Bellapianta Orthopedics Sports Injury & Concussion

To help ensure the health and safety of individuals with suspected concussions, our practice developed a concussion program to assist civilians, athletes, coaches, and parents. This specialty clinic provides comprehensive diagnostic and rehabilitation services, in addition to important information on preventing, recognizing, and responding to a concussion.

Our team’s approach focuses on the individual and oversight of an active recovery process, recognizing that every patient is unique and requires individualized treatment plans. Concussion management plans include parallel return to activity, work, and sport progressions with active provider management throughout the duration of the recovery process.

Every patient undergoes comprehensive physical and cognitive exams including various tests of ocular motor dysfunction, balance, coordination, and cognition. This allows our providers to accurately diagnose concussions using standardized, evidence-based protocols, and provide recommendations and/or accommodations for concussed patients to facilitate their recovery while minimizing the impact of their injury on academic/work and sports performance.

The goal of our concussion program is to safely return individuals to their pre-injury level of functioning whether that’s on the field, at their job, or in the classroom.

What is a Concussion?

A concussion is a type of mild traumatic brain injury that results from a bump, blow or jolt to the head. Concussions can also occur from a powerful force applied to another area of the body that causes the head and brain to move quickly back and forth. Even a mild bump or blow can be serious and cause significant injury. Loss of consciousness is not required to be diagnosed with a concussion.

Signs & Symptoms

The following signs and symptoms can show up immediately following an injury or may not appear for days following the injury:

Headache or complaints of “pressure in the head”
Nausea or vomiting
Balance problems, dizziness or moving clumsily
Double or blurry vision
Sensitivity to light or noise
Concentration/memory problems
Answers questions slowly
Forgets instructions
Confused, sluggish, hazy, foggy or groggy
Appearing dazed or stunned
Mood, behavior or personality changes

Concussion Recovery

Concussions take time to heal. No two concussions are alike, and the recovery process varies from one athlete to another.

Rest from physical and cognitive activity is very important. Doing too much or doing nothing at all can often complicate the concussion and lengthen recovery. A gradual return to both cognitive and physical activity, overseen a specialist with experience in managing concussions, is the recommended course of action.

Following a concussion, the primary concern is avoiding further injury. Symptoms may vary in terms of presentation, duration, and severity; however, further injury to the brain is the biggest risk factor for making a concussion worse.

Important steps for concussion recovery

Sleep

Night sleep is crucial to recovery as it allows for replenishment of glucose, which the brain and body use for healing. An injured athlete should get hours of sleep each night and avoid napping throughout the day. If they are having difficulty sleeping, try 3-6 mg of melatonin 30 minutes to one hour before bed sleep. Create a healthy sleep environment by minimizing exposure to electronics and keeping a cool temperature.

Nutrition

Don't skip meals. An injured athlete should eat three healthy meals or five small meals per day. Meals should be well-rounded, including fruits, vegetables, lean proteins (chicken, fish, nuts, and seeds), low-fat dairy and whole grains (brown rice, quinoa, steel-cut oats, and whole wheat). Processed and high sugar foods should be avoided.

Hydration

An injured athlete should be drinking at least half of their body weight in ounces of water. There is no drink that replaces water. As they start to increase physical activity at the direction of their treatment provider, their water intake should increase as well. Sodas, energy drinks and other caffeinated beverages should be avoided. Energy drinks can increase headaches.

Stress

Management and reduction of stress is beneficial even if it may not seem necessary. Stress consumes energy, increases symptoms, and can prolong recovery. Encourage a consistent daily routine. Communicate with the school regarding a plan for accommodation-implementation and make-up work and develop a list of prioritized tasks. It is important to remember that getting behind in school or work is temporary.

Physical activity

While an athlete is recovering from a concussion, some physical activity is beneficial to the recovery process. As they recover, gradual physical activity recommendations will be made by your provider that are appropriate for their stage of recovery.