Sports Concussions Treated by Baltimore Sports Medicine Physician

Dr. Jasmine Toor, Director of Sports Concussions at Sports Medicine at Mercy, provides comprehensive diagnosis and treatment for sports-related concussions.

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About Sports Concussions

A concussion is an injury to the brain, often from either a direct hit or sudden change in direction, that causes the brain to hit the skull with traumatic force. Concussions can cause reversible brain cell injury. They can happen in many activities, but high-risk sports such as football, soccer and lacrosse have the highest rates of concussion occurrence.

It is very important to recognize concussions when they happen. Following a suspected concussion, you should immediately stop participating in any sporting activities as it increases significant risk for worsening symptoms due to further injury.

Symptoms & Diagnosis
Sports concussion symptoms are varied and not always obvious. They may appear right away or after some time, however, symptoms usually present within 48 hours of injury. Some signs and symptoms may include:
  • Headache
  • Nausea or vomiting
  • Dizziness
  • Blurred vision
  • Low energy
  • Sleepiness
  • Excess emotion
  • Difficulty thinking or concentrating
  • Appearing dazed or confused
  • Gait/balance issues
  • Mood disturbances
  • Loss of consciousness may occur, however it is not required for a concussion diagnosis
Your doctor may ask questions about the injury, including whether you have had previous concussions. You may also be tested for balance, coordination, vision and memory to assess the brain's ability to function normally. The diagnosis of concussion is based on history and physical exam alone. A CT or MRI will often be completely normal and is not necessary for diagnosis.
Treatment Options for Sports Concussions

The most important part of sports concussion treatment is physical and mental rest for the first 48 hours. This includes limiting activities that require high mental stimulation, such as playing video games, watching television, doing homework and reading. A hallmark of treatment and quicker recovery is resuming activities after the initial relative rest period, which also includes low intensity cardiovascular activity as it promotes quicker recovery and healing. As symptoms improve, you may be able to slowly return to normal activities.

Headaches may occur in the days and weeks after a concussion. Medications such as acetaminophen (Tylenol™) may be taken if approved by your doctor, but do not always help for concussion-related headaches. It is important to avoid ibuprofen (Motrin™, Advil™, etc.) and aspirin as they may increase the risk of bleeding, especially with head trauma.

Another important treatment is targeted treatment to "exercise the brain back to normal". A specific plan will be created for treatment based on your concussion symptoms and the systems that are affected which can include a home eye exercise program, vestibular therapy, cardiovascular activity and/or balance exercises.

Sports concussions do get better, and the sooner you seek medical treatment, the sooner you will be on your way to recovery.

Sports Medicine at Mercy includes top orthopedic surgeons and specialists offering surgery for the shoulder, knee and elbow as well as performance evaluations and concussion treatment.