SLIAC Athletic Training
Athletic Training Minimum Standards
| Emergency Action and Concussion Management Plans |
|
| Blackburn | EAP / CMP |
| Eureka | EAP / CMP |
| Fontbonne | EAP / CMP |
| Greenville | EAP / CMP |
| Iowa Wesleyan | EAP / CMP |
| MacMurray | EAP / CMP |
| Principia | EAP / CMP |
| Spalding | EAP / CMP |
| Webster | EAP / CMP |
| Westminster | EAP / CMP |
Spalding University Sports Medicine
Concussion Policy
Concussion Information
A concussion is a complex patho-physiologic process affecting the brain, induce by traumatic biomechanical forces secondary to direct or indirect forces to the head. A concussion is caused by a blow or jolt to the head that disrupts the function of the brain. Concussions results in a wide range of physical, cognitive, emotional, and/or sleep related symptoms. Symptoms include but are not limited to: headache, nausea, sensitivity to light/noise, fatigue, drowsiness, irritability, and feeling slowed down and/or foggy. Duration of symptoms is highly variable and may last from several minutes to days, weeks, months, or even longer in some cases.
Second Impact Syndrome
Second Impact Syndrome (SIS) occurs when an athlete, who has already sustained a head injury, sustains a second head injury prior to complete resolution of symptoms. This often occurs because a person has returned to participation too soon. Most persons do not realize that it may take days and weeks for concussion symptoms to resolve. SIS most likely affects young athletes (jr/sr high school); however, any athlete who returns to play too soon is a possible candidate. SIS is a very serious condition that has been linked to permanent brain damage or even death.
The Purpose of Neurocognitive Testing
Given the outlined concerns and inherent difficulties in managing concussion, individualized and comprehensive management of concussion is optimal. At the forefront of proper concussion management is the implementation of baseline and/or post-injury neurocognitive testing. Such evaluation can help to objectively evaluate the concussed athlete’s post-injury condition and track recovery for safe return to play, thus preventing the cumulative effects of concussion. In fact, neurocongnitive testing has recently been called the “cornerstone” of proper concussion management by an international panel of sports medicine experts (“ImPACT”, 2009). CogSport is a user-friendly computer based testing program specifically designed for the management of sports-related concussion that is used across the nation at the high school, collegiate, and professional levels of sport participation.
In order to provide Spalding University student-athletes with the best possible care and prevention of multiple concussion and second impact syndrome, at-risk team members of the following sports will perform baseline testing:
- Volleyball
- Men’s and Women’s Soccer
- Men’s and Women’s Basketball
- Baseball
- Softball
Athletes involved in the collegiate sports must complete the baseline testing prior to their participation in any organized team activities. Times will be scheduled for each team to perform their testing protocols.
Management Plan for Suspected Concussions at Spalding University
A student-athlete with a suspected concussion will be evaluated by a Certified Athletic Trainer at the time of the injury. Coaches must report to the Certified Athletic Trainer on site if any athlete is showing signs or symptoms of a concussion so that student-athlete can be evaluated. Any student-athlete that has presented a positive concussion evaluation will be removed immediately from participation for the rest of the day of practice or contest. The physician (if on site) or certified athletic trainer will decide, based on present symptoms, if the student-athlete needs immediate referral for further medical attention. If no immediate referral is necessary, the student-athlete will be sent home with care instructions to be given and followed by a responsible adult. The athlete will follow-up with medical staff in the athletic training room.
Signs
Appears to be dazed or stunned
Confused about assignment
Unable to remember plays
Unsure of game, score, opponent
Slow to answer questions
Moves clumsily
Loses consciousness
Vomiting
Shows behavior or personality changes
Can’t recall events before incident
Can’t recall events after the incident
Symptoms
Headache
Nausea
Dizziness or balance problems
Double or fuzzy vision or any other visual alteration
Sensitivity to light and/or noise
Feeling sluggish or slow
Feeling “foggy” or groggy
Concentration or memory problems, confusion
Extreme fatigue
The student-athlete will check in with the athletic training staff daily to fill out a symptom score checklist. When an athlete is reporting a zero on the symptom score checklist, the post-concussion ImPact test will be completed by the athlete. If the athlete’s post-injury score is similar to the baseline score, they can begin with the return to play progression. If the athlete’s post-injury score shows a deficit when compared to the baseline score, they will be sent to the team physician for further evaluation.
Return to Play Protocols
The return to play progression is a multi-step process. It will begin once the athlete is symptom free at rest and has an adequate score on post-injury ImPact test as compared to baseline. Completing one step and moving on to the next is contingent upon finishing the activity with no return of symptoms.
- Stage 1: 30 minute progressive activity
- Stage 2: Sport-specific exertional activity
- Stage 3: Non-contact sport activity
- Stage 4: Return to contact activities
Student-Athlete Name: _____________________________________________________
Student-Athlete Signature: __________________________________________________
Coaches Signature: ________________________________________________________
Date: _____________