Citation

Bell JM, Master CL, Lionbarger MR. Am. J. Lifestyle Med. 2019; 13(2): 172-181.

Affiliation

National Center for Injury Prevention and Control, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia (JMB, MRL); Division of Orthopedics, Sports Medicine and Performance Center, The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (CLM); and Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (CLM).

Copyright

(Copyright © 2019, SAGE Publishing)

DOI

unavailable

PMID

28943830

Abstract

The recent passage of state youth sports concussion laws across the country introduces clinical implications for health care professionals caring for student-athletes. Although the laws were established to provide protections for student-athletes and prevent adverse outcomes, efforts aimed at implementation have uncovered various challenges in concussion diagnosis and management. Some of the most salient issues include medical evaluation, return to play, and return to learn. For this reason, health care professionals play a pivotal role in determining the critical next steps after a student is removed from play with a suspected concussion. Also, state laws may influence an influx of concussion patients to health care facilities and, thereby, present various unforeseen challenges that can be mitigated with adequate clinical preparation. This is key to helping student-athletes recover and resume regular activities in sports, recreation, and education. This review describes the various components of state youth sports concussion laws relevant to clinical practice and nuances that health care professionals should appreciate in this context. Additionally, concussion tools and strategies that can be used in clinical practice are discussed.

Language: en

Keywords

concussion management; return to learn; return to play