Knowing the Signs And Symptoms of a Concussion

A concussion is a type of traumatic brain injury caused by a blow to the head, face, neck, or body that causes the brain to shake inside the skull. It’s a serious form of head trauma that requires proper attention and care to prevent further injury and long-term impairment. Additionally, knowing the signs and symptoms of a concussion can make a difference in receiving a quick diagnosis.

With local winter sports returning this week and many sports trainers being volunteers,  it’s important to recognise the signs and symptoms of a concussion so you can seek medical attention if necessary.

Signs and symptoms of a concussion  to look for immediately after the incident:

• Appearing dazed, confused or stunned.
• Looking unsure of the game, score or opponent
• Moving clumsily
• Being slow to answer questions
• Being unable to remember events after the incident
• Loss of conciseness (only 10% of concussions) 
• Showing behaviour or personality changes. 

Players may feel or report: 

• Having a headache
• Feeling nauseated or vomiting
• Experiencing balance problems or dizziness
• Seeing double or having fuzzy vision
• Being sensitive to light or noise
• Feeling sluggish
• Feeling mentally foggy
• Having difficulty concentrating or remembering 
• Being confused about what part of the game it is. 

Absolute Red Flags  – Call an ambulance :

• Loss of Consciousness
• Double Vision
• Weakness or tingling/burning in arms or legs
• Severe or increasing headache
• Deteriorating conscious state
• REPEATED vomiting
• Increasingly restless, agitated or combative
• Difficulty recognising people and places.

What Next?

Remove the player from the field to a quiet place if there is an absence of Red Flags. Subsequently, a CRT5 should be conducted to confirm a suspicion of concussion. Remember, ‘If in doubt, sit them out’.

Please note that only medically trained professionals are able to diagnose a concussion. Therefore if a concussion is suspected, then the player should immediately be referred to a trained professional.

Did you know that we offer concussion diagnosis and management at Williamstown Health + Lifestyle? We also provide objective baseline testing using cutting-edge Eye Guide technology.

If you or someone is experiencing signs and symptoms of a concussion, Book your pre-injury baseline test here