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Concussions

Concussions are mild traumatic brain injuries​. It sounds different doesn’t it, traumatic brain injury. If
an athlete suffers a traumatic knee injury, we think career ending damage, or at least months of rehab.
Yet we don’t often connect the significance and severity of a mild traumatic brain injury, also called a
concussion. Effects of mild traumatic brain injuries (mTBI’s) can impair a person’s ability to focus, com-
plete simple reasoning, control aggression, and cope with stress both immediately and for years after.
All factors that are important to succeed academically as well as function in society. The most severe
short term effect could be second concussion syndrome. If an athlete suffers a second impact before
the brain has healed, the swelling could be fatal. Long term effects of concussions are being linked to
increased risk of dementia, Alzheimer’s, and Parkinson’s. Now concussion sounds different, doesn’t it.

A mild traumatic brain injury can occur from any force that causes the brain to contact the inside
of the skull. Direct hits to the head are not the only way a concussion can be produced. Body impacts
can force the head and neck to swing violently, moving the skull when the brain stays still. During a
head injury, the brain first hits the side of the skull from which the impact came, then can whip into
the other side of the hard inner bone, causing two spots of damage on the brain. Any sport with speed
has the potential to cause a concussion. After an impact to the brain, inflammation and bruising begins,
causing pressure to increase inside of the skull and compresses the brain. These bruises aren’t always
bleeds that will show up on a CT scan. Confusion, difficulty with balance, loss of consciousness, and
headaches are early signs of a concussion. At this point the athlete should be taken out of play and
brought in to be checked. If nausea persists, headaches increase, or balance and confusion worsen it is
time to seek emergency care as the brain may be swelling out of control, inhibiting the brain’s ability to
control vital body functions.

At Saks Wellness Center, we believe that it is vital for every athlete to get a baseline screen. The
screen measures the brain’s normal reaction speed so that after an injury, we can retest against their
normal to assess if damage has occured. An injured brain will not respond as quickly as a healthy brain.
This information can give physicians and families a better understanding for the severity of the damage,
course of treatment, and for when the brain has returned to its normal function after treatment. Base-
lines are simple, take approximately 10 minutes, and typically test reaction speed and body sway. No
athlete should be playing an impact sport without having this simple and vital information so at Saks
Wellness Center, student athletes of any age are encouraged to come in and get a ​free baseline​in our
clinic. Call us to schedule, the earlier in the season the better. We want to make it accessible so that
we can help limit and prevent mild traumatic brain injuries from possibly causing life long damage. From
the Saks Wellness Center team, we wish all athletes a safe and exciting season this fall. Thank you.

Sincerely, Dr. Brian Marhofer Dr. Gary Saks The SWC team

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