In the case of sports, particularly the contact ones, blunt head injuries are more prevalent than you would imagine, and in some cases, they are accompanied by concussions as well. Although the severity may be temporary dizziness to a complete knock out, having a concussion checked and treated should be on your list of things to do in case you or someone you know is hit by such a blow to the head. Therefore, in sports medicine clinics in Fresno, you are not only physically examined, but also thoroughly diagnosed with the extent of the concussion, and then treated accordingly, and followed up to ensure a quick recovery.
These are all the modules that we will be talking about today, starting with the causes of a cincusssion, its symptoms, diagnosis, and lastly its treatment, particularly in the major sports clinics. So now we will know all you need to know about a concussion, so you can take immediate action to seek medical attention in case you or a friend suspects that you have a concussion.
Can a Blunt Head Injury Cause a Concussion?
According to sports medicine clinics in Fresno, a concussion is a mild but traumatic brain injury that occurs as a result of external injuries or trauma to the head, resulting in the brain moving or twisting within the skull, causing chemical changes that may stretch and damage brain cells and nerve fibres.
The majority of individuals complain of feeling dizzy, having a fog in their mind, unstable moods, and even black or blind spots in their eyes following a concussion because it may temporarily impair brain functions. The usual causes of concussion include falling, being struck by a blunt object, physical assault, sports injury, motor vehicle accidents, and other such traumatic effects to the head.
Symptoms and Signs of a Blunt Head Injury in Sports Medicine Clinics in Fresno
The effects of a concussion may affect the emotional, cognitive, and physical health of the patient in the following way, and in case the patient has the following symptoms, take him/her to your closest sports medicine clinic in Fresno:
1. Headache/Pressure
The most frequent physical symptom that is reported following a concussion is a persistent headache or a sense of pressure in the head. This pain may be mild or severe, and in a way that even the most effective over-the-counter painkillers may be rendered useless.
2. Nausea and Vomiting
Most of the victims of a blunt head injury complain about feeling sick to the stomach, that too, because to lightheadedness and vertigo, and this can lead to an episode or repeated vomiting in the near future following the blunt head injury.
3. Vision Problems
The symptoms can be sensitivity to light, blurred or even two-sided vision, seeing stars, or a glazed-over look in the eyes. These issues are due to the temporary loss of control of the brain in terms of coordinating the visual functions.
4. Confusion
Individuals may feel in a dazed state, stunned, or slowed down, and they report feeling in a fog, making it difficult to concentrate, perform instructions, or even engage in conversations with doctors in sports medicine clinics in Fresno.
5. Memory and Concentration Problems
There may be short-term memory impairment in relation to events immediately preceding or immediately following the injury (amnesia), inability to concentrate, and pay attention. The person can continue asking the same questions or can fail to concentrate on performing a certain task.
6. Mood Swings and Irritability
A concussion may influence emotional control, leading to non-characteristic personality changes, e.g., irritability, anxiety, or sadness, that too, while making the person appear to be more emotional or angrier than usual to friends or relatives.
7. Sleep Disturbances
The trauma makes the brain disrupt its normal sleep patterns, leading to excessive sleepiness, fatigue, or inability to fall asleep and stay asleep, meaning, the person might sleep either more or less than is normal for him or her.
Diagnosis of a Blunt Head Injury from Sports Medicine Clinics in Fresno
To diagnose the patient with or without a concussion or some other injury, the sports clinics, which also provide weight loss in Fresno, apply the following diagnostic methods and tests:
1. Neurological Exam and Clinical Evaluation
The sports medicine clinic physician at Fresno will ask a questionnaire about the mechanism of injury, the onset and nature of symptoms, and will examine the vision, hearing, balance, coordination, strength, reflexes, and neck pain of the patient.
2. Sport Concussion Assessment Tool (SCAT5 or SCAT6)
It is a standardized tool to diagnose concussions in individuals over the age of 13 years, relying on a symptom checklist, cognitive screen (memory, concentration) and balance test, and a neurological screen.
3. Immediate Post-Concussion Assessment and Cognitive Testing (ImPACT)
It is a popular computerized neurocognitive test that assesses verbal and visual memory, reaction time, and processing speed to compare post-injury scores with a preseason baseline to detect deficits.
4. Baseline Testing
Many sports programs provide a preseason baseline test of athletes to record their normal brain activity, symptoms, and balance. The results of the post-injury test could be compared with the baseline of the individual to help in identifying a concussion and recovery after an injury.
Appropriate Treatment of Blunt Head Injuries
In the case of concussions, you should not tolerate negligence, and with the same attitude, sports medicine clinics in Fresno initiate treatment. Due to its many, extremely irritable, and progressive symptoms, a concussion should be immediately treated by a doctor since ensuring the severity is an indispensable part of the recovery process.
