Hospital for Special Care Urges Concussion Prevention During Fall Sports Season
September 10, 2017HFSC concussion team is available as an educational resource to discuss prevention strategies
NEW BRITAIN, Conn. (Sept. 10, 2017) – As the fall sports season moves into high gear, Hospital for Special Care (HFSC) urges coaches and athletes to understand the importance of preventing concussions.
In response to increasing concussion awareness and cases, HFSC offers the Concussion Management Clinic. The program provides athletes, families, physicians, athletic trainers and coaches an individualized plan of care to enable patients to recover from concussions. Experts at the clinic conduct training sessions and workshops at HFSC throughout the year.
A cerebral concussion — also referred as a mild traumatic brain injury — is a disruption of brain function caused by trauma to the head. This includes the head being struck, the head striking an object, or undergoing acceleration/ deceleration movement without trauma.
“Some of the immediate signs or symptoms of concussion can include loss of consciousness or alteration in mental status such as feeling dazed, confused or disoriented,” said William Pesce, DO, chief of physiatry, Hospital for Special Care. “Other changes that may occur in neurological functioning are visual disturbance, dizziness and headache, loss of balance, weakness, nausea or vomiting.”
Patients who attend the Concussion Management Clinic will have a thorough medical, neuropsychological evaluation. This evaluation includes:
- A history of injury
- An objective measurement of post-concussion symptoms
- Specialized cognitive, sensory-motor and behavioral evaluation and treatment, which may include:
- ImPACT testing and/or Cogstate Brain Injury Battery
- Physical therapy evaluation and vestibular therapy
- Speech therapy and cognitive rehabilitation
- BITS (Bioness Integrated Therapy System) used to evaluate and improve abilities in individuals who have sustained traumatic injuries as well as improve performance in competitive athletes
- Neuropsychological examination and rehabilitation counseling
- Parent and family education regarding:
- Monitoring of symptoms
- Recovery from concussion
- Medication management if needed for persistent symptoms
- Return to play based on protocol guided decisions
- Type and duration of activity restrictions or modifications based on evidence based practice.
Community Resource Team
The concussion team is available as an educational resource to discuss prevention strategies with athletic directors, coaches, student athletes and parents within the community. Training sessions and workshops also will be provided throughout the year.
Clinical neuropsychologist Timothy Belliveau, Ph.D., ABPP, will provide weekly concussion and concussion recovery educational sessions, a free service for patients and family members at the Hospital for Special Care Outpatient Clinic.
To request additional information or to schedule an appointment call 860.827.4924, option 1. Clinic hours of operation are Tuesdays from 1 p.m. – 4 p.m.
About Hospital for Special Care
Hospital for Special Care (HFSC) is one of the four largest, free-standing long-term acute care hospitals in the United States and the nation’s only long-term acute-care hospital serving adults and children. HFSC is recognized for advanced care and rehabilitation in pulmonary care, acquired brain injury, medically-complex pediatrics, neuromuscular disorders (including ALS research), spinal cord injury, comprehensive heart failure as well as diagnostic, assessment and consulting services for children and adolescents with autism spectrum disorders.
Located in New Britain and Hartford, CT, HFSC operates inpatient and outpatient facilities serving Southern New England and the Tri-State area on a not-for-profit basis. For the latest news and information, please visit www.hfsc.org, and follow us on Twitter @HospSpecialCare.