Concussion in Youth Football: What You Need to Know By Jake Moore, DPT

Concussion is a traumatically induced alteration in mental and/or physical status often without loss of consciousness. Approximately 250,000 concussions are documented each year, with many cases going undiagnosed. The primary concern with undiagnosed concussion is second impact syndrome. This occurs when an athlete returns to play after a concussion. If they sustain a second minor head impact, the brain can begin to swell rapidly and may result in death.

Concussions can be hard to detect, especially in football. Concussions are more likely in athletes with a history of concussion. Coaches need to be made aware of an athlete with a history of concussion. Coaches, athletes and parents should be on the lookout for the athlete who "got their bell rung", displays decreased balance and coordination or any sudden impact of the head against the ground. Coaches at the youth level can help prevent concussions by teaching young athletes how to tackle and get tackled safely. Do not allow young athletes to use their head as a "battering ram" to block or tackle! Most concussions in sport are considered minor.

Signs of a concussion include;
• short term confusion,
• mild headache
• dizziness
• ringing in the ears
• decreased balance
• amnesia
• vision problems
• "dazed" look

Headaches may get worse on exertion. In this case, athletes may feel okay on the sideline, but headache symptoms develop once they are on the field. In a mild concussion symptoms can often resolve within 15 minutes. This makes early detection and screening critical in concussion management. It is not uncommon for symptoms such as headache to appear later in the day after a head impact injury.

Children may lie about their injury in order to return to play. If you suspect a child has a concussion, the form provided can be a good screening tool for you. Not all athletes will score perfect with this test. An athlete scoring under 25 should be withheld from competition. An athlete with a good score may still have headache or loss of balance, indicating concussion.

When in doubt, an athlete with a suspected concussion should discontinue play and see a physician before returning to play.

Athletes may take anywhere from one day to up to a week off before return to activity after a minor concussion. Kids should also avoid heavy exertion or concentration (homework, videogames, reading) post concussion. Conservative measures to care for these injuries can help keep young athletes from short term and long term consequences of this injury.

Jake Moore is a physical therapist and performance coach for Performance Therapies and Performance Sport and Speed. His athletes accomplishments include; Olympic gold medalists, NCAA All-Americans, High School State Champions, and Professional athletes in MLB, NFL and NHL. He can be reached at http://www.performance4health.com.

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