Concussion Recovery and Baseline Testing
Chris Nowinski and Dr. Jeffrey Kutcher provide general guidelines for concussion recovery and explain how baseline testing helps determine when the brain has fully recovered.
Resources
Doctor/Athletic Trainer
What is a concussion?
A concussion is a disturbance of brain function. Most concussions are temporary, but should be allowed to recover fully. Concussions can be caused by a direct blow to the head, face or neck, but also sometimes by indirect blows where the force is transmitted to the head. Changes in the brain are thought to be mainly changes in function rather than structure.
Concussion symptoms may include loss of consciousness or amnesia (forgetting of events immediately before or after the injury), but that is not always the case. Other symptoms may include more subtle changes in thinking, emotions and behavior. Any Athlete suspected of having any of these symptoms should be assessed by a Medical Provider.