{"id":215744,"date":"2023-10-27T18:21:25","date_gmt":"2023-10-27T18:21:25","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.atsjax.com\/?p=345"},"modified":"2023-11-04T02:33:31","modified_gmt":"2023-11-04T02:33:31","slug":"whats-new-with-concussions","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/atsjax.com\/whats-new-with-concussions\/","title":{"rendered":"What’s new with concussions?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n[et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ admin_label=”section” _builder_version=”4.22.0″ hover_enabled=”0″ global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content” custom_padding=”0px|0px|0px|0px|true|true” sticky_enabled=”0″][et_pb_row admin_label=”row” _builder_version=”4.22.0″ background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat” hover_enabled=”0″ global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content” width=”100%” max_width=”100%” sticky_enabled=”0″][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.16″ custom_padding=”|||” global_colors_info=”{}” custom_padding__hover=”|||” theme_builder_area=”post_content”][et_pb_text admin_label=”Text” _builder_version=”4.16″ global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content” text_font=”Barlow||||||||” text_font_size=”1vw” text_line_height=”1.8em” link_text_color=”#ff5519″ header_font=”Barlow|700|||||||” header_font_size=”3vw” header_3_font=”Barlow|700|||||||” header_3_font_size=”1.5vw” text_font_size_tablet=”16px” text_font_size_phone=”14px” text_font_size_last_edited=”on|phone” header_text_align_tablet=”” header_text_align_phone=”center” header_text_align_last_edited=”on|phone” header_font_size_tablet=”6vw” header_font_size_phone=”10vw” header_font_size_last_edited=”on|phone” header_3_text_align_tablet=”” header_3_text_align_phone=”center” header_3_text_align_last_edited=”on|phone” header_3_font_size_tablet=”3vw” header_3_font_size_phone=”5vw” header_3_font_size_last_edited=”on|phone” text_orientation_tablet=”” text_orientation_phone=”center” text_orientation_last_edited=”on|phone” link_text_color__hover=”#0000e4″ link_text_color__hover_enabled=”on|hover”]Concussions remain in the forefront of athlete safety concerns. Unfortunately, there have been eight recorded deaths in sports this fall season from heart conditions, head injury, heat related and other causes. Athletic Trainers, Physicians, and healthcare professionals are working to educate the public as well as promote safety. While football gets a lot of media attention, remember soccer, hockey, lacrosse, and other contact sports are now beginning their seasons and are a source of concussion. Know the signs and symptoms of a concussion and remember \u201cWhen in doubt, sit them out\u201d\nAre there more concussions occurring? According to a leading researcher, Kevin Guskowitz, PhD, ATC; \u201cconcussion injuries have not increased, they are just better reported and the medic has continues to focus on this issue.\u201d\nWhere are we at with helmet technology and sensors? Helmets prevent skull fractures, they do not necessarily prevent brain injury. While much has been done to improve helmet technology through padding, both inside and out as well as a controversial rating system concussions continue. There are new methods in use, especially at the collegiate level for monitoring the severity, location and number of impacts incurred. In the NFL, they also use a specific spotter to alert medical personnel when they see an unusually hard hit or player acting suspiciously. Helmets with sensors are valued at about $425.00 for which some parents are willing to pay for but are a cost consideration for schools.\nHave some implemented reduced contact guidelines? Yes, the NFL has reduced the number of full contact practices significantly through their collective bargaining agreement. Some colleges have followed this pattern also as well as a few states at the high school level. Some coaches\u2019 fear all contact will cease and the game evolves into flag football.\nWhat is new in initial testing for a concussion? Research in visual testing has proved very useful to determine concussion symptoms. A new sideline test which includes a baseline being obtained first is called the King-Devick test which measures visual acuity on a timed based. If athletes do not reach their baseline they are automatically disqualified to return to play and undergo further testing.\nWhat is Return to Learn? Sports are not the only thing that needs an adjustment when one incurs a concussion. Classroom activities, socialization, reading, test taking, concentration, comprehension can all be impacted. Academic accommodations may need to be made with a gradual return to learn process which includes an incremental process in the classroom. Part of a comprehensive concussion program includes this in the process. For more information check www.cdc.gov under their \u201cheads up\u201d Concussion program. \nDo they still grade concussions? Concussions are no longer graded on a scale or classified as mild or severe. They are all considered brain injuries or as the Academy of Neurology defines concussion as \u201ca trauma \u2013induced alteration in mental status that may or may not involve loss of consciousness whose hallmark condition is confusion\u201d\nPrevention and recognition? While limited contact in sports helps, collisions will still occur resulting in concussions. This is a public health issue where parents and coaches should advocate for a Certified Athletic Trainer who has the resources to help to prevent and manage these concussive injuries. As Jim Thornton, President of the National Athletic Trainers Association says\u201d would you ever drop your child at a swimming pool without a lifeguard?\u201d yet parents drop their children off at hockey, lacrosse, football and other sports without an athletic trainer present \u2013 it doesn\u2019t make sense\u201d\nJim Mackie, M.Ed., ATC, LAT is a Licensed and Certified Athletic Trainer with the Jacksonville Sports Medicine Program and serves as the Athletic Trainer for Trinity Christian Academy through Athletic Training and Sports Medicine Services. For more information see www.jsmp.us or call 904-202-5320 or 904-477-9291.