Ask a Lakes Urgent Care Doctor

With any type of head injury, if there has been a loss of consciousness or there is evidence that your athlete has confusion, nausea/ vomiting, visual disturbances or has a headache that will not resolve with a simple dose of Tylenol or Advil, they should be seen by a physician experienced with concussion evaluations. Depending upon the outcome of that evaluation, advanced imaging like a CT scan of the brain may be required.

With extremity injuries, a good role of thumb is if they cannot reliably bear weight on a lower extremity or use their upper extremity for simple tasks like opening a door or carrying a book, it is best to have a physician evaluate that injury and take diagnostic x-rays to rule out the possibility of a fracture.  Keep in mind that even though somebody may be able to move a joint, there may still be an underlying fracture and the only reliable method to determine this is with an x-ray and a physician evaluation.

With any type of head injury, if there has been a loss of consciousness or there is evidence that your athlete has confusion, nausea/ vomiting, visual disturbances or has a headache that will not resolve with a simple dose of Tylenol or Advil, they should be seen by a physician experienced with concussion evaluations. Depending upon the outcome of that evaluation, advanced imaging like a CT scan of the brain may be required.

With extremity injuries, a good role of thumb is if they cannot reliably bear weight on a lower extremity or use their upper extremity for simple tasks like opening a door or carrying a book, it is best to have a physician evaluate that injury and take diagnostic x-rays to rule out the possibility of a fracture.  Keep in mind that even though somebody may be able to move a joint, there may still be an underlying fracture and the only reliable method to determine this is with an x-ray and a physician evaluation.

After reviewing 25 years of scientific research from 1990 to 2015, there are now new guidelines for the diagnosis and management of a mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI), commonly known as a concussion. One of the more important aspects is the recommendation to not perform a complete diagnostic brain imaging by CT scan unless there is a specific set of signs and symptoms present indicating high risk factor that would justify the use of neuroimaging. There are a number of excellent updated validated concussion assessment tools now available to physicians to help guide in the diagnosis and treatment of TBI. The Centers for Disease Control has excellent resources for patients and families who wish to learn more about head injuries and more, at CDC.gov.

New research indicates that a small amount of bed rest is appropriate over the first 48 to 72 hours after a mild traumatic brain injury or concussion. The newest recommendations are to limit bedrest to no more than three days and encourage a gradual return to normal activities, as long as there are no obvious continued symptoms such as headaches, dizziness, nausea, poor balance or visual disturbances. Close monitoring for symptoms during the recovery period is critical.

Current recommendations for return to athletic activity follows a 6-step program, beginning 3 days after the initial injury with a return to normal school routines and light to moderate activity such as fast walking or riding a stationary bike. If there are no symptoms associated with this initial step, then there is a progression to moderate aerobic activity to increase heart rate and head movement, such as jogging, or sports skill related drills. If your student remains symptom-free, there is a stepwise progression to heavy aerobic activity, full unrestricted practice and finally a return to competition. In general, this process takes approximately 2-3 weeks, but should be guided by the managing physician in concert with either the athletic trainer or team coach. It is important to note that if symptoms do reoccur, the process would be restarted and require reevaluation by a physician who is familiar with concussion recovery programs. Most importantly, it is critical to understand that injuries to the brain can take a long time to heal and the treatment and recovery plan should be guided by a health professional knowledgeable of these types of injuries.

A concussion is a type of closed head injury, which is often referred to as a traumatic brain injury or TBI. The symptoms of concussion include headache, dizziness, sleep disturbances, visual changes, difficulty with balance, fatigue and memory problems. TBI encompasses many more brain injuries aside from concussion. Some examples would be, epidural or subdural hematomas, traumatic brain hemorrhage or skull fractures.

Fortunately, the vast majority of TBI cases in relation to high school athletes is on the milder side and most often is related to concussion. Take time to learn about all the potential risks associated with the sports activities that you or your family members participate in and learn about the specific ways you can mitigate risks and help avoid a traumatic brain injury.
Good luck on the field and play it safe!

There are some new training methods that are being investigated now which have shown great promise in reducing the risk of head injury in the game of football. The training program is called “Heads Up Football.” The data associated with schools that have deployed and implemented this system have shown a drop in the rates of concussions among players who have received the “heads up” training and coaching techniques.

In addition to this type of training, it is also very important that any player who may be at risk for repeated head contact must be wearing properly fitted headgear. And keep in mind that there is no latitude for improperly fitted helmets. Many soccer organizations are now even beginning to promote some form of headgear for soccer players.

Approximately 300,000 adolescents suffer concussions or mild traumatic brain injuries each year while participating in high school sports. And high school girls do have a significantly higher concussion rate than boys according to a recent 2017 orthopedic medical study.

The study hypothesizes that girls may be at greater risk of concussion while playing soccer due to “heading” the ball, not having appropriate protective gear and perhaps a greater emphasis on contact during the game. Coach and parental awareness are key components to addressing any injuries that have occurred and preventing further progression of those injuries to something more serious.

With any type of head injury, if there has been a loss of consciousness or there is evidence that your athlete has confusion, nausea/ vomiting, visual disturbances or has a headache that will not resolve with a simple dose of Tylenol or Advil, they should be seen by a physician experienced with concussion evaluations. Depending upon the outcome of that evaluation, advanced imaging like a CT scan of the brain may be required.

With extremity injuries, a good role of thumb is if they cannot reliably bear weight on a lower extremity or use their upper extremity for simple tasks like opening a door or carrying a book, it is best to have a physician evaluate that injury and take diagnostic x-rays to rule out the possibility of a fracture.  Keep in mind that even though somebody may be able to move a joint, there may still be an underlying fracture and the only reliable method to determine this is with an x-ray and a physician evaluation.

Adequate stretching and conditioning prior to competitive play is the most important thing for parents and student athletes to keep in mind! These are good practices regardless of the level of competition and can often play a significant role in preventing more serious injuries once the whistle blows.

We see and treat a large number of injuries like joint sprains and fractures, in addition to closed head injuries and mild concussions at Lakes Urgent Care. As the rates of participation increase across all pediatric populations, the total number of injuries we see is increasing as well. In general, it seems that the level of competition has become more intense. Many parents and students recognize the opportunities for scholarship dollars if they can elevate their skills to that “next level” for collegiate play. As a result, kids no longer play for a season, but frequently play year-round and that really increases the risk of injury.

Each sport brings its own particular types of injuries.  Specific to soccer, we most commonly see lower extremity problems like foot, ankle and knee injuries. They can range from minor sprains and strains of soft tissue and muscle to more serious fractures or ligamentous ruptures requiring surgical repair.