Head+and+Neck

Anatomy of the Head/Face Review:

[|Bony Anatomy of the Head/Face: Anterior View] [|Bony Anatomy of the Head/Face: Anterior View] [|Bony Anatomy of the Head/Face: Lateral View] [|Anatomy of the Brain]

Concussion Links

[|National Athletic Trainer's Association Heads Up Concussion Video] [|Concussions Extra Dangerous to Teen Brains] [|Natasha Richardson Story] [|Concussion and the Impact Test] [|Young Football Players Take Big League Hits] [|The Impact Test] 

**__Grading System used by many physicians and athletic trainers:__**

**Grade I/Mild:** No Loss of Consciousness (LOC); OR Amnesia < 30 min. Symptoms <24 hours **Grade II/Moderate:** LOC < 1 min. OR Amnesia >30 min. but <24 hours; Symptoms >24 hours but < 7 days <span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif;">**Grade III/Severe:** LOC >1 min. OR Amnesia > 24 hours; symptoms persist for more than 7 days

<span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif;">**__Graduated Return-to-Play Protocol__**

<span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif;">An athlete will not return to any activity until cleared by the athletic trainer or a physician. **Following complete resolution of symptoms,** the athlete will proceed through a graduated return to play protocol, with each step generally taking 24 hours. Thus it would take an athlete approximately 1 week to proceed through the full rehabilitation protocol once asymptomatic at rest and with certain exercise. If post-concussion symptoms occur during the graduated return, the patient should drop back to the previous level that does not cause symptoms and try to progress again after a 24 hour period of rest has passed.

<span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif;">**Rehab Stage Functional Exercise Examples at Each Stage**

<span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif;">- 1. No activity Complete physical and cognitive rest

<span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif;">- 2. Light aerobic exercise Walking, stationary cycling, no resistance training

<span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif;">- 3. Sport-specific exercise Running drills, skating drills, no head <span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif;">impact activities

<span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif;">- 4. Non-contact training drills More complex training drills: passing, shooting, etc. <span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif;">May begin progressive resistance training

<span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif;">- 5.Full-contact practice Following medical clearance, participate in normal <span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif;">training activities

<span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif;">- 6. Return to play Normal game play

<span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif;">//Adopted from the Consensus Statement on Concussion in Sport: The 3rd International Conference on Concussion in Sport Held in Zurich, November 2008 (Journal of Athletic Training, 2009; 44(4) 434-448//