[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section]\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Concussions remain in the forefront of athlete safety concerns. Unfortunately, there have been eight recorded deaths in sports this fall season from heart conditions, head injury, heat related and other causes. Athletic Trainers, Physicians, and healthcare professionals are working to educate the public as well as promote safety. While football gets a lot of media […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":216086,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_et_pb_use_builder":"on","_et_pb_old_content":"Concussions remain in the forefront of athlete safety concerns. Unfortunately, there have been eight recorded deaths in sports this fall season from heart conditions, head injury, heat related and other causes. Athletic Trainers, Physicians, and healthcare professionals are working to educate the public as well as promote safety. While football gets a lot of media attention, remember soccer, hockey, lacrosse, and other contact sports are now beginning their seasons and are a source of concussion. Know the signs and symptoms of a concussion and remember \u201cWhen in doubt, sit them out\u201d\nAre there more concussions occurring? According to a leading researcher, Kevin Guskowitz, PhD, ATC; \u201cconcussion injuries have not increased, they are just better reported and the medic has continues to focus on this issue.\u201d\nWhere are we at with helmet technology and sensors? Helmets prevent skull fractures, they do not necessarily prevent brain injury. While much has been done to improve helmet technology through padding, both inside and out as well as a controversial rating system concussions continue. There are new methods in use, especially at the collegiate level for monitoring the severity, location and number of impacts incurred. In the NFL, they also use a specific spotter to alert medical personnel when they see an unusually hard hit or player acting suspiciously. Helmets with sensors are valued at about $425.00 for which some parents are willing to pay for but are a cost consideration for schools.\nHave some implemented reduced contact guidelines? Yes, the NFL has reduced the number of full contact practices significantly through their collective bargaining agreement. Some colleges have followed this pattern also as well as a few states at the high school level. Some coaches\u2019 fear all contact will cease and the game evolves into flag football.\nWhat is new in initial testing for a concussion? Research in visual testing has proved very useful to determine concussion symptoms. A new sideline test which includes a baseline being obtained first is called the King-Devick test which measures visual acuity on a timed based. If athletes do not reach their baseline they are automatically disqualified to return to play and undergo further testing.\nWhat is Return to Learn? Sports are not the only thing that needs an adjustment when one incurs a concussion. Classroom activities, socialization, reading, test taking, concentration, comprehension can all be impacted. Academic accommodations may need to be made with a gradual return to learn process which includes an incremental process in the classroom. Part of a comprehensive concussion program includes this in the process. For more information check www.cdc.gov under their \u201cheads up\u201d Concussion program. \nDo they still grade concussions? Concussions are no longer graded on a scale or classified as mild or severe. They are all considered brain injuries or as the Academy of Neurology defines concussion as \u201ca trauma \u2013induced alteration in mental status that may or may not involve loss of consciousness whose hallmark condition is confusion\u201d\nPrevention and recognition? While limited contact in sports helps, collisions will still occur resulting in concussions. This is a public health issue where parents and coaches should advocate for a Certified Athletic Trainer who has the resources to help to prevent and manage these concussive injuries. As Jim Thornton, President of the National Athletic Trainers Association says\u201d would you ever drop your child at a swimming pool without a lifeguard?\u201d yet parents drop their children off at hockey, lacrosse, football and other sports without an athletic trainer present \u2013 it doesn\u2019t make sense\u201d\nJim Mackie, M.Ed., ATC, LAT is a Licensed and Certified Athletic Trainer with the Jacksonville Sports Medicine Program and serves as the Athletic Trainer for Trinity Christian Academy through Athletic Training and Sports Medicine Services. For more information see www.jsmp.us or call 904-202-5320 or 904-477-9291.\n","_et_gb_content_width":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/atsjax.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/215744"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/atsjax.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/atsjax.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/atsjax.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/atsjax.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=215744"}],"version-history":[{"count":4,"href":"https:\/\/atsjax.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/215744\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":216089,"href":"https:\/\/atsjax.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/215744\/revisions\/216089"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/atsjax.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/216086"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/atsjax.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=215744"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/atsjax.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=215744"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/atsjax.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=215744"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}