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Concussion Management for Healthcare Professionals: Summary
Equipment Equipment modifications involve making equipment less dangerous by using materials that when used as a weapon will have less of a chance of hurting individuals. For example, making elbow pads in hockey players softer as opposed to using hard plastic, so they have a decreased chance of becoming a weapon while body checking someone. Rule changes in sports and regular life should be initiated to prevent concussions. Equipment requirements in sports, such as helmets, should be enforced to help protect against skull fractures. Balance Training Balance training is important for postural stability. Postural stability is one of the last things to recover after a concussion, so it is important to work on balance preventatively before something occurs. Examples of exercises include balance pad, dual-task activities, single- leg tasks on firm ground, and work on core stability. Working on balance training can help prevent falling. Education Education on potential complications after concussion, symptoms and expected timeline to recovery as well as risks for returning to sport too early are important to discuss. Patient education should include: • Educating a patient on what a concussion is • What signs or symptoms to look for • How a patient may feel after suffering a concussion • Ways to prevent a concussion • Proper nutrition and sleep recommendations • Warning signs for mental health distress Education can also extend to the community on looking out for each other if someone were to hit their head and ensuring they are referred to an appropriate healthcare provider. COLLABORATING WITH OTHER HEALTHCARE PROVIDERS To get better results, involving multiple healthcare providers provides the best way to help an individual heal. It is very important to listen to the patient as this may be the best tool to help a patient heal and find the right practitioners to help in the recovery process. • Athletic Trainers (ATs): Athletic trainers can be a point person to help coordinate medical care among all of the healthcare providers. Athletic trainers wear many hats. An important one is the ability to educate the patient as well as communicate with all other healthcare providers on evaluation, management, treatment, return-to-learn, and return-to-play considerations. Some athletic trainers have the added benefit of seeing the patient more frequently than other healthcare practitioners due to the nature of their job
• Physical Therapists (PTs) : Physical therapists help with rehabilitation from musculoskeletal issues, postural stability, and regaining motor skills for people recovering from concussions • Occupational Therapists (OTs) : OTs help safely return individuals back into their regular occupational activities by finding solutions to help ease an individual back into their jobs • Neurologists : Neurologists aid in the process of determining damage to brain function of a patient. They can help determine the severity of an injury, coordinate care, and determine the need for medication, imaging, or further testing during the injury process • Concussion Specialists: Concussion specialists have specific training, research interests, and a more focused approach to care to help provide the best outcome of care. This can be an individual in any healthcare profession who seeks an extra certification • Physicians : Physicians help to evaluate, diagnose, and coordinate care through multiple providers. They can also help determine whether medication, imaging, or referrals are necessary. Physicians are able to direct and coordinate care to all facets of healthcare. They are respected members of the community whose diagnosis of concussion is respected. They also hold the ability to prescribe medication, imaging, and further referrals aids in the healthcare process • Psychologists/Sports Psychologists : These healthcare professionals can help with the mental aspects that go along with the management aspect of concussions. Psychologists can help an individual process the injury and go through the 5 stages of grief • Opthamologists/Optometrists : These healthcare professionals can help with vision issues that occur during concussions. They can help with evaluating vision and possibly help with the treatment of visual disturbances as the recovery process unfolds. They can also communicate with other healthcare providers to help determine how to effectively treat vision issues in order to provide the best care • Chiropractors : Chiropractors aid in the alignment of the spine and help the neural pathways function properly from the brain throughout the body. In some concussion cases, the neck can become an issue that exacerbates symptoms, and chiropractors can sometimes help alleviate those symptoms through alignment of the body and nervous system
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