When you’re sidelined by a concussion, the only thing you want to do is to get back to your normal activities as soon as you can. Unfortunately, returning to sports or other strenuous activities too soon can be dangerous.
The brain is vulnerable to Second Impact Syndrome if you take a second impact before fully recovering from the first. Second Impact Syndrome is frequently fatal, so it’s vital to let yourself heal completely before resuming any activity with a risk of a head injury.
Second Impact Syndrome
According to the National Institutes of Health, Second Impact Syndrome is a condition in which a person with a head injury receives a second head injury before fully recovering.
The condition can develop almost immediately after impact and is extremely dangerous.
Dangers of Second Impact Syndrome include:
- Brain swelling, also known as cerebral edema
- Brain herniation
- Death
Death can occur in as little as two minutes, often leaving medical professionals no time to stabilize the injured player and transport them to the hospital. The best defense against Second Impact Syndrome is to delay returning to play until you are completely recovered from your concussion.
Warning Signs of Second Impact Syndrome
Warning signs of Second Impact Syndrome include:
- Headache
- Nausea or vomiting
- Dizziness
- Sensitivity to light and sound
- Loss of balance
- Memory problems
- Mental fog
- Confusion
- Trouble concentrating
- Anxiety
- Depression
- Mood swings or irritation
- Fatigue
- Drowsiness
- Disrupted sleep patterns
If you still have symptoms of a concussion, you are at risk of Second Impact Syndrome, and it is too early for you to return to play.
Prevention Strategies
Second Impact Syndrome often occurs because players don’t feel comfortable telling coaches, parents, or teammates about their symptoms. If coaches, athletes, and parents understand the danger of playing too soon after a concussion, athletes will feel more comfortable letting someone know if they still have symptoms. This will help encourage athletes to recover fully before returning to play.
Strict enforcement of safety rules is essential for preventing concussions. Any player who may have a concussion must stop playing immediately and be examined by a medical professional. Return to play should always be gradual, following an evidence-based return-to-play protocol.
Return-to-Play Protocols
The Centers for Disease Control has developed a six-part return-to-play protocol designed to minimize the risk of Second Impact Syndrome when athletes return to play after a concussion. Each step takes at least 24 hours. If your symptoms return or you develop any new symptoms, you must stop what you’re doing and contact your healthcare provider. After you’ve rested for a while with no symptoms, you can resume activities at the previous step.
The six steps are:
- Return to regular non-sports activities such as school.
- Light aerobic activity, such as five to 10 minutes of walking, jogging, or using an exercise bike. Don’t lift weights at this stage.
- Moderate activity such as running, jogging, using an exercise bike, or weightlifting. Intensity should be lower than your usual routine.
- Heavy activity without contact, such as sprinting, using an exercise bike, weightlifting, and drills in three planes of movement specific to your sport.
- Return to practice with full contact.
- Return to competition.
Don’t begin the return-to-play protocol until your healthcare provider clears you. Long Island Spine Rehabilitation Medicine uses a conservative, evidence-based approach to this process to ensure that you can return to your usual activities safely.
Contact Long Island Spine Rehabilitation Medicine Today
Long Island Spine Rehabilitation Medicine has built a reputation throughout Nassau and Suffolk counties for successfully healing concussions and other injuries. Our doctors specialize in pain relief and restoration of normal function. Contact us today if you’ve suffered a concussion and begin getting the treatment you need.