Concussion Management Protocol

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Introduction

Converse University is committed to protecting the health of and providing a safe environment for each of its participating NCAA student-athletes. To this end, and in accordance with NCAA legislation, Converse University has adopted the following Concussion Safety Protocol for all NCAA student-athletes. The below information is taken from the NCAA Sport Science Institute's Student-Athlete Concussion Safety Handout.

Definition of Sport-Related Concussion

Sport-related concussion (SRC) is a traumatic brain injury induced by biomechanical forces. Several common features that may be utilized to clinically define the nature of a concussion head injury include:

  • SRC may be caused either by a direct blow to the head, face, neck or elsewhere on the body with an impulsive force transmitted to the head.
  • SRC typically results in the rapid onset of short-lived impairment of neurological function that resolves spontaneously. However, in some cases, signs and symptoms evolve over a number of minutes to hours.
  • SRC symptoms cannot be seen in standard structural neuroimaging studies.
  • SRC results in a range of clinical signs and symptoms that may or may not involve loss of consciousness. Resolution of the clinical and cognitive features typically follows a sequential course. However, in some cases symptoms may be prolonged.

How can I keep myself safe?

  1. Know the symptoms. You may experience…
    • Headache or head pressure
    • Nausea
    • Balance problems or dizziness
    • Double or blurry vision
    • Sensitivity to light or noise
    • Feeling sluggish, hazy or foggy
    • Confusion, concentration or memory problems
  2. Speak up
    • If you think you have a concussion, stop playing and talk to your coach, athletic trainer or team physician immediately.
  3. Take time to recover.
    • Follow your team physician and athletic trainer’s directions during concussion recovery. If left unmanaged, there may be serious consequences.
    • Once you’ve recovered from a concussion, talk with your physician about the risks and benefits of continuing to participate in your sport.

How can I be a good teammate?

  1. Know the symptoms. You may notice that a teammate...
    • Appears dazed or stunned
    • Forgets an instruction
    • Is confused about an assignment or position
    • Is unsure of the game, score or opponent
    • Appears less coordinated
    • Answers questions slowly
    • Loses consciousness
  2. Encourage teammates to be safe
    • If you think one of your teammates has a concussion, tell your coach, athletic trainer or team physician immediately.
    • Help create a culture of safety by encouraging your teammates to report any concussion symptoms.
  3. Support your injured teammates.
    • If one of your teammates has a concussion, let him or her know you and the team support playing it safe and following medical advice during recovery.
    • Being unable to practice or join team activities can be isolating. Make sure your teammates know they’re not alone.

No two concussions are the same. New symptoms can appear hours or days after the initial impact. If you are unsure if you have a concussion, talk to your athletic trainer or team physician immediately.

What happens if I get a concussion and keep practicing or competing?

  • Due to brain vulnerability after a concussion, an athlete may be more likely to suffer another concussion while symptomatic from the first one.
  • In rare cases, repeat head trauma can result in brain swelling, permanent brain damage or even death.
  • Continuing to play after a concussion increases the chance of sustaining other injuries too, not just concussion.
  • Athletes with concussion have reduced concentration and slowed reaction time. This means that you won’t be performing at your best.
  • Athletes who delay reporting concussion take longer to recover fully. What are the long-term effects of a concussion?
  • We don’t fully understand the long-term effects of a concussion, but ongoing studies raise concerns.
  • Athletes who have had multiple concussions may have an increased risk of degenerative brain disease and cognitive and emotional difficulties later in life.

What do I need to know about repetitive head impacts?

  • Repetitive head impacts mean that an individual has been exposed to repeated impact forces to the head. These forces may or may not meet the threshold of a concussion.
  • Research is ongoing but emerging data suggest that repetitive head impact also may be harmful and place a student-athlete at an increased risk of neurological complications later in life.

Did you know?

NCAA rules require that team physicians and athletic trainers manage your concussion and injury recovery independent of coaching staff, or other non-medical, influence.

We’re learning more about concussion every day. To find out more about the largest concussion study ever conducted, which is being led by the NCAA and U.S. Department of Defense, visit ncaa.org/concussion.

Concussion Timeline

  1. Baseline Testing
    1. Balance, cognitive and neurological tests that help medical staff manage and diagnose a concussion.
  2. Concussion
    1. If you show signs of a concussion, NCAA rules require that you be removed from play and medically evaluated.
  3. Recovery
    1. Your school has a concussion management plan, and team physicians and athletic trainers are required to follow that plan during your recovery.
  4. Return-to-Learn
    1. Return-to-learn should be done in a step-by-step progression in which adjustments are made as needed to manage your symptoms.
  5. Return-to-Play
    1. A return-to-play progression begins after you have returned to your pre-concussion baseline.