advise light activity/work during this recovery period. In most states, athletes are required to progress through a daily exercise schedule with a trained professional for one whole week. During this time, the athlete must perform exercises with increasing intensity with close monitoring of symptoms. Vestibular therapy is a therapy that is often offered to patients who continue to experience symptoms such as dizziness and balance issues weeks after their injury. With vestibular therapy, patients work closely with physical therapists to improve things such as balance and vision. In a recent article, “Early Initiation of Vestibular Therapy Following Sport-Related Concussions: A Retrospective Cohort Study,” by Ferry et al., the authors wanted to determine whether or not starting vestibular therapy shortly after injury would result in a faster recovery. In this study, the researchers reviewed the medical charts of patients ages 12-25 years who had a SRC between January 2014-December 2019, were seen in the Sports Medicine Concussion Clinic at Duke University and were referred to PT for vestibular therapy. Results from this study suggested that waiting to start vestibular therapy could increase the time to recovery and return to sport. In other words, starting vestibular therapy early after injury could result in a quicker recovery. After SRC, it is important to seek appropriate care early. Although we still need more details regarding exactly how long a person should receive vestibular therapy, how frequently he/she should go for visits, and when to begin the therapy, it is noted that, overall, it is extremely helpful without any detrimental effects. For more information view the article https://doi.org/10.7759/cureus.39764

In recognition of National Concussion Awareness Day, the Brain Injury Alliance of New Jersey will be livestreaming Bell Ringer: The Invisible Brain Injury on Friday, September 16 starting at 3 PM. Join us to watch this award-winning PBS documentary, which is approximately one hour long and will be streamed live via Zoom. A brief optional discussion will immediately follow. Seating is limited for this free screening. Reserve your spot today.

With the start of a new school year, children across New Jersey will be resuming interscholastic sports participation. This webinar will provide an updated overview of the current best practices for diagnosis and management of concussion and post-concussion syndrome with an emphasis on overall athlete brain health. There will be a specific focus on what is most important to understand for school personnel (teachers, coaches, etc.) and parents of youth and high school athletes. This webinar will be held via Zoom. Click here to register today!

With the start of a new school year, children across New Jersey will be resuming interscholastic sports participation. This webinar will provide an updated overview of the current best practices for diagnosis and management of concussion and post-concussion syndrome with an emphasis on overall athlete brain health. There will be a specific focus on what is most important to understand for school personnel (teachers, coaches, etc.) and parents of youth and high school athletes.

What is sports concussion? Sports concussions often occur in contact sports such as football, ice hockey, soccer and lacrosse, but they also occur in non-contact sports such as baseball, golf, and cheerleading. Most sports concussions don’t involve a loss or consciousness or a blow to the head, and many times, are overlooked by coaches and parents as they can be focused on the play. For most athletes, symptoms will resolve within two to four weeks, however for some, symptoms can persist for several months. Safe Return to Play If an impact or blow to the head is observed or suspected, and an athlete displays any of the above symptoms, they should follow the steps for a safe return to play. LEARN THE STEPS What are the signs and symptoms? What's the Difference?Signs of Sports ConcussionSymptoms Reported by AthleteWhat's the Difference? What makes a sport concussion different from other concussions? Athletes want to get back to play as soon as possible and may disregard other symptoms. The risk for a second concussion is higher when young athletes return to practice or competition too soon. The NJ Concussion Law has certain requirements before a student athlete can return to practice or competition. Signs of Sports Concussion Feel dazed or stunned Confusion Forgets plays or coaches instruction Uncertainty about opponents, time (e.g., which half, quarter), or score Alterations in coordination or clumsiness Gait or balance problems Shows personality, mood, or behavior change Forgets events prior to or after the impact Loss of consciousness Symptoms Reported by Athlete Headache or pressure in the head Dizziness Balance Problems Nausea or Vomiting Sensitivity to light Sensitivity to noise Lethargy or fatigue Problems remembering Poor attention/concentration Not feeling right Slowed processing Numbness or tingling Sleep problems How to manage a sports concussion How a sports concussion is diagnosed A sports concussion is a medical diagnosis and should be evaluated and diagnosed by a physician. Athletes may report symptoms during the game or after, and sometimes days later. These symptoms should be taken as seriously as those reported on the day of the impact, and the athlete should be evaluated by a physician. A doctor will review how the impact occurred, signs and symptoms, and medical history. They will also conduct a neurological examination which assesses vision, hearing, balance, coordination, and cognitive functions. Concussions should be managed by medical physicians and licensed healthcare providers who have specialized training in the management and treatment of concussion. Recovery from sports related concussion Cognitive and physical rest The standard of care following a diagnosis of concussion is physical and cognitive rest. During the first few days of recovery, athletes who have sustained concussion should restrict physical AND cognitive activities that require attention and concentration, as they may exacerbate and possibly prolong overall recovery. It is expected that athletes who have sustained concussion who limit relevant physical and cognitive activities will not require further intervention and will recover spontaneously. What limiting cognitive and physical rest looks like Student Athletes should be provided with a return to learn plan and a set of personalized academic accommodations to assist in their recovery. Some athletes may be [...]