Concussions 101

At first, it may be difficult to know if the ‘shaking’ was hard enough. It’s best to follow the dictum:

‘When in doubt, sit them out’.

Symptoms of a concussion may evolve with time; all of the symptoms may not be there right from the beginning.

So far, concussion is a clinical diagnosis and should be made by a medical doctor. This means there is not yet accepted specific tests that can absolutely diagnose a concussion. Concussion mostly presents as a functional problem, sometimes subtle. To know what specifically is deficient, one has to investigate the commonly affected systems and see if they are working as they should, and ideally by comparing them to baseline measures if they are available.

Most concussions resolve within 3 weeks, however 20% of people have symptoms that last longer.

Concussions heal slower in kids, yet they often return to sports prematurely.

Concussion management usually consists of lifestyle modification, frequent reassessment and often includes active rehabilitation.

A step-wise approach back to the activities of your life is necessary; sometimes one takes a step backwards; sometimes one will need a little help.

There is no such thing as a “minor” concussion; all have the potential to fester.

Neuroimaging (i.e.,CT or MRI) is not used to diagnose a concussion. It is used if the history or physical exam suggests a different sort of traumatic brain injury.