Concussion Information
Los Angeles City College Sports Medicine
Concussion Management Plan
The Los Angeles City College Sports Medicine Department recognizes that head injuries, particularly sport-induced concussions, pose a significant health risk for those student-athletes participating in intercollegiate athletics at the College. Consequently, Los Angeles City College has implemented policies and procedures to assess and identify those student-athletes who have suffered a concussion.
These policies and procedures are directed and overseen by the team physician for Los Angeles City College Athletics. The Team Physician or their designee has final say over all return-to-play decisions. For the purpose of this document, the designee refers to the Certified Athletic Trainers employed at Los Angeles City College (LACC). The following components have been identified by the NCAA as a recommended best practice for a Concussion Management Plan.
What is a Concussion?
Concussions are the most common form of head injury suffered by athletes. Due to the complexity of the injury and ever-growing research, a unanimous definition of “concussion” does not exist. A concussion can be caused by a direct or indirect hit to the head or body and can result in a disturbance and/or impairment in neurologic function. When an athlete suffers a concussion, the brain suddenly shifts or shakes inside the skull and can knock against the skull’s bony surface. A hard hit to the body can result in an acceleration and/or deceleration injury when the brain brushes against bony protuberances inside the skull. The exact recovery period from this trauma is unclear and will vary from individual to individual.
Following a concussion, the athlete may experience a variety of symptoms. Most concussions occur without a loss of consciousness. It is important to remember that some symptoms may appear right away and some may be delayed. Symptoms, as well as symptom severity, may differ between individuals; however, a combination of symptoms classically occurs.
Some Signs and Symptoms:
Signs:
- Difficulty concentrating
- Inappropriate playing behavior
- Decreased playing ability
- Inability to perform daily activities
- Reduced attention
- Cognitive and memory dysfunction
- Sleep disturbances
- Vacant stare
- Loss of bowel and/or bladder control
- Personality change
- Unsteadiness of gait
- Slurred/incoherent speech
- Loss of consciousness
Symptoms:
- Nausea/vomiting
- Dizziness
- Confusion
- Fatigue
- Light headedness
- Headaches
- Irritability
- Disorientation
- Seeing bright lights/stars
- Feeling of being stunned
- Depression
- Ringing in the ears
Notification of Injury/Symptoms:
Due to the serious nature of this injury and potential dangerous results of returning to activity, concussions need to be recognized and diagnosed as soon as possible. It is required that student-athletes be truthful and forthcoming about their symptoms as soon as they are present. If/when he or she is diagnosed with a concussion, the student-athlete must report symptoms each day until he or she is cleared for full activity by the Team Physician or their designee.
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