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The fall sports season is upon us and unfortunately the new norm is an increase in concussions flooding our offices. I have written before that I feel that concussions are being over diagnosed and there are numerous studies coming out stating that coaches, trainers and other medical personal are not up to date with the most recent recommendations put forth by the experts in the field.

Concussions are truly a dilemma for practitioners, coaches and parents as it is an invisible injury, can happen at any time and for the most part we are solely reliant on the feedback from our student athletes. It has a stigma along with it where a common theme is that “My son or daughter could never get a concussion” then all of a sudden they or someone on their team ends up with a “bad” one and my phone rings off the hook.

Thanks to professional sports taking a stand against the concussion issue and the media attention that surrounds it we all know what to look for with a concussion (headache, dizziness, nausea, confusion etc.)  This information is important and for more information about the signs and symptoms of concussion feel free to contact me at [email protected], however the purpose of my article today is a topic that is often overlooked: What to do in the event of your child having a concussion.

Get an evaluation from someone who is an expert in the field:

The signs and symptoms of a concussion do not always happen immediately following an injury so if you suspect that your child has suffered a concussion it is better to be safe and have it ruled out by someone who sees them often. My recommendation is to go to an urgent care or a Sports Medicine Doctor who has experience with the diagnosis of concussions. A follow up with a pediatrician or general practice Doctor is good but only after a thorough evaluation from a Concussion Specialist has happened.

Become familiar with the protocols in place at your child’s school:

In 2012 the New York State Public High School Athletic Association (NYSPHSAA) mandated that every public high school have a concussion management team and protocol put in place. In that giant pack of papers you have to sign prior to the start of the season will be information on how your school will handle a concussion and the steps needed before your child can return to the playing field. Make sure you and your child’s coach are on the same page as soon as the word concussion is uttered. Time is of the essence with these situations and it is important to know your schools policy on who the athlete has to see prior to starting the return to play process.

Invest in a baseline (pre-season) test:

I’m using the word invest lightly here as the cost of a baseline test is 20 dollars, roughly the same price as a mouth guard. A baseline test will give me information on your child’s past medical history, any previous concussions, his or hers mental function as well as a balance test. If your child is diagnosed with a concussion or there is a question of a possible concussion I will compare pre-season results with a post-concussion evaluation to determine the extent of injury and when the student athlete can return to play.

The fall sports season is underway and week 2 is already in the books for our high-school athletes here at SPI. Our College kids have a few games under their belts but todays post is going to be about the high school athlete and some considerations to make all that hard work they did during the summer pay off. At this stage in the season there are no growth spurts or magic 25 minute workouts that will make you stronger or faster. Here are three things to consider to make the most of your upcoming season.

Make sure you get your lifts in:

Just because the season has started doesn’t mean that you have to abandon your strength and conditioning program all together. The demands of athletic competition are very specific and your routine should change during this time to reflect that. An easy example to use is football with games once a week and usually on Friday or Saturday. The early portion of the week should focus on total body strengthening and to address any injuries from the previous week. Towards the end of the week the transition should be towards mobility training and the benefits from an injury prevention standpoint. It has been well documented that strength gains are lost throughout the season so maintaining strength throughout the season will make your playoff dreams more of a reality and better prepare yourself for the long season ahead.

Get some sleep:

The student athletes schedule does a complete 180 from summer vacation to the start of school. Summer time means staying up late and sleeping in as a way of life for 2+ months. Once the school year starts a typical day consists of classes at 7:30AM, practice/games after school and homework followed by a social life make 12 hour days the norm. Research shows that you need at least 7-9hrs of sleep at night for healing and growth. Don’t skip on sleep.  

Nutrition, nutrition, nutrition:

This is an often overlooked and intricate part of athletic development. Many high school athletes both girls and boys are extremely under-weight and do not take in enough calories to keep up with the output of their busy schedule and the energy demands of their sport. Unfortunately cafeteria food is not enough and usually does not have the necessary nutrients to add weight and increase energy. This is where a little planning can go a long way as well as with coaches deterring their athletes from making a fast food run after school.

These are a few pointers to make the most of your season, in part 2 of this series we will touch on mental preparation and how that can benefit your performance.