September 11, 2013 THE VILLADOM TIMES II • Page 7 Area Know the risks of concussions in youth sports Practice for fall sports is under way. As young athletes hit the field, parents should know what to do in the event of a concussion. A concussion is a brain injury most commonly caused by a bump or blow to the head or a sudden deceleration or accel- eration of the head. In either scenario, the brain, suspended inside the skull and sur- rounded by fluid, continues to travel with momentum until it “bangs” up against the skull – causing a brain injury – or concus- sion. What may seem to be a mild bump or blow to the head can, in fact, be seri- ous. Signs and symptoms of a concussion can show up right after the injury, or may not appear or be noticed until days or weeks after the injury. These symptoms may include headache, dizziness, feeling foggy, nausea, fatigue, confusion, memory loss, a loss of balance and coordination, and changes in personality. Concussion severity varies widely, and the number of signs and symptoms also vary. Serious injuries may show few symptoms. An athlete does not need to lose con- sciousness (black out) to suffer a con- cussion. In fact, fewer than 10 percent of concussed athletes lose consciousness. If a child reports any symptoms of concus- sion, or if the symptoms are noticeable, the child should be removed from physi- cal activity until evaluated by a physician who is experienced in treating concus- sion. While the majority of those who suffer a concussion recover without problems, some may experience chronic cognitive and neurobehavioral difficulties, espe- cially if subsequent concussions occur. The best way to prevent difficulties with a concussion is to manage the injury prop- erly when it does occur. The foundation of proper concus- sion management is awareness and rec- ognition of the signs and symptoms and early diagnosis and follow-up care. A new valuable tool used to help manage concussions is baseline neuro-cognitive and balance testing. To perform that test- ing, the Valley Hospital Sports Institute employs ImPACT, a computer-based test- ing program, and BioSway, a sensitive balance platform. ImPACT (Immediate Post Concussion Assessment and Cogni- tive Testing) is appropriate for athletes and others 11 years and older. Baseline test data captured prior to a concussion can be compared to post-injury test data to give the health care team more objec- tive information to better manage the recovery process. To learn more about Valley’s Concus- sion Management Program or to sched- ule an ImPACT test, contact the Sports Institute at (201) 447-8133 or e-mail sports@valleyhealth.com.