Bare Grounds Sports Medicine
How do I know if it is a concussion?
One or more of the following may be present:
- Headache, especially if it is in one place & getting worse, light & sound make it worse
- Off balance or dizzy, especially when close eyes and/or stand on one leg
- Memory problems of recent events, including hit to the head, or even what you had for breakfast
- Have difficulty counting backwards from 10 to 1 or repeating words given to you in reverse order
- Ringing in the ears, or sensitive to sound (everything sounds too loud)
- Eyes are extra sensitive to light (every place you go you need sunglasses to not get a headache)
- Pupils (dark part of the eyes) are not the same size in both eyes, or don’t change size with light changes
- Difficulty concentrating, especially with math problems or computer/cell phone usage or critical thinking/decision
making
- Feel “out of it”, foggy, in slow motion, or trapped inside a body
- Multitasking is difficult or near impossible (such as tying shoes while listening to a conversation)
- Become cranky or out of normal character, change in emotional state
- Change in appetite
- Change in sleep or dream patterns, always tired/fatigued
- Loss of consciousness from hit to head (not just stunned but actual loss of consciousness)
- Nausea or vomiting, especially projectile vomiting
- Slurring or Slow speech patterns
- Weakness or loss of sensation in limbs
- Stiff neck, feels like you need to crack it (don’t ever crack your neck after a head injury)
When do I have to go to the Emergency Room/Hospital?
- Bleeding or clear fluid dripping from ears or nose not associated with a nose injury
- Persistent vomiting
- Persistent or sudden onset of weakness or numbness in any part of the body
- Severe headache, especially pinpoint pain
- Stiffening of the neck
- Seizures
- Sudden onset of dizziness, poor balance or unsteadiness
- Sudden slurring of speech or slowing of speech
- Unequal pupil size, or lack of change in pupil size with change of light in environment
- Persistent or worsening mental confusion or fogginess, lethargy (not responding to people)
I have a concussion, now what:
- Follow up with a concussion specialist or concussion clinic, not just your family doctor
- Drink plenty of non-caffeinated fluids
- Eat normal healthy meals, but don’t over eat
- Refrain from using your computer or cell phone or video games
- Refrain from physical activity, including jogging
- Refrain from mental activities involving math, problem solving or critical thinking
- Get plenty of rest after concussion specialist clears you to sleep, this includes resting your eyes and ears, so dark & quiet environments – MOST IMPORTANT
- ONLY TAKE ACETAMINOPHEN (Tylenol) for your headache in case there is a possible bleed in your brain
How long will it take to recover from a concussion?
- Truth is, everyone is different, and each new concussion may take longer to heal from
- You must be completely symptom free including headache & fogginess for a MINIMUM of 24 hours before you can resume any activity, and should start back slow into activity
- Most concussion specialists will want you to be completely symptom free for 7 days before full activity is resumed
- This could mean 24 hours, 7 days, a month, 3 months, a year or more, EVERYONE IS DIFFERENT
Bio: Trish Bare Grounds
- Owner & Medical Coordinator, Bare Essentials Sports Medicine (established 1994)
- Certified and Licensed Athletic Trainer (ATC/L, LAT)
- Specialize in Martial Arts, Performance Arts (Cheerleading, Dance, Trampoline, Aerial), and
- Action Sports – all sports with a high chance of head injuries occurring
- Bachelor of Psychology and Bachelor and Pre-Med/Biology, DePauw University
- Master of Science in Sports Med, emphasis on Nutrition & Head Injuries, University of Miami
- Master of Science in Education, Secondary Science Education, University of Florida
- Doctoral Candidate in Sports Medicine, research on biomechanics of head injuries in
- taekwondo, University of Florida
- Travel with USA Taekwondo National & World Teams for past 20 Years
- Travel with action sports nationally and internationally for past 15 years
- Travel with performance sports nationally & internationally past 20 years
How to Avoid Dehydration:
- Athletes should avoid drinks which contain caffeine, added sugar, carbonation, dairy and alcohol, during training, competition and during the time period in which your are restricting your intake of calories to make weight/reduce weight
- For those who must have their morning dose of caffeine, one cup of coffee/tea without adding sugar etc should be your limit
- AVOID ENERGY DRINKS ALWAYS (messes up your entire metabolism & harmful to body)
- Athletes should drink a minimum of a gallon+ of non-caffeinated, non-carbonated, non-alcoholic drinks every day, more in hot conditions, at least a gallon in cold conditions
- This includes water, juices, sports drinks, green tea, decaffeinated tea or coffee
- Athletes who compete in a weight-dependent sport such as taekwondo should CONTINUE to drink a gallon of water or non-sugar/non-caffeine/non-carbonated/non-dairy fluids up to 24 hours prior to weigh-in to have the best weight-loss outcome
- This also helps reduce the chances of injury from dehydrated the muscles, joints and organs during competition
- This allows the body to function normally and eliminate waste, otherwise the body holds onto waste products and thereby holds onto extra weight
- Athletes need to fully rehydrate following weigh in, but do so slowly DO NOT try to completely rehydrate by chugging a gallon of fluids following weigh-ins. Drink ½ liter bottle of fluids at a time, eating small amounts of food in between so as not to upset the stomach
- Remember the water you drink 12 hours prior to competition prepares your muscles for the activity, drink plenty; if you are thirsty during your first match you are already dehydrated
How Do you Treat Dehydration:
- Begin by cooling body with fans, cool water and ice while drinking fluids
- Best places to put ice/water – want athlete to SHIVER to know body is properly responding
- Armpits
- Back of Neck
- Abdomen
- Wrists
- Behind knees
- Bottom of Feet
- Top of Head
- Remove all clothing and safety equipment possible to increase the cooling process
- Get in a cool, shaded area
- Drink water, sports drinks, juices, lemonade, avoid caffeine
- Drink fluids until your urine is pale yellow or near clear
- Take Acetimenophen (Brand Name Tylenol) for headache associated with dehydration
- Get Plenty of Rest
- If dehydration has gone to the point where you stop sweating and you are hot and red, this is a MEDICAL EMERGENCY – Get to the HOSPITAL IMMEDIATELY
- If dehydrated person is having varying levels of consciousness, dehydration is at a critical point and must be treated in an emergency medical facility