With fall sports practices starting back up, it's a good time for parents, coaches, and athletes to review what a concussion actually looks like. Concussions don't always involve losing consciousness, and symptoms can show up right away or take hours to appear. Knowing the signs helps make sure a young athlete gets the right care before returning to play.
What a concussion is
A concussion is a type of traumatic brain injury caused by a bump, blow, or jolt to the head, or a hit to the body that causes the head to move rapidly. It temporarily affects how the brain functions. Most concussions are not visible on standard imaging, which is why recognizing the symptoms matters so much.
Common concussion symptoms
Symptoms generally fall into a few categories:
Physical
- Headache
- Dizziness or balance problems
- Nausea or vomiting
- Sensitivity to light or noise
- Blurred or double vision
- Fatigue
Cognitive
- Feeling foggy or slowed down
- Trouble concentrating or remembering
- Confusion about recent events
Emotional and behavioral
- Irritability
- Sadness or nervousness that feels out of character
- Sleeping more or less than usual
Symptoms can start immediately after the hit or develop over the following hours. Some athletes feel fine right away and only notice symptoms later that day or the next.
What to do if you suspect a concussion
Any athlete suspected of having a concussion should stop playing right away. Continuing to play with a concussion increases the risk of a more serious injury, since the brain is more vulnerable while it's recovering. A player should not return to a game or practice the same day a concussion is suspected, even if symptoms seem to clear up quickly.
When to seek immediate medical care
Most concussions can be evaluated by a primary care provider or sports medicine specialist in the days following the injury. But call 911 or go to the nearest emergency room right away if the person has any of the following after a head injury:
- A headache that keeps getting worse
- Repeated vomiting
- Slurred speech or weakness in the arms or legs
- Seizures or convulsions
- One pupil larger than the other
- Increasing confusion, unusual behavior, or difficulty waking up
- Loss of consciousness, even briefly
These can be signs of a more serious brain injury that needs emergency evaluation.
Getting back to play safely
Returning to sports too soon after a concussion is one of the biggest risk factors for another, potentially more serious injury. Recovery timelines vary from person to person, and a provider can help guide when it's safe to return to school activities, then light exercise, and eventually full contact play.
If you suspect a concussion, Adena's sports medicine team can evaluate the injury and help build a safe return-to-play plan.