Concussions

Any impact can give you a mild brain injury. Here’s how to prevent and recover from concussion.

Ashley A. Becker, BS

Palo Alto Medical Foundation

Jen Hawkinger, MPH

Palo Alto Medical Foundation

A concussion is also called a mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI). It means your brain has swelled because of a blow to the head or another part of your body. Concussions can be caused by car accidents, falls and sports injuries.

If you’ve been injured during a game or sport, it’s extremely important to watch for symptoms of a concussion. If you have any symptoms commonly associated with a concussion following a collision, IMMEDIATELY stop playing and seek medical care as soon as possible.

Symptoms include:

Loss of consciousness for any time.
Persistent headache.
Nausea or vomiting.
Cognitive impairment, including problems following instructions, difficulty responding to questions or generally feeling “foggy.”
Eye problems, such as blurred vision or double vision.
Drowsiness.
Balance problems and clumsiness.
Forgetfulness of events directly before or after the injury.
Light or noise sensitivity.
Seizures (indicates a need for immediate medical attention).
Emotional changes, such as mood swings.

Preventing Concussion

Whether or not you’ve had a concussion before, the following tips can help you stay safe.

Wear a helmet. While helmets can’t prevent a concussion, they can reduce the severity of a head injury. Always wear a helmet while riding a bike, skateboarding, playing contact sports like football or lacrosse and while riding a horse.
Report any possible concussion to your parent, coach or healthcare provider.
Never try to “just play through” a head injury.
Follow the rules of play and exhibit good sportsmanship when participating in contact sports such as football or hockey.
Speak up if something looks unsafe. Questioning a peer or authority figure can be intimidating, but speaking up can help you and your teammates prevent serious injury.

Recovery From Concussion

Rest, rest, rest! Getting plenty of sleep will help you recover.
Tell your doctor about any changes in symptoms or if new symptoms arise.
Don’t exercise or play sports until cleared by your care provider.
Let your teachers know what’s going on and ask for extensions as needed. You may need a note from your doctor to make this request.
Be patient with yourself. Just as with any other injury, it’ll take time to fully recover and feel “normal” again.
Learn more about the typical steps for returning to school and sports.

Last reviewed: August 2019

Traumatic Brain Injury Concussion Indications, Protocols & Prevention

Get your questions about concussions answered by PAMF Sports Medicine in this recorded webinar. This recording was made possible by PAMF Health Education.