Helping Courtney return to play and life
It was a Wednesday night in October 2019 . There were eight minutes left in the game when junior Courtney Dahlquist , playing defense for the Trinity High soccer team , was hit by the ball in the back of her head . Stunned but determined , she shook it off , kept playing , even scored a goal . But minutes later , she was confused , seeing stars , and feeling dizzy .
By the next morning , she was also experiencing head pain , nausea , and light and sound sensitivity . Her mother , Carla , called Matthew Flanagan , DO , the specialist who developed AHN Canonburg ’ s concussion protocol and head team physician for the school .
“ Treatment began with an in-depth history taking and a physical exam that included a balance test ,” Dr . Flanagan said .
“ I was messed up ,” Courtney said . “ I couldn ’ t even stand on one foot with my eyes open . But Dr . Flanagan was encouraging , positive , and reassuring .”
Dr . Flanagan put her on an eight-week physical therapy regimen that included exercises to help her regain her visual and balance system . She also received lidocaine and steroid injections in her neck and shoulders to relieve inflammation caused from whiplash , a common occurrence with concussion .
“ Because Dr . Flanagan was so good about keeping me on track , my recovery went well and I was able to get back to basketball at the beginning of the new year .”
— Courtney Dahlquist
Courtney stayed in school through her treatment . With small breaks and access to quiet areas when needed , Courtney was able to keep her symptoms in check , stay on top of schoolwork , and help her brain recover .
After two months , Courtney passed her five-day return-to-work protocol test with flying colors . “ Because Dr . Flanagan was so good about keeping me on track , my recovery went well and I was able to get back to basketball by January ,” she said .
Not only did she get back to playing , she was voted basketball player of the year by the Washington , PA , Observer-Reporter during her senior year and she ’ s now a power forward as a freshman on the women ’ s Division One basketball team at Campbell College in North Carolina . Go , Courtney !
CHILDREN AND TEENS MAKE UP APPROXIMATELY
70 % OF ALL
SPORTS- AND RECREATION-RELATED CONCUSSIONS SEEN IN THE EMERGENCY DEPARTMENT . 1
1 . Harmon , Kimberly G ., et al “ American Medical Society for Sports Medicine Position Statement .” Clinical Journal of Sport Medicine , vol . 23 , no . 1 , 2013 , pp . 1-18 ., doi : 10.1097 / jsm . 0b013e31827f5f93 .