Concussions:
AND CRANIAL NERVES:
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What is a
A concussion
is a mild traumatic brain injury
Concussion?
that occurs when a blow or jolt to the head
disrupts the normal functioning of the brain.
Some athletes lose consciousness after a
concussion, but others are just dazed or
confused. A concussion is usually caused by a
blow to the head, but can also occur due to
whiplash.
Facts about
Concussions:
Twenty
percent of all concussions are sports-related
A concussion doesn’t always knock you out
Having one concussion increases your chances of having
another
Symptoms of a concussion can last hours, days, weeks,
months, or indefinitely
Returning to contact or collision sports before you have
completely recovered from a concussion may lead to
more serious injury and can increase your chances of
long-term problems
10% of all contact sport athletes sustain a concussion
Concussion Signs:
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SIGNS: (Observed by coach, parent, etc…)
Change in appearance: Looks stunned or dazed
Shows behavioral or personality changes
Forgets plays he/she normally knows
Confusion
Slow to respond to questions
Forgets what happened before (retrograde) the play
Forgets what happened after (antrograde) the play
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Concussion
Symptoms:
SYMPTOMS: (reported by the athlete)
Headache
Dizziness
Nausea
Ringing in Ears
“Don’t feel right”
Blurred vision or double vision
Feeling “Dazed”
Fatigue/Low Energy/tired
Difficulty concentrating
Sensitivity to Light or noise
Memory Problems
Sleep Disturbances/Trouble Sleeping
Evaluation:
• Now that you have noticed some signs
and symptoms of a concussion...How
can you check for a concussion?
12 Cranial Nerves:
• To get started just remember...
• One Orange Octopus Took Two Apples
From A Giraffe’s Very Secret Hideout!
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12 Cranial Nerves:
1. Olfactory
2. Optic
3. Occulomotor
4. Trochlear
5. Trigeminal
6. Abducens
7. Facial
8. Auditory
9. Glossopharyngeal
10. Vagus
11. Spinal Accesory
12. Hypoglossal
Cranial nerve
functions:
• Olfactory: smell
• Optic: vision
• Occulomotor: pupil dilation
• Trochlear: eye movement
• Trigeminal: chewing/jaw movement
• Abducens: eye movement
Cranial nerve
functions:
• Facial: facial movements
• Auditory: hearing and equilibrium
• Glossopharyngeal: swallowing
• Vagus: breathing and speech
• Spinal Accesory: shoulder movement
• Hypoglossal: tongue movement
Treatment:
• Now that you have determine that the
athlete does have a concussion...what
do you do next?
• CIF regulations:
• athlete must be removed from
competition
• athlete must see a doctor
Second Impact
Syndrome:
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An athlete that sustains a
concussion is 4-6 times
more likely to sustain a
second concussion.
Second impact syndrome
can occur if a second
concussion is sustained
prior to the first concussion
healing.
Second concussion usually
sustained with little force.
50% Mortality Rate
• No Return
exertional activity until
to Play:
asymptomatic at rest and with mental
exertion. (This can take anywhere from
7-10 Days or longer to become fully
asymptomatic)
• Then begin progressive return to play
steps:
• Step 1:
• Light aerobic exercise such as
walking or stationary bike, etc.
• No resistance training
Return to play:
• Step 3:
• Non contact training
• Step 4:
• Full contact training in practice
session
• Step 5:
• Return to competition
ImPACT Testing:
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ImPACT stands for Immediate Post Concussion Assessment and
Cognitive Testing
It looks at different functions of the brain such as memory,
brain processing speed, reaction time, attention as well as postconcussive symptoms
This system takes the guess work out of when it is safe for an
athlete to return to play