Concussions are serious injuries

Concussions are a hot topic in the sports world, and for good reason. They are serious injuries to the brain and should be treated as such. Our sports medicine specialists evaluate concussions and treat them with the best evidence based protocols. We take every precaution necessary when evaluating return to play and activity to insure the long term safety of our patients.

Baseline Testing

We encourage athletes who participate in sports that are high risk for concussions to participate in baseline testing so that in the event of a head injury we can properly evaluate for a possible concussion. If you are interested in concussion baseline tests please contact our clinics and schedule an appointment.

Signs and Symptoms

If you participate in sports or have a child that plays sports it is important to know the signs and symptoms of the possible concussion. Concussions can present in different ways for different people so it’s important to be evaluated by a medical profession any time an injury to the head occurs. The following is a list of possible symptoms and observed behavior of a concussion:

Personal Symptoms:

  • Headache
  • Memory Loss
  • Confusion
  • Neusea or Vomiting
  • Balance Problems
  • Dizziness
  • Burry Vision
  • Sleep Disturbance
  • Poor Concentration
  • Bothered by light or noise

Observed by others:

  • Loss of consciousness
  • Appears dazed or stunned
  • Convulsion or seizure
  • Poor balance
  • Confused about assignment
  • Answers questions slowly
  • Personality changes
  • Forgets events prior to injury
  • Forgets events after injury

Since 2011, Utah state law requires anyone suspected of having a concussion during any sporting event or activity (including school, club, rec or even church) to be removed from play and not allowed to return until they’ve had evaluation and clearance by a physician who had training in concussion management and who regularly treats concussions as part of their normal practice. Your Intermountain Sports Medicine Specialists can help with that.