Concussion Management

Sports Medicine-Hattiesburg Clinic has received many inquiries from coaches, parents and players regarding management and care of a concussion. Recently, these inquiries have become more frequent with the growing national public awareness of this type of injury due to increased coverage in the media. A concussion is a disturbance in the electrical and chemical activity of the brain. A concussion is not seen on an MRI or CT scan. These tests are performed to rule out serious conditions such as bleeding of the brain.

Guidelines for management of concussions became more stringent and more uniform with the “Consensus Statement on Concussion in Sport” from the 2008 Zurich 3^rd International Conference on Concussion in Sport. Recommendations from this conference have spawned the development of guidelines by the NFL, NCAA and the National Federations of High Schools. The Sports Medicine Advisory Committee to the Mississippi High School Activities Association has provided guidelines for management of concussions.

Sports Medicine-Hattiesburg Clinic has incorporated recommended guidelines provided by these organizations and from recent medical literature.

Athletes who demonstrate any signs/symptoms (see Table 1) must be removed from play and may not return to play that same day. The athlete should be evaluated by an appropriate healthcare provider, preferably one experienced in concussion evaluation. An athlete with a concussion must undergo a graduated six step return-to-play protocol (Table 2) to evaluate readiness for participation.

Table 1. Some Common Signs and Symptoms of Concussion

     Headache                                         Loss of Consciousness

     Blurred Vision                                   Dizziness

     Memory Loss/Changes                     Sensitive to Light

     Foggy Feeling/Confusion                   Emotional Changes (Nervous/Anxious)

     Behavioral Changes (Irritable)           Balance Disturbance

     Sleep Disturbance                             Problems with Concentration

     Slowed Reaction                               Fatigue

Table 2. Graduated Return-to-Play Protocol*

1.      No Activity

2.      Light Aerobic Acitivity

3.      Sport-Specific Exercises

4.      Non-Contact Training Drills

5.      Full Contact Practice

6.      Return to Play

*Each step should take 24 hours and cannot progress to the next step if any signs/symptoms occur.

If you have any questions or would like more information, please contact us at

(601)579-5406