What can parents and athletes do to prevent the lasting effects of concussion?
Youth are the most vulnerable to concussion and often don’t recognize that they have experienced one. Immediate removal from physical activity and plenty of rest after a concussion is crucial until all symptoms are gone. As is now mandatory in the NHL and NFL, we recommend that athletes receive preseason baseline cognitive testing before concussions occur. Then, if an athlete sustains a concussion, his/her progress can be followed by re-testing, comparing post concussion test results to baseline results, to help make the proper decision about when to return to sports.
