Sports Concussion: What to Do, in Order
Sports Concussion: what is worth doing, what is worth avoiding, and when to stop and see a doctor.
A brain injury caused by a blow or jolt to the head or body during sports, and how to recognize and manage it. Young athletes who keep playing after a concussion risk slower recovery and a more serious injury.
Key takeaways
- Rule: when in doubt, sit them out
- Signs coaches may see: appears dazed, is confused about plays, moves clumsily, answers slowly, behavior changes
- Most useful single change: Remove an athlete from play right away if a concussion is suspected.
- Commonest mistake: Letting an athlete "shake it off" and go back in.
- See a doctor if any of the signs under "When to speak to a doctor" below apply to you.
Do
- Remove an athlete from play right away if a concussion is suspected
- Have the athlete checked by a health care provider
- Plan a gradual return to school as well as to sports
- Use CDC HEADS UP training for coaches, parents and athletes
Do not
- Letting an athlete "shake it off" and go back in
- Hiding symptoms to keep playing
- Rushing back to full activity before symptoms are gone
The numbers behind the list
The list is built from the numbers below, which come from the bodies cited at the end.
| Measure | Figure |
|---|---|
| Rule | when in doubt, sit them out |
| Signs coaches may see | appears dazed, is confused about plays, moves clumsily, answers slowly, behavior changes |
| Symptoms athletes report | headache, nausea, dizziness, blurry vision, sensitivity to light or noise, feeling foggy |
| Same day | no return to play on the day of the injury |
| Return to play | gradual, step by step, and only after a health care provider says it is safe |
If you change one thing
Remove an athlete from play right away if a concussion is suspected. Start there. The rest of the list keeps.
Related topics
- Concussion: What Published Guidance Supports (Brain Health)
- Head Injury: What Published Guidance Supports (Emergency Care)
- Sports Injuries: What Published Guidance Supports (Bone and Joint)
- Sports Physicals and Teen Nutrition: What Published Guidance Supports (Teen Health)
Where to go next
- What People Get Wrong About Sports Concussion
- Sports Concussion for Beginners: Where to Start
- Sports Concussion — the reference entry
- Injury Prevention: The Complete Guide
- Dog Bite Prevention: What Published Guidance Supports
- Safe Sleep for Infants: Sorting the Evidence From the Noise
When to speak to a doctor
Call 911 or go to the emergency room for one pupil larger than the other, drowsiness or inability to wake, a headache that gets worse, repeated vomiting, seizures, slurred speech, weakness or numbness, or loss of consciousness. Any athlete with a suspected concussion should see a health care provider before returning to play.
Where this comes from
- CDC — HEADS UP to Youth Sports
- CDC — Concussion Signs and Symptoms
- American Academy of Pediatrics — Concussions
How this page was put together
Every figure, recommendation and warning above is taken from the guidance named in Where this comes from. Nothing on this page is inferred, summarized or generalized beyond what those bodies publish: where they give a number, it is their number, and where they are silent, so are we. Pages are rebuilt whenever the underlying record changes. Sign-off by a named clinician, where it has happened, is shown at the top of the page along with the date.
Medical disclaimer
This article is general information, not medical advice. It cannot account for your own history, medication or circumstances. Always speak to your doctor, pharmacist or another qualified health professional before making changes that affect your treatment, and never delay seeking medical advice because of something you have read here. In an emergency, call 911.
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