Guidelines for coping with concussions not what they used to be

It’s probably the number-one worry today for parents and grandparents of kids who play sports: a concussion.

With so much in the news lately about sports and head injuries, you probably want to cover your little football player’s head in a mile of bubble wrap before he steps on the field!

But despite all the stories we’re hearing, it seems that moms and dads still don’t know exactly what to do when their child has a head injury. A new study by UCLA researchers found that parents are following outdated ideas about treatment after a concussion.

And that’s something that could make your child’s symptoms worse — and the recovery time much longer.

Complicating matters

I know, when we were kids a little hit on the head didn’t stop us. We just got up again and kept playing. And we didn’t even wear helmets when riding our bikes!

But not today. Even the toughest NFL players have a full concussion protocol they have to abide by.

So it’s no wonder that parents and grandparents aren’t exactly sure what they should do after their little one (or not-so-little one!) meets the ground or another player head-first.

A new study by UCLA Health found that many are going by what’s being called “outdated and popular misconceptions” about what to do for concussions.

First, a concussion basically means anything that shakes the brain inside the skull. You don’t have to be rendered unconscious or even have a direct impact with your head to have one.

Not too long ago, we typically would “downplay the significance” of a concussion, said Dr. Christopher Giza, a pediatric neurologist at UCLA who participated in this recent study. Now, we’ve gone to the other extreme, he says, even doing things that can “inadvertently complicate” the recovery.

For example:

• The old wake-up-the-child-during-the-night rule. That idea, while it has been around for ages, is actually the opposite of what you should do. Dr. Giza says that repeatedly waking up someone with a concussion is going to increase symptoms and slow brain healing. “All those things that we monitor for concussion will get worse if we don’t let them sleep,” he said.
• The total exercise ban. This is another blast from the past that is doing more harm than good. Light physical activity outside can actually help you recover from a concussion faster, says Dr. Giza.
• No Facebook for you! Over sixty percent of parents surveyed by UCLA said they wouldn’t let their child use their phone or go on social media while recovering from a concussion. But that, the researchers said, can cause anxiety and depression. The key, says Dr. Giza is to find the “sweet spot” for activities that can make things seem normal but doesn’t worsen symptoms.

Now, of course, there are times when a head injury needs immediate emergency care. These are the top three danger signs when a child (or adult!) should get medical attention right away:

• Danger sign #1: Repeated vomiting
• Danger sign #2: Confusion, not recognizing faces or places
• Danger sign #3: Slurred speech, or having what could be a seizure. Don’t wait to Google “seizure symptoms” either!

And if the person has been knocked unconscious, even for a moment, you should definitely go straight to the ER.

The average recovery time for a mild concussion is around a month, although don’t be surprised if a good knock to the head can take several months to get over. Typical symptoms are headaches, fatigue and dizziness.

To learn more, check out these concussion FAQs from the Children’s National Health System.

Sources:
“How you might be making your child’s concussion worse” Josh Hafner, September 6, 2016, USA Today, usatoday.com