When the leaves start to change, that’s generally when concussion season begins for young people who participate in fall sports.

According to a recent study published by the American Academy of Neurology, sports with the highest risk for concussion in boys are football, ice hockey and lacrosse, followed by soccer, wrestling and basketball. Among girl athletes, soccer, ice hockey and lacrosse pose the most danger, followed by basketball, field hockey, softball and gymnastics. In the Craig area, downhill skiing is another sport that can and does result in head bumps and concussions.

So if your child bonks their head or twists their neck in sports practice or a game, how do you know if it was nothing to worry about or if they might have a concussion? And if they do have a concussion, what should you do (or not do) about it?

Memorial Regional Health Physical Therapist Ryan Shawcroft recently completed a certification in Vestibular Rehab and Concussion Management. He’s the MRH PT who works with people of all ages, including young people, after a concussion is diagnosed to ensure they heal quickly and avoid reinjury too soon.

Here’s his concussion advice for parents of young athletes.

What Is a Concussion?

“There are many definitions, but in general a concussion is a mild traumatic brain injury,” Shawcroft said. “It happens when the head contacts the ground or another hard or moving surface, or when the head is jolted by whiplash. This results in a temporary loss of normal brain function.”

If the brain bounces or twists inside the skull, this can cause chemical reactions in the brain that may stretch or damage brain cells. Even a minor head bump can cause a concussion.

What Are Concussion Symptoms?

Concussions are invisible, Shawcroft said. Even when a CT scan or MRI is done, which are sometimes necessary to rule out bleeding in the brain, a concussion won’t show up. Instead, concussions are diagnosed by their symptoms.

“Parents should watch for headaches, fogginess, difficulty concentrating or memory loss,” Shawcroft said. “Other concussion symptoms include loss of balance, incoordination, light or noise sensitivity, double or blurry vision, nausea, a lower exercise tolerance and trouble falling or staying asleep. And sometimes people with a concussion will simply say that they ‘don’t feel right’ or ‘feel bad.’”

Concussion symptoms often begin within minutes after the head injury, but they can also be delayed up to two weeks. This makes it important to keep an eye on children participating in sports, especially after a fall or other contact.

What if My Child Has Concussion Symptoms?

First, it’s OK for children with possible concussions to sleep, Shawcroft said. In fact, rest is exactly what their brains need to heal.

Second, take them to their primary-care provider as soon as you can.

Your child’s healthcare provider will determine if they have a concussion and if so, what the next steps should be. Short-term physical therapy can be an effective way to make sure they heal as quickly and as thoroughly as possible.

“We want to get kids with concussion symptoms into treatment as soon as we can,” Shawcroft said. “Their brains need to heal, so it’s important for them to be honest about what they’re feeling. If they have any concussion symptoms, we find out what may be exacerbating them, and we work on desensitization together.”

Shawcroft does a series of simple tests with children experiencing concussion symptoms. He determines what is bothering them and which movements or activities make their symptoms worse. His goal is to help children reintroduce normal activities and retrain their brains to accommodate various stimuli.

“We work on gradual reintroduction of activity,” he said. “We also make recommendations for temporary modifications at home and school. Reducing screen time for a while is a big one, because interacting with screens often makes symptoms worse. Their brains need to rest to be able to recover. Other techniques include wearing sunglasses indoors and going to school for half days for a little while.”

How Can We Prevent Further Injury?

It’s important to make sure a child’s concussion symptoms have fully cleared up before they’re exposed to the potential for another concussion.

“Kids who get a second concussion on top of a first concussion that hasn’t fully healed yet can end up with a really severe head injury,” Shawcroft said. “So it’s important to take concussions seriously and get them evaluated and treated as soon as possible for as long as needed.”

Shawcroft is a part of the Craig Concussion Action Team, which also includes Craig’s pediatrician, school nurse, emergency department nurse manager and athletic trainer. This team is working to educate our community about concussion protocols and prevention.

“It’s important to us to keep Craig kids active but also as safe as possible,” Shawcroft said.