What is a concussion?

During sports activities, an individual can suffer a hit to the head by an object such as a ball, stick or bat. They could also collide into another person, an opponent or their own teammate, risking injury to their head. They may even contact the ground forcefully all which are common mechanisms for sport concussions. You may have heard of someone sustaining a 'ding' but this is still classified as a concussion.  Although these symptoms can range from slight to severe, one needs to realize that an injury to the brain has occured.

What are signs and symptoms of a concussion?

The signs and symptoms of a concussion can vary widely and may not present
until hours or even days after the injury.  Concussion may include any of
the following:

• Loss of consciousness (even if very brief)
• Appears to be dazed, stunned, or confused
• Moves clumsily or has poor balance
• Answers questions slowly
• Can not recall events immediately prior to concussion or immediately after concussion
• Concentration or memory problems
• Headache
• Nausea and/or vomiting
• Dizziness
• Pupils appear different in size
• Vision changes, like double or fuzzy vision
• Sensitivity to light or noise
• Feeling sluggish
• Feeling foggy or groggy
• Tinnitus, ringing in the ears
• Seizures
• Shows behavior or personality change

What if the symptoms worsen?

If your concussion symptoms worsen, you may have bleeding or bruising in the brain that requires immediate medical intervention.  This can occur hours, days or weeks after the initial concussion.  You must seek immediate medical care if you:

• Have a headache that is severe or that gets worse
• Are very drowsy or cannot be woken up
• Pass out, have a black-out or lose consciousness
• Cannot recognize people, places or things
• Behave unusually or seem confused
• Are very irritable or restless
• Have weak arms or legs
• Have numbness involving any part of your body
• Are unsteady on your feet
• Have difficulties with vision
• Have slurred speech
• Vomit more than one time
• Have a fever or stiff neck
• Have urinary or bowel incontinence (the accidental or involuntary loss of urine
  or stool)
• Have seizures
• Have dizziness or vertigo that is severe or gets worse

What should a person do when recovering from a concussion?

Get plenty of rest.  You may move around and engage in everyday activities, but do not exert yourself, physically or mentally. Follow medical advice given to you by your doctor.  A person recovering from concussion should be closely monitored and supervised by a family member to maintain his/her safety given the cognitive (the ability to think, learn and remember) changes associated with the concussion.

What about sleeping?

Your certified athletic trainer may, for the first night after the concussion, suggest that someone should wake you every two hours and check on you. If you are confused or harder to wake than usual, they should take you to the hospital immediately.

What can I take for my headache or other aches and pains?

It is safe to take acetaminophen (such as Tylenol) for headache or aches/pains. 
Do not take aspirin or any medication containing aspirin unless specifically directed to do so by your medical doctor.

When can I drive?

Do not drive until you receive medical clearance to do so.

How is my recovery monitored and measured?

Your treatment team will rely on three factors to determine the extent of
your recovery:

• Your honest report of symptoms is an important way to monitor your recovery.  Many people minimize or deny symptoms so that they can return to playing sports and other everyday activities.

• Cognitive testing performed by a neuropsychologist will help to detect subtle changes in your thinking skills that can be affected by a concussion and that may not be evident by observation or self-report. 

• Balance testing can help to determine if the part of your brain that regulates your motor skills is working properly.

Can I consume alcoholic beverages?

Do not drink alcohol or take sleeping pills until you receive medical clearance to do so.  Consuming alcohol can interfere with recovering from injury and it can place you at increased risk for further injury.

When can I return to school or work?

If your symptoms last longer than three days, you will need to get specific advice from your team physician and/or neuropsychologist about returning to school or work.

When can I return to playing sports or other physically demanding activities?

You can return to these activities after all of your signs and symptoms have resolved AND you have received medical clearance.  When returning to sports or other physically demanding activities, it is important to do this in a gradual fashion.  Our sports concussion program utilizes an “exertional testing” protocol, which helps you to safely return to your activities. 

Why is this so important? 

You can increase your risk for another concussion if you return to physically demanding activities before recovering from your current concussion.  Slower reaction time along with decreased balance, coordination and concentration set the stage for another injury.  Experts agree, if you have another concussion before recovering from one concussion, you put yourself at risk for permanent brain injury and possibly "second impact syndrome," which is a rare but life threatening condition.

The Goal of the Florida Hospital Sports Concussion Program

The Florida Hospital Sports Concussion Program was developed to aide athletes, coaches, certified athletic trainers, physicians and parents in the management of sports-related concussion.  By using the latest in concussion management technologies, the Florida Hospital Sports Concussion Program assists in the athlete’s rehabilitation.  The program's goals are to allow an athlete to return to play as soon as possible whithout compromising safety or risk of future injury.

If you would like to be referred to the Florida Hospital Sports Concussion Program, please call 407/303-8012.  If you have other questions about recovering from concussion or if you want to learn more about the Florida Hospital Sports Concussion Program, please contact our team of experts at 407/303-8012.

This program was developed for the region's athletes through the support of Florida Hospital Neuroscience Institute and Florida Hospital Rehabilitation and Sports Medicine.