When In Doubt, Sit Them Out: Adelphi University Talks Concussions

On Monday, March 30 Adelphi University’s Center for Health Innovation and Winthrop University Hospital hosted a Sports Concussion Symposium, a rapid response event designed to react to emergent health issues on Long Island. Experts from Adelphi University, Winthrop University Hospital, and several research and biotechnology companies spoke about concussion symptoms, diagnosis and treatment, and ways to prevent concussions and further injuries.

“Every concussion is different,” said Dr. Kevin Curley, an attending physician at Winthrop University Hospital. “Each concussion can have varying combinations of symptoms.” Dr. Curley stressed that any possible concussion symptoms, such as dizziness, vomiting, stumbling, or any sort of mental confusion, should be taken very seriously and the athlete should be removed from play.

Also in attendance was Pat LaFontaine, National Hockey League Hall of Fame member, who spoke about his personal experience with concussions. LaFontaine experienced numerous concussions over his hockey career, which ended in 1998 after a severe concussion that took months to heal. “All those symptoms are for real,” LaFontaine said. “I was lucky my brain found its way back and plugged itself back in.”

Concussion Tips for Parents

When in doubt, sit them out: Not every hit to the head will result in a concussion, but if there is any suspicion it is better to remove the athlete from the game.

Don’t get caught up in the moment: When an exciting game is taking place, it is very easy for coaches, athletes, and even parents to downplay or overlook head injuries. If an athlete is not properly assessed and returns to the game with an undiagnosed concussion, the results could be devastating.

Screen time is not rest: If your child is diagnosed with a concussion, it is imperative that the brain have complete rest for at least 24 hours. Screen usage such as TV, video games, social media, and even texting can delay or prolong the recovery period.

You know your child best: Concussions often lead to changes in behavior, and parents are often the ones who can most easily identify those changes. Coaches and teachers can also be extremely helpful in identifying concussion symptoms.

The Sports Concussion Symposium was sponsored by Adelphi University Center for Health Innovation; the Adelphi University Ruth S. Ammon School of Education Department of Exercise Science, Health Studies, Physical Education, and Sports Management; the Adelphi University Department of Athletics; and Winthrop University Hospital.

For more information about the Center for Health Innovation, visit chi.adelphi.edu.