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Many of the new youth sports concussion safety laws contain broad language allowing any "qualified health care professional" to make the all-important return-to-play decision after concussion, but, says Marjorie Albohm, MS, ATC, President of the National Athletic Trainer's Association, it is a certified athletic trainer (AT) or team doctor who are best qualified to make that call.

Concussion expert, Kevin Guskiewicz, PhD, ATC, says the concussion safety laws now in place in a majority of states are making sports safer by providing for more concussion education and encouraging honest self-reporting.

Kevin Guskiewicz, PhD, ATC., argues that, while there are trade-offs, contact and collision sports are relatively safe for younger athletes as long as the coaching emphasis is on protective skill development. 

Sports concussion neuropsychologist Rosemarie Scolaro Moser, Ph. D., explains why a neuropsychologist is an important member of the concussion care team.

When it is okay to return to a full academic school day after concussion is different for every student, says sports neuropsychologist Rosemarie Scolaro Moser, Ph. D. Some may be able to return after only a day or two, while others may need to be progressed more slowly, and, in those cases, it is important to work with a health care professional who understands concussion and academic accommodations who can design a program tailored to the individual student's needs.

Sports concussion neuropsychologist Rosemarie Scolaro Moser, Ph. D.says student-athletes need to get cognitive and physical rest after a concussion in order to reduce the work the injured brain has to do in order to allow it time to heal.

Sports concussion neuropsychologist Rosemarie Scolaro Moser, Ph. D. provides an overview of the concussion evaluation and management process leading, hopefully, to a student-athlete's return to sports:

New rules in place by the Ivy League for the 2011 football season - including a reduction in the number of full-contact practices and drills - were designed to protect student-athletes from subconcussive hits considered a possible cause of long-term brain injury,

Eating foods rich in Omega 3's (DHA or fish oil), such as tunafish or salmon, twice a week, is good  because they heart-healthy and may protect the brain against concussion, says sports nutritionist Nancy Clark.

Until recently, says Edward Feldman, DC, RCST, treatment options for post-concussion syndrome were fairly limited, but new therapies offer hope to some patients for recovery from traumatic brain injury.