Knowing the Signs And Symptoms of a Concussion
A concussion is a type of traumatic brain injury caused by a blow to the head, face, neck, or body that causes the brain to shake inside the skull. It’s a serious form of head trauma that requires proper attention and care to prevent further injury and long-term impairment. Additionally, knowing the signs and symptoms of a concussion can make a difference in receiving a quick diagnosis.
With local winter sports returning this week and many sports trainers being volunteers, it’s important to recognise the signs and symptoms of a concussion so you can seek medical attention if necessary.
Signs and symptoms of a concussion to look for immediately after the incident:
- Appearing dazed, confused or stunned.
- Looking unsure of the game, score or opponent
- Moving clumsily
- Being slow to answer questions
- Being unable to remember events after the incident
- Loss of conciseness (only 10% of concussions)
- Showing behaviour or personality changes.
Players may feel or report:
- Having a headache
- Feeling nauseated or vomiting
- Experiencing balance problems or dizziness
- Seeing double or having fuzzy vision
- Being sensitive to light or noise
- Feeling sluggish
- Feeling mentally foggy
- Having difficulty concentrating or remembering
- Being confused about what part of the game it is.
Absolute Red Flags – Call an ambulance :
- Loss of Consciousness
- Double Vision
- Weakness or tingling/burning in arms or legs
- Severe or increasing headache
- Deteriorating conscious state
- REPEATED vomiting
- Increasingly restless, agitated or combative
- Difficulty recognising people and places.
What Next?
Remove the player from the field to a quiet place if there is an absence of Red Flags. Subsequently, a CRT5 should be conducted to confirm a suspicion of concussion. Remember, ‘If in doubt, sit them out’.
Please note that only medically trained professionals are able to diagnose a concussion. Therefore if a concussion is suspected, then the player should immediately be referred to a trained professional.
Did you know that we offer concussion diagnosis and management at Williamstown Health + Lifestyle? We also provide objective baseline testing using cutting-edge Eye Guide technology.
If you or someone is experiencing signs and symptoms of a concussion, Book your pre-injury baseline test here
