Blog Archive
What's the difference between head injury or concussion? Both a head injury and concussion are typically caused by a hard hit to the head. Both should cause soreness on the head at the site of the hit and may cause a large, localized bump or bruise as well. A head...
If you are a football fan, you have likely heard about Tua Tagovailoa's recent football injury. Watching the replay of his injury was heartbreaking in both the intensity of the hit and the immediate side effects. Our hearts go out to him, and we hope he will have a full...
Why do these changes happen? In short, a concussion causes brain cells to be temporarily damaged. Thankfully, these brain cells will heal! Until they heal, communication between brain cells is more difficult. This difficulty results in concussion symptoms because the brain is having to work harder, with injured connections and...
Why do these problems happen? “A concussion weakens your brain’s ability to make and supply energy for healing. To make matters worse, a concussed brain needs more energy than normal to restore balance and heal. This gap between your lower energy supply and higher energy demand explains why you may...
Why does it happen? In short, a concussion causes brain cells to be temporarily damaged. Thankfully, these brain cells will heal! Until they heal, communication between brain cells is more difficult. This difficulty results in concussion symptoms because the brain is having to work harder, with injured connections and less...
Why does it happen? In short, a concussion causes brain cells to be temporarily damaged. Thankfully, these brain cells will heal! Until they heal, communication between brain cells is more difficult. This difficulty results in concussion symptoms because the brain is having to work harder, with injured connections and less...
Why do they happen? In short, a concussion causes brain cells to be temporarily damaged. Thankfully, these brain cells will heal! Until they heal, communication between brain cells is more difficult. This difficulty results in concussion symptoms because the brain is having to work harder, with injured connections and less...
Why does it happen? In short, a concussion causes brain cells to be temporarily damaged. Thankfully, these brain cells will heal! Until they heal, communication between brain cells is more difficult. This difficulty results in concussion symptoms because the brain is having to work harder, with injured connections and less...
Thankfully, scientists are constantly inventing and studying products to help detect and prevent concussions. We wanted to take a moment to summarize what we have learned about those products most recently introduced. Though research is ongoing, and time will tell how well these products work and can be utilized in...
Over the next 6 months we are going to be discussing common concussion symptoms and alleviating factors as explained by a concussion reference we know and trust, ImPACT (Immediate Post-Concussion Assessment and Cognitive Testing). ImPACT researchers believe that each concussion falls into one or more of 6 categories and that once we...
COVID-19 has changed almost all aspects of our lives over the past year. Now, when we head out the door, in addition to remembering our wallet or purse and keys, we must remember a mask and hand sanitizer. Our ability to have birthday parties for our kids has changed and...
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic we have all spent much more time looking at screens than ever before. Though we do not know definitively what the fall semester will look like, we know that it will likely involve more screen time! This is concerning to many parents. Mindfully considering how...
Concussions affect all aspects of life and can be so frustrating. Not only does the patient not feel like themselves, but morale can really worsen when we take away activities, they love such as playing video games, spending hours on their screen, and driving privileges. One of the questions we...
How can we improve the way sports handle brain injuries? First and foremost, recognizing a head injury and then being respectful about healing time and getting enough rest after a head injury. Most importantly, it is essential to identify when a concussion occurs, which may or may not involve a...
Going from a busy schedule full of school, sports, and playdates, to being quarantined with no confirmed end in sight, it comes as no surprise that life right now is challenging both physically and mentally. At SportsSafe Concussion Clinic, we are so used to focusing on concussion management and treatment....
Myth #1 – You don’t have a concussion unless you had loss of consciousness Fact – Loss of consciousness occurs only a small percent of the time with concussion. When this occurs, the athlete and those who observed the injury can easily see that the injury was a concussion. In...
What are the most common injuries in youth soccer players? The most common soccer injuries are not concussions, but instead, are overuse injuries involving the legs, “and include patellar tendinitis (Jumper's knee), medial tibial stress syndrome (shin splints), Osgood-Schlatter disease, and patellofemoral pain syndrome (Runner's knee).” Of course, “sprains, strains, bumps, and bruises to the ankles and...
Omega-3 fatty acids are essential to our body. The 3 main types are ALA, DHA, and EPA. They help maintain heart health, brain health, and emotional health; they also help modulate our weight, fight inflammation, and keep our bones strong. Omega-3 fatty acids are not made by our body and...
Fall sports are starting and now is a great time to get your child’s concussion baseline test done! Concussion baseline testing is done prior to your child starting their athletic season and allows us to be able to compare post-injury results to each child's pre-injury norm. Baselines help us confidently...
Second Impact Syndrome is a type of brain injury that has devastating consequences. There is not much published research on the topic though we still hear about it in the news, mostly affecting children and teens. Although second impact syndrome is rare, we believe it is worth discussing because it...
There are a few key differences in the brains of children and adults that make children more susceptible to brain injury than adults. The key differences are discussed below. The skull of a child is large compared to the size of brain. By 5 years old, a child’s skull is...
