For Providers

Sports Concussions in Young and Growing Athletes

The experts at Children’s Medical Center are eager to help you successfully manage your patients with suspected or confirmed sports concussions.  In most cases, proper, early management of the young athlete will result in excellent outcomes and return to full activity.  However, delays in patient and family education puts the athlete’s young mind at risk for longer, more complicated recovery patterns.

Here are key points to cover at the first visit:

  • Mental and physical rest is vital
    • No screens (TV, video games or phones) 
    • No excessive auditory input (e.g. radio, television or loud environments)
    • No physical activity that exacerbates symptoms, limitations to all activities other than ADLs (Activities of Daily Living) is recommended until symptoms fully resolve
    • Modification of school work is recommended to minimize the brain’s required activity (e.g. provide alternatives to note-taking, delay testing, shorten length of school day to avoid symptom onset)
  • Not following these recommendations can lead to longer recovery times and delays to returning to sports.  With good care and medical assessment, young patients may be able to return to sports as early as two weeks from the initial injury, however, we are finding young brains to require additional time to recover.

Outlined below are resources for the provider from peer-reviewed medical journals to CME lectures by sports medicine experts in your community.  Additionally, you will find resources  for your patients and families to learn more about sports concussions and return to play risks and guidelines.

Please consider a referral to the Sports Medicine Center if your patient is experiencing a prolonged recovery or complex symptoms.  We are here to help you care for your patients.

Management Resources

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Our Experts at Your Fingertips

  • 2011, December - Shane Miller, MD
    Children's Medical Ceneter CME at Southlake
  • 2011, November – Shane Miller, MD
    Children’s Medical Center Fax Notes 
  • 2011, October 12 – Shane Miller, MD
    Children’s Medical Center at Legacy, Advanced Practice Grand Rounds 
  • 2011, April - Shane Miller, MD
    Children’s Medical Center School Nurse Conference powerpoint 

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