Concussion Management
Some sports medicine physicians develop special expertise in managing concussions, an injury to the brain that is common in many sports. Caused by a sport-related blow to an athlete's head or a quick jolt to the body during a fall, sports, or other accident, this concussive injury demands expert care. Concussion specialists provide proper assessment, immediate care, and concussion treatment, but they also offer important follow-up care as the patient recovers.
While headaches, drowsiness, and temporary memory loss are common symptoms, there are many other symptoms that can indicate someone has had a concussion. In other words, every individual and every athlete is different, and every sport and circumstance that causes the injury is different. As a type of traumatic brain injury, concussions can cause a number of symptoms in athletes and other patients and require immediate medical attention so a doctor or concussion management specialist can properly run through a symptom checklist and diagnose the head injury accurately.
Our concussion management team includes fellowship-trained primary care sports medicine physicians Dr. Jeffrey Cunningham and Dr. Steven Hardage. Our specialty-trained doctors are familiar not only with this type of injury but with the many symptoms it can cause. They use their expertise to diagnose the patient and develop a concussion management plan to help support recovery.
Symptoms You May Be Having
Take note of any of these concussion symptoms. If so, schedule an appointment with one of our primary care sports medicine doctors and get the concussion treatment needed.
- Balance problems or dizziness
- Behavior or personality changes
- Clumsiness
- Cognitive impairment
- Confusion or difficulty concentrating
- Double vision
- Headache
- Memory problems
- Nausea or vomiting
- Ringing in the ears
- Sensitivity to light or noise
- Sluggishness or feeling groggy
- Slurred speech
When an athlete is concussed, they may lose consciousness, especially those athletes who play a contact sport like football. However, football players and other athletes who have suffered a sports concussion may exhibit other symptoms, including one or more of the symptoms listed above. It's also important to note that individuals who have been involved in other traumas may also have this brain injury and will exhibit these same symptoms.
Among other neurological disorders, there are a number of additional diagnoses associated with concussions and related medical conditions that make proper treatment, rehabilitation, and recovery necessary, including:
- Brain damage
- Chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE)
- Post-concussion syndrome
- Second impact syndrome (SIS)
Our Concussion Specialists Care for Patients Just Like You
When you or your loved one first notice pain or minor symptoms after a sports-related or accident-related fall or collision, it’s common to wait to see if it will go away. However, if you have had a brain or head injury or believe you may have a concussion, it is important to seek care from a medical professional or specialist right away.
Our specialty-trained primary care physicians are concussion specialists who provide the high-quality concussion assessment, treatment, and follow-up care a patient needs. This includes post-injury evaluation, baseline concussion testing, return-to-play plans for sport-related concussions, and the latest assessment tools, including ImPACT testing.
Advanced Orthopedics of Oklahoma is one of the few ImPACT Testing facilities in the Tulsa area for the management of sport-related concussions. ImPACT Testing is a 20-minute computerized neurocognitive test that assesses memory, processing and reaction time, concentration, and nonverbal problem-solving. Combined with a clinical evaluation from a medical professional trained in the evaluation and management of concussions, the ImPACT Test is the gold standard for concussion management in the United States.
Our concussion specialists and all of our dedicated sports medicine doctors, orthopedic surgeons, and physicians at Advanced Orthopedics of Oklahoma go beyond simply delivering medical services. They are healthcare professionals who listen to your concerns, expertly answer your questions, and have dedicated their practices to helping people just like you move forward.
Start Your Journey to Heal. Recover. ADVANCE.
We know you want the best doctor to assess and treat you. Rest assured, our specialized, experienced concussion doctors will apply their high-level skills and knowledge to your condition and rehabilitation.
We are available to see you at multiple locations throughout the region:
For urgent needs, like a dislocation or athletic injury, walk in without an appointment at our Advanced Orthopedics Urgent Care, Monday – Friday, 11:00 a.m. – 7:00 p.m., and Saturday, 8:00 a.m. – noon.
If you believe you have a concussion schedule an appointment as soon as possible by calling (918) 494-AOOK (2665) or use the button below to request an appointment online.
