CHARLOTTESVILLE, VA (CVILLE RIGHT NOW) – With high school and college sports, especially football, going into full swing, the UVA Health Sports Concussion Service team emphasizes the importance of recognizing symptoms of concussion. Neuropsychologist Dr. Rachel Smetana says the brain can heal itself, so one or two concussions if treated properly will not lead to long-term issues.
“When we’re getting into the zone of multiple over short periods of time and we’re taking longer to recover, we start to talk more about what recovery looks like and what we want to do moving forward with sport,” Smetana told CvilleRightNow.
She says primarily, you’re looking for someone acting differently after a blow to the head.
“Not all concussions look alike,” Smetana said.
“Maybe you’ve seen one athlete or had one child who had a concussion that looked a certain way, and it might look completely different than another athlete. So being open to hearing what symptoms a person experiences and keeping an eye out.”
Neurologist Dr. Jose Posas cautions even with an athlete that may don’t remember their name for a couple of seconds, then pops up and they’re fine, it’s state law they do not return to a contest unless they’ve been fully evaluated.
As for concussion prevention, Dr. Smetana said, “I always start with, encouraging athletes to follow the rules of the game. And that seems simple, but I think when it comes to competition, especially as we get into high school competition, we might see people not pay as close attention to the rules, or, you know, maybe do an illegal hit or something somewhere. And I always just really encourage coaches and athletes to stay up to date on what the rules of the game are, because those are in place to help athletes stay safe.”
“And I also encourage parents and coaches to really talk to students about, reporting concussions. So, encouraging them to tell someone if they feel a little off or feel a little weird, or they, they might not be sure if they hit their head, but if they have any concern that maybe they did, to tell someone,” Dr. Smetana continued.
UVA Health’s team includes neuropsychologists, neurologists, and athletic trainers who provide comprehensive evaluation and treatment for concussions.
