Concussion
Care for
Young
Athletes
About 1 in 10 young athletes who
participate in contact sports will experience
a concussion, or about 6 to 10 percent.
This translates to 1.8 to 3.6 million
concussions suffered by young
sports players per year in the
United States.
BY HEATHER HOLTSCHLAG
“T
Photo: muzsy / Shutterstock.com
“We do not have a lot of information on how to prevent
he key to properly managing and treating concussions,
concussions, unfortunately,” Dr. Collins noted. “Helmets, for
whether the athlete has suffered one concussion or multiple
instance, can help prevent injuries to the skull, but they cannot
concussions, is to seek treatment from the right kind of
prevent the brain from moving in the head.”
specialist who knows how to use the right tools,” said Micky
Perhaps the best way to monitor the recovery period of a
Collins, PhD, clinical and executive director of the UPMC Sports
concussion is with use of a tool called ImPACT (Immediate PostMedicine Concussion Program, which is the largest concussion
Concussion Assessment and Cognitive Testing).
program in the country, seeing more than 14,000
“Though not a diagnostic tool, this test can tell us how
patient visits a year. “If concussions are not properly
the brain is functioning and whether recovery has
managed, they can lead to lasting problems.”
“If concussions happened or not.”
Concussions are injuries in which the brain moves
inside of the skull. They have a wide variety of
But, tools like ImPACT are only one piece of the
are not
puzzle when it comes to managing concussions.
symptoms, about 23, according to Dr. Collins, though
properly
Treatment can include physical therapy to help treat
patients may not experience all of them, and they may
symptoms of the injury and medications may be
not be the same with subsequent concussions. The
managed,
list includes difficulty focusing in class, feeling dizzy
prescribed to help with mood, sleep, emotional or
they can lead cognitive concussion problems. Regular examinations
when standing, problems sleeping, vision problems,
may be necessary, as well, to help promote successful
ringing in the ears or nausea. “Because there are so
to lasting
rehabilitation.
many signs and symptoms, it is sometimes hard to
problems.”
If concussions are managed properly and effectively
understand what’s normal and what’s not. Additionally,
before these young athletes return to play, “we can hit
some kids may recover quite quickly, and some kids
— Dr. Collins the ‘reset’ button and can get kids back to health,” Dr.
may not,” Dr. Collins explained. “And though the
Collins noted.
symptoms experienced by athletes who have suffered
The UPMC Sports Medicine Concussion Program
multiple concussions are the same, they may increase
offers a multidisciplinary approach to managing every aspect of a
in intensity. For instance, the young athlete may begin to see his
young athlete’s concussion. It continues to set the standards of care,
grades drop or experience mood changes that can lead to anxiety or
developing concussion management protocols and return-to-play
depression or they could become very tired.”
guidelines adopted by other facilities throughout the United States.
Girls are just as prone to endure concussions as boys, with sports
For more information about concussions and the UPMC Sports
like female hockey and cheerleading, according to Dr. Collins. Male
Medicine Concussion Program, visit UPMC.com/Concussion or call
sports in which concussions are commonplace include football,
soccer, wrestling and hockey.
412.432.3681. ■
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