What you should know about concussions in sportsHow would you know if your child got a concussion? Budd Renier, MD, explains what to watch for. 
Kids who play sports are at risk for a concussion. This is a blow to the head that affects how the brain works. A concussion can also happen after a hit to the body that causes the head to move quickly back and forth. All sports — not just football — pose a risk. A body hit, fall or minor bump to the head can cause a serious brain injury. Concussions can happen in free play, recreational sports, youth leagues, or in high school and college sports. Long-term problems are possible if your child has had more than one concussion, or is re-injured before the brain fully heals. Call the Sports and Orthopaedic Specialists at Source: Allina Patient Education, What You Should Know About Concussions in Sports, neuro-ahc-34956 Reviewed by: Allina Patient Education experts, including Scott Koehler, MD First Published: 07/15/2011 Last Reviewed: 08/10/2011 Brent Millikin, sports medicine services manager at Sports and Orthopaedic Specialists and president of the Minnesota Athletic Trainers' Association, helped lead the effort to pass the law. He explains how athletes, their families and schools will benefit. To set up baseline concussion testing for your team, call Sports and Orthopaedic Specialists at In May 2011, Minnesota Governor Mark Dayton signed a law to reduce head injuries among student athletes. It requires coaches, officials, parents and athletes to learn more about concussion. The measure also sidelines players after an injury until a doctor clears them to play. The law goes into effect during the fall 2011 sports season. Read the law on revisor.mn.gov/law. Concussion symptoms?If you think your athlete has had a concussion, immediately take these steps:
Call 911 or go to the nearest emergency room if he or she:
Seek medical attention if an athlete has taken a blow to the head and shows any of these symptoms:
 SeizuresMany, if not all, types of seizures cause loss of awareness. Some cause twitching or shaking of the body. Nausea and vomitingNausea is having an urge to vomit. Vomiting is forcing the contents of the stomach up through the esophagus and out of the mouth. ConfusionConfusion is the inability to think with your usual speed or clarity. Read more about confusion. Memory lossMemory loss is unusual forgetfulness: not being able to remember new events, one or more memories, or both. Read more about memory loss. Source: Neuroscience Institute Reviewed by: Scott Koehler, MD First Published: 08/11/2011 Last Reviewed: 08/11/2011 See how baseline concussion tests were given to students at a high school in St. Paul. Read the related news story on kstp.com Concussion screeningThe time to think about concussions is before they happen. ImPACT™ is a 20-minute, computer-based test that would help your child in the event of a concussion. Concussion screening locationsMany Allina locations offer baseline concussion tests at a low cost or for free. Group screenings can be arranged at team locations. To find the nearest screening location, call the Neuroscience Institute at 612-863-7920. For general information, call:
Source: Neuroscience Institute Reviewed by: Scott Koehler, MD First Published: 08/11/2011 Last Reviewed: 08/11/2011 |
Concussion symptoms