Sports Concussion

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Concussions should never be taken lightly. Ignoring symptoms can or delaying treatment can lead to a longer recovery process which impacts participation in physical, academic, and social activities. Our premier sports concussion program offers comprehensive care to help athletes return to sport.

At our clinics across the metro, including Minnesota’s most advanced concussion center at TCO Eden Prairie, we create personalized-treatment plans tailored to each athlete’s specific needs.

Using the latest, and most innovative technology, we are dedicated to helping athletes recover, regain their confidence, and return to peak performance.

How Do I Schedule an Appointment?

If you or your athlete have been diagnosed with a concussion or are dealing with concussion symptoms, call 952-456-7777 to schedule an appointment near you.

What is a Sports Concussion?

When an individual experiences a blow to the head or body, it can result in a concussion, which is a form of brain injury. The impact causes the brain to move back and forth within the skull, resulting in a disruption of normal brain function.

While concussions can happen to anyone, athletes are particularly susceptible due to the physical nature of many sports. When an athlete sustains a concussion, it can affect their behavior, thinking, and physical abilities.

What Are Common Sports Concussion Symptoms?

We expect a myriad of symptoms associated with a concussion injury. It is important to understand that every concussion is unique, and each person may have different symptoms and severity.

Headache
Head Pressure
Nausea
Mild Balance Problems
Dizziness
Sensitivity to Light
Sensitivity to Noise
Blurred and/or Double Vision
Fatigue
Trouble Falling Asleep
Sleeping More Than Usual

Sleeping Less Than Usual
Drowsiness
Irritability
Sadness
Nervousness
Feeling More Emotional
Feeling Slowed Down
Feeling Mentally “Foggy”
Difficulty Concentrating
Difficulty Remembering

What To Do If You Think You Have A Sports Concussion?

If you believe you’ve suffered a concussion, you should monitor your symptoms over the next 24-48 hours for any significant changes and watch for “red flags.”

“Red flags” are a list of symptoms which may indicate a more serious injury. Should any of these symptoms arise, seek emergency medical attention.

Significant Headache (10 out of 10 pain)
Slurred Speech
Lack of Coordination
Vomiting (more than 2x)
Seizures
Stumbling/Loss of Balance

There are some activities or strategies you should and should not be doing in the first 24-48 hours after a concussion injury.

Do:

Use Tylenol (Acetaminophen) for headache and neck pain
Use an ice pack on the head/neck
Eat and drink fluids as tolerated
Try to get a good night of sleep (7-9 hours)
Complete schoolwork to symptom tolerance
Use a computer, tablet, or smart phone to symptom tolerance
Do light activity, such as walking & light daily chores, to symptom tolerance

No Need To:

Check the eyes with a light
Wake up every hour
Stay in bed or a dark room

Avoid:

Drinking alcohol
Driving
Strenuous physical activity, such as running, weightlifting, sports, heavy yard work
Taking NSIADs for your headache, such as Advil, Aleve, Aspirin, etc.

Common Treatments:

For patients needing a formal rehabilitation plan, we have sub-specialized physical therapists at multiple locations that provide:

Vestibular Therapy – Helps address issues with dizziness, balance, and other symptoms
Ocular Motor Rehabilitation – Helps address issues with vision, focus, and other symptoms
Exertion Therapy and Functional Training – Helps in the overall recovery of concussion injuries
Cervical Spine Treatment – Helps address neck pain and stiffness, which are commonly associated with concussion injuries

We can also provide return to play guidance specific to the sport or activity you would like resume, when appropriate:

Ensures that you are symptom-free and have a normal exam
Provides a sport-specific, stepwise return to activity progression
If you return to activity before your concussion is healed, you are at risk for re-injury. This may result in a much longer recovery.

Minnesota’s Most Advanced Sports Concussion Center

Located at TCO Eden Prairie, this groundbreaking center is a trusted destination for helping athletes get back in the game as quickly and safely as possible.

We believe in an interdisciplinary approach. This means athletes receive care from a diverse group of specialists to address the physical, cognitive, and emotional aspects of recovery. Our team of experts include Primary Care Sports Medicine Physicians, Physical Therapists, and Certified Athletic Trainers.

Using these cutting-edge tools, we deliver the latest and most advanced treatment available.

Eye-Sync – An FDA-cleared assessment to analyze eye movement to aid in sports concussion diagnosis and recovery tracking.
Synaptec – An innovative system to evaluate and treat deficits identified across 10 performance assessments in areas of visual function, reaction time, and cognition.
Optics Eye Trainer – Helps improve eye-brain coordination and visual processing speed, leads to regained cognitive and physical abilities.
Vie Light – Uses intranasal light therapy to promote brain cell regeneration and reduce inflammation, helps accelerate healing and alleviates symptoms.
Virtual Reality – Uses immersive simulations to retrain cognitive function and reduce symptoms.

Get Answers to Common Sports Concussion Questions

Click here for our complete sports concussion guide below.

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