Concussion Management

A head injury from a hit or a fall can be scary. At Aurora BayCare Medical Center, specialists in our concussion management program quickly get you on the road to recovery.

Concussion management: Why choose Aurora BayCare Medical Center?

Our specialists offer comprehensive concussion management services for all athletes. Program highlights include:

• Expert leadership: Sports Medicine specialists lead our concussion management program. Our specialists are credentialed in the imPACT® concussion evaluation system.
• Collaborative care: Our specialists work with concussions and brain injury experts to examine and treat head injuries. Your care team may include specialists in orthopedics, neurology, sports physical therapy, neuropsychology and athletic training.
• Tailored treatment: We develop a care program based on your unique needs and injury history. No two concussions are the same and each requires individualized treatment.

Concussion management services for athletes

A concussion is a mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI) that can be challenging to diagnose and treat. Our specialists evaluate the injury and develop a treatment plan tailored for you or your child. We offer:

Concussion testing and diagnosis

Managing a concussion is critical to avoid long-term complications. Our experts test and track symptoms after a head injury to determine the best treatment.

Concussion symptoms are usually temporary, but it's important to get evaluated right away if you have symptoms such as:

• Confusion or difficulty concentrating
• Dizziness or difficulty with balance
• Headache
• Irritability, anxiety or nervousness
• Nausea and vomiting
• Sensitivity to noise or light
• Vision changes, such as blurred or double vision

Our specialists begin the evaluation with a physical exam. They also test your:

• Attention
• Concentration
• Memory
• Mental function

Concussion management

Many concussions heal on their own within 1 to 6 weeks. Our specialists create a treatment protocol and recovery plan to help your brain heal properly.

Your personalized treatment plan depends on the severity of the head injury. Doctors also consider your:

• Age
• History of head injuries or other concussions
• Symptoms

As part of concussion treatment, doctors generally recommend that you:

• Get plenty of rest and sleep
• Exercise moderately, if at all
• Limit mental stimulation, including:
• Driving
• Playing video games
• Reading
• Texting
• Using a computer
• Watching TV

Your doctor may recommend a shorter work or school day to help the brain heal. Our sports medicine specialists monitor your symptoms and recovery to help you return to your sport safely.

Baseline testing for concussion

Athletes who play contact sports – and those in sports such as snowboarding and skateboarding – may be at higher risk for concussion. Baseline testing occurs before an injury to help specialists know more about your brain.

We use the ImPACT concussion evaluation system to learn about normal brain function in you or your child. This test gives our specialists important information to compare brain function after an injury to normal function.

ImPACT testing measures your:

• Attention span
• Problem solving
• Reaction time
• Short-term memory

This computerized test is available for athletes ages 5 and older. Our sports medicine team offers individual testing and group testing for teams at schools or practice centers.

The cost for ImPACT testing is $25 per athlete. Teams rely on this testing to protect the health and safety of their athletes.