Sports-Related Concussions & Subconcussive Injuries

Both physical and cognitive rest are important afer a child suffers a concussion playing sports in order to allow the brain to heal, says Dr. Robert Cantu.

If an athlete has been sidelined by a concussion for several weeks or longer, Dr. Robert Cantu recommends that he follow a "stepwise" approach to return to play.

Regular post-concussion monitoring is essential in the first 24 to 48 hours after injury to check for signs of deteriorating mental status that may indicate a more serious injury, says Dr. Robert Cantu.

Dr. Cantu says that no one should return to play after a concussion while still experiencing symptoms.

Because of the risk to youth and high school athletes of suffering a second potentially fatal brain injury before the brain has healed from the initial injury - a condition called second impact syndrome - Dr. Cantu advises against allowing such athletes to return to play in the same game or practice after experiencing post-concussion signs or symptoms.

Only where an athlete continues to experience post-concussion signs or symptoms for more than a week is consultation with a concussion specialist recommended, says Dr. Robert Cantu.

While concussions share certain characteristics, every concussion is unique to that particular individual, says Dr. Robert Cantu, and requires individualized management.

In layperson's terms, a concussion results from trauma (e.g. usually but not always a blow to the head, face or neck) which causes the brain - a jellylike structure which is normally protected from collisions with the skull by a tough, fluid-filled membrane - to collide with the skull.