The Concussion Center at Georgia Sports Medicine is the home for Georgia’s premier concussion management program. Annually approximately anywhere from 9%-15% of athletes will receive a concussion and it is estimated by the Centers for Disease Control that between 1.6 and 3.8 million sport related concussions occur annually in the United States. It is believe that the discrepancy in these two numbers is due to the vast under reporting of concussions.

Concussions are a very serious injury because they directly involve the brain. A concussion is a disturbance in the metabolic pathways in the brain which result in the symptoms of concussion. Recognizing that a concussion has occurred is one of the ongoing problems associated with concussion as well as receiving the appropriate treatment. Physicians at The Concussion Center at Georgia Sports Medicine are well versed in concussion management and provide the best care possible for athletes who have sustained a concussion. The major concern for anyone who has sustained a concussion is making sure they do not return to activity too soon. The consequences of returning too soon can be severe. Studies have shown that appropriate management of concussion can decrease the risk of these two potentially serious problems.

Concussions are far better understood due to advancements in recent research. However, there is still much we do not know. We do know that several key principles are critical to proper concussion management.

• Recognize the concussion signs and symptoms using this guide: Concussion Facts - A Fact Sheet for COACHES
• Never return to a the same game when someone is suspected of receiving a concussion
• Seek a medical evaluation after a concussion
• Limit cognitive and physical activity when recovering from a concussion
• Use a progressive return to play protocol
• Only return to sports when asymptomatic at rest and after exertion with normal neurocognitive test results