On this week’s Facebook live, staff physician of the Center for Excellence in Sports Medicine, Shane M. Miller, M.D. joined us to discuss sports-related concussions in honor of #TeamUpSpeakUp Day and Sports Medicine Month.
 
Watch the Facebook live.
 
What is #TeamUpSpeakUp?

  • The core message: athletes have a responsibility to report to a team leader if they notice a teammate with concussion symptoms.
  • A good teammate is going to watch out for concussion symptoms amongst their fellow teammates, rather letting them continue to play. If you see something, say something!
  • Pledge to play your part and #TeamUpSpeakUp to fight concussions on the Concussion Legacy Foundations website.

What are some of the repercussions if athletes continue to play with a concussion?

  • Athletes who continue to play with a brain injury are more likely to put themselves at risk for worse injury such as second impact syndrome.
  • Second impact syndrome is a very rare condition in which a second concussion occurs before the initial first concussion has properly healed, causing rapid and severe brain swelling and often catastrophic results. Second impact syndrome can result from even a very mild concussion that occurs days or weeks after the initial concussion.

 
What every parent, coach and young athlete needs to know about sports-related concussions:

  • A concussion is a brain injury that disrupts normal brain function. The usual cause is a sudden blow to the head, neck, or body that shakes the brain, damages cells and creates chemical changes. Knowing if and when a concussion occurs is very important, and there are many dangers to an athlete returning to play before their concussion is fully healed. These dangers include:
    • Additional signs and symptoms
    • Greater severity of signs and symptoms
    • Longer recovery time
    • Greater risk of an additional concussion
    • Long-term brain impairment

What is the importance of reporting a sports-related concussion?

  • About 40% of athletes who suffer from a sports-related concussion continue to play their sport because they do not recognize they are suffering from a brain injury.
  • It’s important for us to #TeamUpSpeakUp, because we simply cannot completely rely on an athlete to self-report a brain injury. Everyone has to work together to insure the safety and well-being of the athlete.

What are some of the symptoms that spectators, players and/or coaches should look for with concussions?

SIGNS
The athlete may:

  • Appear dazed or stunned
  • Appear confused
  • Forget plays
  • Exhibit unsteadiness
  • Lose consciousness
  • Appear sleepier or more tired than usual
  • Seem sad, nervous or anxious

SYMPTOMS 
The athlete may complain of:

  • Headaches
  • Concentration or memory problems
  • Nausea
  • Balance problems or dizziness
  • Double or blurred vision
  • Sensitivity to light or noise
  • Confusion

 How long is the typical recovery time for athletes to return to their sport?

  • 80% of young athletes will recover from their brain injury within three to four weeks.

 Will all the sports medicine services provided at the current Plano campus be available at the new Frisco campus?

  • Yes, plus more! Everything our North Campus offers is going to be moving to the new Frisco campus. We are expanding quite a bit at this campus by providing general orthopedics in hip disorders, scoliosis screening, foot and ankle, shoulder care, along with physical therapy and research in addition to the expansion of our Sports Medicine practice.

What are some of the new services the Frisco Campus will provide?

  • Increased space to utilize more resources for expanded services
  • Operating rooms for day surgeries
  • Movement science lab
  • Physical therapy gym space
  • Overall clinical care advancements and updates to current services

Education regarding the various signs, symptoms and dangers of returning to play too early are crucial for parents, coaches and young athletes. If you notice a bad hit, or any of the signs and symptoms listed above in your athlete or their teammates this season, please speak up. It takes a team to protect our young athletes from concussions.