Concussions in Youth Sports

Winter, spring, summer and fall, concussions are a real risk for youth athletes who play sports in them all. If your child plays a sport, concussions are a real risk. Duy Tran, DO, pediatric emergency medicine physician with Lehigh Valley Reilly Children’s Hospital, says it’s important to learn the signs and symptoms of a concussion as well as what to do if your child gets one.

“Kids are typically at a higher risk of concussion for a couple reasons. Kids tend to be a lot more active. They also tend to have more immature brains and can have a hard time explaining how they feel, which can delay identifying when a concussion actually happens,” says Dr. Tran.

Returning to a sport with concussion symptoms can lead to a more serious injury. That’s why it’s critical parents and coaches discuss concussion symptoms with athletes before the season starts and encourage them to report symptoms and remove themselves from play.

According to Dr. Tran, a concussion is any type of brain injury that disrupts brain function. They generally occur with any sudden or repeated impact to the head that causes the brain to move back and forth. 

Boy’s tackle football leads the way in causes of concussion; however, concussions also are prevalent in boy’s and girl’s lacrosse, soccer, field hockey and basketball.

Some signs and symptoms of concussion for parents and coaches to be aware of include:

• Headache
• Nausea
• Balance problems or dizziness
• Blurry vision
• Bothered by lights or noise
• Feeling sluggish, hazy, foggy or groggy
• Confusion, or concentration or memory problems
• Just not “feeling right” or “feeling down”

Dr. Tran says any potential concussion should be evaluated by a trained medical professional.

Lehigh Valley Physician Group (LVPG)’s Concussion and Head Trauma practices are located throughout the area. The program offers concussion assessments using the evidence-based ImPACT (Immediate Post-Concussion Assessment and Cognitive Testing) protocol. “Our examinations will provide information about your neurologic status and help us determine what areas you need help with, whether that is balance, cognition and focus, headaches, or all of the above,” says Daniele Shollenberger, CRNP, with LVPG Concussion and Head Trauma–One City Center. 

From there, treatment will be recommended to help address areas of concern.

In the past, concussions were treated through rest and evaluation. But Colin Ellis, DPT, a neurologic physical therapist with Lehigh Valley Health Network (LVHN), says a different approach is now used. “A growing body of evidence suggests that a calculated and professionally monitored return to their sport and everyday activities following a concussion can facilitate better outcomes,” he says. 

Ellis says there are six stages in the protocol used to return students to their sport, which begins 24-48 hours after the injury. Each stage is generally 24 hours but may need to be repeated if symptoms return or worsen. Stages include:

1. Symptom-limited activity
2. Light aerobic activity
3. Sport specific exercise
4. Non-contact training drills
5. Full-contact practice
6. Return to play

Concussions can have long-lasting effects on kids, including increased risk of anxiety and depression, memory issues and even early onset dementia. Fortunately, Dr. Tran says there are ways parents and coaches can help prevent concussions in kids.

• Make sure helmets fit properly
• Limit tackle football to older ages
• Ban body checking in ice hockey
• Ban heading balls in soccer until they are older

“If you notice that your child or athlete suffers a head injury, don’t hesitate to say ‘Can you please remove my child from the field?’ so that you can assess your child,” says Dr. Tran.