Recently, our office has been examining and treating a growing number of children/adolescents who have sustained a concussion. Most of these children/adolescents suffer a concussion while playing sports or participating in sport-related activity. What is a concussion? Quite simply, a concussion is a brain injury caused by a blow to the head and may impair brain function. A concussion can be mild or be quite severe. Symptoms of concussion can include: headache, dizziness, nausea, blurry vision, confusion, memory problems, sensitivity to light and/or noise, feeling tired/sluggish. A person with a concussion may appear to be dazed and confused and often reports being “foggy”. Answering questions slowly, forgetfullness, clumsiness, and loss of consciousness may be observed in a person who has experienced a concussion. The following are examples from our office of how children/adolescents have reported being struck in the head: by a field hockey stick, a soccer ball, elbows and knees of other players, falling and hitting their head, and being thrown off a wave runner. The duration of concussion symptoms vary and may take up to one year for symptoms to go away. It is very important, especially soon after a concussion, that a child/adolescent gets plenty of rest. This will allow the still developing brain time to heal. Activities such as watching television, texting on your cell phone, playing on the computer, listening to music, and reading a book may be detrimental in the first few hours, days, and weeks after a concussion. The brain needs time and energy to recover. That is why it is very important not to “over-do” or even participate in any physical activity soon after a concussion. Experts agree that return to activity, especially sporting activity be considered only after 1. there are no symptoms at rest or with exertion, 2. normal neurological exam, and 3. neuroimaging is unremarkable.
In our next posting we will share how physical therapy treatment can help children/adolescents recover from a concussion.
The following link may be helpful: