The Concussion Blog

Matt Chaney has been busy this summer with work, but he found some time to forward a bunch of links regarding concussions.  There were a lot dealing with the state laws and the mandates now in place across the sporting landscape, all with very valid opinions.  Some dealt with his area of expertise, steroid and PED detection.  However there was one that I must share with you; a link to a NASP Communique (National Association of School Psychologists)

The link was very resourceful but the gem was the attached .pdf that dealt with the myths we commonly hear with concussions.  Due to the rudeness of ripping off all the information below you will see the myths they took on, and for the actual facts please click on the .pdf link above;

Identifying Concussions

• Professionals agree on the definition of a concussion.
• A more accurate term for concussion is a head injury rather than a brain injury.
• The term mild concussion reflects the mild impact and effects of a concussion. (I have been critical of this as well)
• The branch of medicine (epidemiology) which deals with causes, distribution, and control of concussions is always accurate and is easy to locate within the corresponding scientific literature.
• Medical doctors are well trained in the area of concussions during medical school.
• MRIs and CAT scans, neurocognitive/neuropsychological paper and pencil tests, and computer scoring tests are sensitive to all symptoms of a sported-related concussion (SRC).
• Athletes are knowledgeable regarding the symptoms of a concussion.
• Male athletes and female athletes have the same chance of sustaining a concussion.
• Athletes will typically acknowledge when they have sustained a concussion.

Causes

• An athlete needs to be hit on the head to sustain a concussion.
• An athlete needs to be unconscious in order to sustain a concussion.
• Injury to the brain only occurs at the initial impact of the concussion.
• The number of concussions or subconcussive hits to the head are not important because each concussion and subconcussive hit is short-term and heals easily.

Effects

• There is no relationship between concussions and the later occurrence of depression and neurologic diseases.
• Concussion symptoms do not overlap with symptoms of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder.
• Concussion symptoms are not similar to the symptoms experienced by persons who are under the influence of alcohol.
• Sports-related concussion impacts cannot be compared to motor vehicle accident impacts.

Management

• After sustaining a concussion, return to play (RTP) standards employ objective, evidence based standards that drive multidisciplinary treatment.
• It is physically safe and healthy for an athlete to RTP after sustaining a concussion even if he or she is still experiencing minor concussion symptoms.
• A student-athlete can safely and productively return to the classroom even though he or she is experiencing symptoms related to a concussion.
• It is safe to drink alcoholic beverages and use street drugs while functionally recovering from a concussion.

Social Implication and Policy

• A concussion only affects the individual who sustained it.
• Only quantitative assessments should be used to diagnose a concussion.
• Involvement of the U.S. government in dialogue or policy regarding sports-related injuries is a very recent phenomenon.