IB Sports, exercise and health science B.3.2.3 Staged Recovery Process for Concussion Injuries Notes

Concussion recovery is not linear

1. Concussion is a brain injury, and the brain does not follow the same recovery rules as a sprained ankle.
2. Two concussions in two different athletes can look completely different.
3. Recovery is influenced by mechanism of injury, brain physiology, previous concussions, age, fitness, and sleep.
4. Symptoms can fade for several days, then return after a tough school day or a small training load.

Immediate management

1. The first decision after a suspected concussion is to stop play and not return that day.
2. Continuing to play exposes the brain to a second impact while it is still vulnerable.

Second Impact Syndrome

1. A second impact while the brain is still healing can trigger Second Impact Syndrome.
2. Second Impact Syndrome is a rare but potentially fatal complication.
3. The risk is highest in young athletes.

Medical evaluation

1. A suspected concussion needs assessment by a qualified medical professional as soon as possible.
2. Evaluation rules out a more structural brain injury and establishes a baseline of symptoms, cognition, and physical function for tracking recovery.

Three parts of medical evaluation

1. Symptom review checks for headache, dizziness, nausea, light or sound sensitivity, blurred vision, irritability, and sleep disturbance.
2. Cognitive testing examines memory around the injury, concentration, and reaction time.
3. Physical examination tests balance, coordination, and oculomotor control.

Watching for serious injury

1. The clinician is also looking for signs of a structural brain injury that would need immediate hospital care.
2. Signs that demand immediate hospital care include worsening headache, repeated vomiting, seizures, slurred speech, or loss of consciousness.

Return to learning before return to sport

1. For school-age athletes, academic recovery is the first priority, not return to competition.
2. Reading, screens, concentration, and busy classrooms can each trigger symptoms in the first days after concussion.
3. Only once a student can manage a normal school day without symptoms does the sport progression begin.

Accommodations during return to learning

1. Shorter sessions with frequent breaks.
2. Extra time for assignments.