Return to Play

Baseline Neurocognitive Concussion Testing: Lack Of Sleep May Skew Results

Athletes who didn't get enough sleep the night before undergoing baseline concussion testing didn't perform as well as expected, say researchers presenting their work at the American Orthopaedic Society for Sports Medicine's 2013 Annual Meeting in Chicago, IL.

Concussion Identification, Evaluation and Management: A Step-By-Step Process

Management of sport-related concussion involves a step-by-step process beginning before a sports season even starts, say the three newest concussion guidelines, and continuing through on-the-field evaluation, sideline assessment, diagnosis, treatment, and return to play.

Are Concussed Athletes Being Returned To Play While Still Cognitively Impaired?

A significant number of concussed student-athletes may be cleared to return to play despite being cognitively impaired, finds an important new study, which recommends adding post-exertion computerized neurocognitive testing to the return-to-play protocol.

Number and Type of Symptoms Linked To Prolonged Concussion Recovery, Study Says

High school athletes reporting four or more symptoms of concussion at the time of injury are twice as likely to experience symptoms lasting a week or more, says a 2013 study.

Effect of Concussion On Children's Brains Linger Long After Symptoms Clear

Structural abnormalities in children's brains persist in children and teens for months after mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI) or concussion, even when symptoms have cleared and results on neurocognitive tests have returned to normal, finds a sobering new study in the Journal of Neuroscience.

Young Athletes' Self-Assessment Of Concussion Recovery Unreliable Measure Of Return To Play Readiness, Studies Finds

Because adolescent athletes assess their recovery from concussions based on only a small subset of potential symptoms, such self-reports should not be used as the sole factor in return-to-play decisions, say researchers at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, who urge that neurocognitive testing results also be considered by clinicians.

Athletic Trainer Or Team Doctor Should Make Return-to-Play Decision After Concussion

Many of the new youth sports concussion safety laws contain broad language allowing any "qualified health care professional" to make the all-important return-to-play decision after concussion, but, says Marjorie Albohm, MS, ATC, President of the National Athletic Trainer's Association, it is a certified athletic trainer (AT) or team doctor who are best qualified to make that call.

Concussion Evaluation and Management: An Overview

Sports concussion neuropsychologist Rosemarie Scolaro Moser, Ph. D. provides an overview of the concussion evaluation and management process leading, hopefully, to a student-athlete's return to sports:

Cognitive Rest After Concussion Critical To Avoiding Extended Recovery

Not only is it important for concussed students to avoid play but they need to avoid cognitive exertion, says the mom of one concussed athlete, which is critical to making a successful recovery at an early point, instead of having it extended, as it was in her daughter Heidi's case.
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