American Alliance for Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance - AAHPERD

Issue: January 2010

Concussion and the Young Athlete: Critical Management  Strategies
    Caroline Faure & Cynthia Lee A. Pemberton

Abstract: One in six high school football players in the United States will sustain a  concussion at some point during their playing career. The consequences of concussion  can be catastrophic, especially since the symptoms are rarely visible and often  overlooked. To ensure the safety of athletes in youth and interscholastic  sports programs, having Certified Athletic Trainers (ATCs) on staff or having a  physician available at practices and games to oversee concussion and other  injury management, is the best-case scenario. However, when an ATC or physician  is not available, it is critical for coaches to be trained to identify and  manage concussion. The purpose of this article is to review the need for and  use of both subjective and objective concussion assessment. Since the responsibility for athletic health care  often falls on the shoulders of sport administrators and coaches, injury  identification training and immediate-care-management education are essential.

Article category: Safety Issues