Forest Park High School Athletic Training

Concussion Information & Education

Parents and Student Athletes Must Take Concussion Education Training Before Sports Tryouts

June 13, 2011

Effective beginning with all fall sports for the 2011-12 school year, all student athletes and their parents or guardians will be required to attend a concussion education session provided by their respective middle and high schools. Attendance at one of these sessions is required before a student will be allowed to try out for any sport. Participation in the concussion education session is mandated by state law (Virginia Code 22.1-271.5). A concussion is a brain injury that is characterized by an onset of impairment of cognitive and/or physical functioning, and is caused by a blow to the head, face, or neck, or to the body that causes a sudden jarring of the head (e.g., a helmet to the head, being knocked to the ground). A concussion can occur with or without loss of consciousness.

Prince William County Public Schools supports the need to ensure that its staff, students, and the community are aware of the seriousness of brain injuries and concussions and how they can affect the student’s abilities in the educational setting. In April 2011, the Prince William County School Board adopted a concussion policy that meets the Virginia Code. The law requires parents and students to sign a form attesting that they received training prior to any level of student participation in athletics. The date and time for this education presentation for each middle and high school will be provided by the schools after July 1. Parents are encouraged to contact their child’s school for an up-to-date presentation schedule during July.

ImPACT                                                         

 

Overview and Features of the ImPACT Test

ImPACT (Immediate Post-Concussion Assessment and Cognitive Testing) is the first, most-widely used, and most scientifically validated computerized concussion evaluation system.

Developed in the early 1990's by Drs. Mark Lovell and Joseph Maroon, ImPACT is a 20-minute test that has become a standard tool used in comprehensive clinical management of concussions for athletes of all ages. ImPACT Applications, Inc. was co-founded by Mark Lovell, PhD, Joseph Maroon, MD, and Michael (Micky) Collins, PhD.

Given the inherent difficulties in concussion management, it is important to manage concussions on an individualized basis and to implement baseline testing and/or post-injury neurocognitive testing. This type of concussion assessment can help to objectively evaluate the concussed athlete's post-injury condition and track recovery for safe return to play, thus preventing the cumulative effects of concussion. In fact, neurocognitive testing has recently been called the "cornerstone" of proper concussion management by an international panel of sports medicine experts.

ImPACT can be administered by an athletic trainer, school nurse, athletic director, team coach, team doctor, or anyone trained to administer baseline testing. ImPACT is the most widely used computer-based testing program in the world and is implemented effectively across high school, collegiate, and professional levels of sport participation.

For more information about the ImPACT test please visit their website using the following link. 



*Each Prince William County athlete participating in a sport is required to be ImPACT baseline tested prior to competing.

VHSL & NFHS Guidelines for Return To Play

Individual State Concussion Guidelines

VHSL Guidelines and Virginia Code §22.1-271.5

PWCS Proposed Concussion Policy 







NFHS
Concussion in Sports - What You Need To Know

Sports-related concussion in high school sports can be serious or even life-threatening situations if not managed correctly. National Federation of State High School Associations (NFHS) and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) have teamed up to provide information and resources to help educate coaches, officials, parents and students on the importance of proper concussion recognition and management in high school sports. Mick Koester M.D., ATC, Chair of the NFHS Sports Medicine Advisory Committee and Director of the Slocum Sports Concussion in Eugene, Oregon takes you through this course. In this course you will understand the impact sports-related concussion can have on your players, how to recognize a suspected concussion, the proper protocols to manage a suspected concussion, and steps to help your player return to play safely after experiencing a concussion.  


CONCUSSIONS IN HIGH SCHOOL SPORTS 
GUIDE FOR PARENTS 

WHAT IS A CONCUSSION?

  • A concussion is a brain injury which results in a temporary disruption of normal brain function. A concussion occurs when the brain is violently rocked back and forth or twisted inside the skull as a result of a blow to the head or body. An athlete does not have to lose consciousness to suffer a concussion.

