Concussion can affect anyone – in sport it’s an issue for athletes at all levels, from the part-time recreational athlete through to the full-time professional. Concussion can also be as a result of a workplace, school or home injury, or a transport accident.
We offer a specialist follow-up Concussion Service to help guide patients in their return to sport, work, school, or other activities.
We can:
Diagnose and / or assess concussion with physical and cognitive tests
Offer guidelines on return to work, school and daily life
Provide a follow up assessment (and clearance) for a safe return to play
Provide referral to other specialists for further assessment, if required
Assist you / your club on education for concussion & injury management.
Call 9481 5744 to enquire about this service or to make an appointment.
What is concussion?
The Concussion in Sport Group (CISG) international Consensus Statement defines concussion as ‘a traumatic brain injury, induced by biomechanical forces’. It results from a direct blow to the head, face or neck; or a blow elsewhere on the body with an impulsive force transmitted to the head. It may or may not involve loss of consciousness, post-traumatic amnesia (memory loss) and seizures/convulsions.
Concussion is a brain injury that can affect any aspect of an individual’s brain (neurological) functioning e.g. cognition, emotional regulation, balance, reaction time, decision making, memory and problem solving.
Typical symptoms include:
- Headaches
- Pressure in head
- Nausea/vomiting
- Neck pain
- Dizziness
- Blurred vision
- Balance Problems
- Sensitivity to light (including screens)
- Sensitivity to noise
- Feeling slowed down
- Feeling like “in a fog”
- “Don’t feel right”
- Difficulty concentrating
- Difficulty remembering
- Fatigue or low energy
- Drowsiness
- Confusion
- Irritability
- More emotional
- Sadness
- Nervous or anxious
- Trouble falling asleep
It is an evolving injury that may change over the first few hours or over a few days. While most people recover from concussion within 14 days, some take longer, especially children. It is important to note that the Australian Concussion Guidelines for Youth and Community Sport stipulates a minimum period of 21 days until the resumption of competitive contact/collision sport.
In the past concussion was seen as something that happened to contact sports athletes and was passed off as one of those things that were of little consequence. As with all areas of medicine, knowledge over time improves and paradigms of management change – that was the case in this area of medicine. Improvement in knowledge from dedicated high-quality research along with new technologies such as functional MRI and computer based neuropsychological have lead researchers and clinicians to reappraise their practice.
Recent research suggests that full brain recovery lags well behind symptom resolution: that is, the person feels better before the brain actually gets better. Hence, we have ‘the no return to play the same day policy’, when concussion is diagnosed, or even suspected. Then, management and rehabilitation with a Clinician who specialises in concussion is strongly recommended.
If managed appropriately, most symptoms and signs of concussion resolve over a short period of time. However, prolonged symptoms can occur, known as post-concussion syndrome. Our Specialist Sport & Exercise Physicians and Registrars can identify persistent concussions symptoms and advise on the appropriate management.
Follow our S.A.F.E. steps for concussion
S: Stop play / activity
A: Attend a hospital ED if there is any loss of consciousness (as other more severe brain injuries can be mistaken for concussion)
F: Follow up with Alphington Sports Medicine’s Concussion Service for diagnosis and/or assessment, and guidance
E: Examination with an experienced doctor for approval to return to sport, work or school
What is the best practice around managing concussion?
The key thing is that the condition is recognised as having occurred, or even possibly having occurred, with the player withdrawn from play and appropriate follow up organised.
The player requires close monitoring of their wellbeing as they return to normal activity via a graduated program of training and match play.
The assessment, diagnosis of concussion, management of the condition and return to play is a medical process and must involve a doctor, preferably with experience in managing sports concussion. Most sports require a medical clearance, and it is optimal to have this completed by a doctor with experience in managing concussion.
We have Specialist Sport and Exercise Physicians, and Registrars undertaking specialist training, with experience in managing sports related head injuries who can assess players that may have, or have been diagnosed with, concussion to ensure optimal recovery and a safe return to play.
There are many benefits to be gained from assessment, not the least is to have the incident well documented for the future i.e. recurrent episodes, work certification or special consideration for school, exams etc. This involves a full history, examination and brain function assessment (SCAT 6, and potentially formal neuropsychological testing).
Call us on 9481 5744 to enquire about our Concussion Service or to make an appointment.
Here are some links to further information and useful resources:
- HeadCheck: A FREE evidence-based app to help identify concussion signs and manage recovery. It is designed by world-leading experts in collaboration with the AFL. It gives advice on the need for medical treatment and a personalised plan for recovery. It also provides education and specific tasks to aid symptom management. https://www.headcheck.com.au/
- AFL Community Concussion Guidelines: Detailed guidelines on managing sport related concussion in Australian Football with a special supplement for the management of concussion in children and adolescents. https://play.afl/clubhelp/resources/afl-community-concussion-guidelines
- Australian Institute of Sport (AIS) – Concussion in Australian Sport “If in doubt, sit them out”: Resources including the Concussion and Brain Health Position Statement 2024, Australian Concussion Guidelines for Youth and Community Sport, and supporting information for Athletes, Parents/Teachers & Coaches/Support Staff. https://www.concussioninsport.gov.au/home
- British Journal of Sports Medicine: Consensus statement on concussion in sport
- Sports Medicine Australia – Resources & Advice: Concussion
- Connectivity Traumatic Brain Injury Australia
Please Note: This information does not replace proper medical assessment and consultation; it is provided as a guide only. A Doctor should be consulted before beginning any regimen or activity.