What is Convergence Insufficiency? Convergence insufficiency is a problem with the eye muscles working together (aka: “eye teaming”) to view near objects. One or both eyes can have a tendency to move outward when reading or viewing something up close. Convergence insufficiency can also be present without a concussion; in fact,...
Mouth guards are worn in many contact sports with the main goal of protecting the mouth, teeth, and jaw, and literature has shown them to be very effective. Though they were initially designed to prevent dental and facial trauma, researchers are now wondering if they can serve another purpose, to...
Parents may find the subject of screen time limitations just as daunting, if not more daunting, than children do. The constant battle of screen time allowance between a parent and child causes constant strife, which strains the relationship and not to mention, effects everyone’s sanity! This topic becomes even more...
A concussion is a type of TBI (traumatic brain injury). They can be referred to as a “mild TBI” because they are not usually life-threatening. Concussions occur when a hard hit to the head or body causes the brain to move in the skull. The movement of the brain in...
Today we want to talk about what the vestibular system is, how it is impacted after a concussion and what we can do to help your child recover.The Vestibular System:The vestibular system is the system our bodies use to help us balance and know where our body is in space...
Water Safety and ConcussionsHow to Prevent Concussions in the water?Don’t dive into water that you don’t know the depth. Be very careful in lakes and rivers, where there are often rocks and the depth can change abruptly.Don’t dive into shallow waterAlways use proper technique when divingBe conscious of how close...
Swimming and Diving with a concussionDuring concussion recovery, your provider will likely recommend altering some of your normal activities. While recovering it is very important to not do any activity with a high risk of hitting your head again, as this could worsen your injury. Recent concussion guidelines encourage children...
Does neck strength help prevent concussions?Concussions are very prevalent among children and adolescents, especially those who play sports. A common question we are asked is what can be done to help prevent concussions. One thing an athlete can do to help decrease concussion chances are to strengthen neck muscles.We think...
Sleep after a concussion is vital to brain healing and symptom management. There are many misconceptions about sleep after a concussion; our goal is to help parents understand what to do if you suspect your child has a concussion.First, SportsSafe recommends that if a concussion is suspected, it is important...
Winter is a fun time for outdoor sports and recreation, unfortunately these do not come without risk of injury. There are several steps to take in staying safe while skiing, snowboarding and sledding. Concussions account for a significant portion of the injuries occurring in winter sports. Some ways to stay...
Hockey can be a brutal sport. Concussions, a mild traumatic brain injury common in contact sports, can be devastating. But are they a scourge that will ruin hockey or a problem that can be managed? The science is unsettled. While the National Football League paid more than $1 billion to settle a lawsuit...
Soccer is the leading cause of sport related concussion in girls, and one of the top sports causing concussion in boys. Most of the time concussions in soccer occur from collisions (head to head or head to body part), falls where the head hits the ground, or an unexpected head...
Flying after a concussionThere is never a good time to get a concussion, but before or during vacation can be particularly disappointing. It is okay to fly after a concussion as long as it has been a few days since the injury, symptoms are improving, there is no brain bleed or...
Where to go for additional concussion informationUseful resources online: CDC Heads Up ProgramGreat information for athletes, parents, coaches and medical professionalsPrintable information to share with your teamImPACT: “Immediate Post-Concussion Assessment and Cognitive Testing”Information regarding baseline testing, post injury testing, and the importance of cognitive testingimpacttest.comUniversity Interscholastic League (UIL)For information regarding...
Exercise after a concussionOver the years recommendations have changed considerably on when it’s okay to exercise after a concussion. When SportsSafe started in 2010, the literature recommended no physical activity until all concussion symptoms were gone at rest. Recommendations then changed to endorse rest for at least 2 weeks after...
Keeping A Normal Routine after a ConcussionConcussions are a significant brain injury that impact every part of a student’s life, not just sports participation. Concussion symptoms tend to worsen with concentration and with exercise, and it is important to pay attention when symptoms worsen. To help recovery, it’s important to...
What do I do if I suspect a concussion?A concussion is any injury to the brain that changes the way your brain works. It is caused by hitting your head or body, causing your head to move back and forth, causing your brain to hit the inside of your skull...
A concussion is a type of TBI (traumatic brain injury). They can be referred to as a “mild TBI” because they are not usually life-threatening. Concussions occur when a hard hit to the head or body causes the brain to move in the skull. The movement of the brain in...
Summer is in full swing here in Austin, Texas! We hope you and your family are enjoying your summer vacation and staying cool!! Fall sports are just around the corner and now is a great time to get your child’s concussion baseline test done! Concussion baseline testing is done...
Importance of Proper HydrationAt SportsSafe we know that children and teens mature socially, emotionally, and physically through team sports participation. We also know that team sports participation is not without risk. SportsSafe is mindful of these risks and our goal is to provide the safest parameters for your child’s athletic...
How to Choose a HelmetWhile no helmet will prevent your child from getting a concussion, they can help protect him/her from a serious brain injury. Helmets are designed to prevent skull fractures and brains bleeds, and when used correctly, are effective at minimizing these significant brain injuries. Unfortunately, helmets do...