CONCUSSION FACTS:

  • Concussions occur most frequently in football, but girl’s lacrosse, girls soccer, boys lacrosse, wrestling and girls basketball follow closely behind. All athletes are at risk.
  • Concussion symptoms may last from a few days to several months.
  • An athlete should not return to sports while still having symptoms from a concussion as they are at risk for prolonged symptoms and further injury.
  • A concussion may cause multiple symptoms. Many symptoms appear immediately after the injury while others  may develop over the next several days or weeks.

SIGNS OBSERVED BY PARENTS AND COACHES:

  • Appears dazed or stunned.
  • Is confused about what to do.
  • Forgets plays.
  • Is unsure of game, score, or opponent.
  • Moves clumsily.
  • Loses consciousness.
  • Shows behavior or personality changes.
  • Cannot recall events prior to hit.
  • Cannot recall events after hit.

SYMPTOMS REPORTED BY ATHLETE:

  • Headache.
  • Nausea.
  • Balance problems or dizziness.
  • Double or fuzzy vision.
  • Feeling sluggish.
  • Feeling foggy or groggy.
  • Concentration or  memory problems.
  • Confusion.

WHAT SHOULD I DO IF I THINK MY CHILD HAS SUFFERED A CONCUSSION?

  • Remove them from further play, be it a game or practice in or out of school.
  • Contact the school Certified Athletic Trainer (ATC), coach, administration, or teacher.
  • Continuing to participate in physical activity after a concussion can lead to worsening concussion symptoms, increase risk for further injury and even death.
  • Have a medical professional diagnose the individual.
  • WHEN IN DOUBT, SIT THEM OUT.

WHEN CAN AN ATHLETE RETURN TO PLAY?

  • No athlete should return to play or practice on the same day after suffering a concussion.
  • Athlete must be evaluated by a health care professional and be cleared before returning.
  • Once cleared, he/she should proceed with activity in a step-wise fashion to allow the brain to re-adjust to exertion.

STEPS TO FOLLOW AFTER CLEARED BY MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL: (In presence of school designee)

  • Step 1 Light exercise, including walking or riding an exercise bike. No weight lifting.
  • Step 2 Running in the gym or on the field. No helmet or other equipment.
  • Step 3 Non-contact training drills in full equipment. Weight training can begin.
  • Step 4 Full contact practice or training.
  • Step 5 Game play.

If symptoms occur at any step, the athlete should cease activity and be re-evaluated by the health care provider.

High school athletes will be pre-tested with Impact, a neuro-cognitive baseline test. Students who have sustained a concussion will receive an Impact post-test prior to returning to play. The student must return to baseline scores before returning to play. The Impact Program is not available for middle school age students (as of Fall, 2011).

WHAT CAN I DO AS A PARENT?

  • Both you and your child should learn to recognize the “Signs and Symptoms” of concussion as listed above.
  • Teach your child to tell the athletic trainer and coach if he/she experiences such symptoms.
  • Teach your child to tell the athletic trainer and coach if he/she suspects that a teammate has a concussion.
  • Ask teachers to monitor any decrease in grades or changes in behavior that could indicate a concussion.
  • Report concussion to the athletic trainer and coaches to help in monitoring injured athletes as  they move to the next sports season.

THE BEST TREATMENT FOR A CONCUSSION IS REST.

 

                                             

                                             

 

                                             


Center for Disease Control (CDC)       
Heads Up Concussion in Youth Sports & Heads Up Concussion in High School Sports 

 

 

                                    
Spanish Version

- Fact Sheet for Coaches

 Information for Athletes  Fact Sheet for Athletes English  Fact Sheet for Athletes Spanish  
 Information for Parents  Fact Sheet for Parents English  Fact Sheet for Parents Spanish

Watch a Video

 

 

 

Listen to a Podcast



    Safe Concussion Outcome Recovery & Education (SCORE) Program

    Information for parents, coaches, schools and health care providers.

 

 

 

 

Copyright . Jessie Shanks. All rights reserved.
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