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Sports Concussion Services

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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.

 

Five Concussion Myths

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

Patients with a new sports concussion can walk into any TCO Urgent Care location 8-8 daily. No appointment or referral needed.

If you have already been diagnosed with a sport concussion or prefer to schedule a visit with a TCO Primary Care Sports Medicine Physician, please schedule online or call 952-456-7777.

If you would like to schedule an appointment for concussion or vestibular physical therapy, please call 952-442-6960.

 

Visit TCO Orthopedic Urgent Care 

  • If you are concerned you may have a concussion, but are unsure.
  • If you want guidance within the first 5 days after a concussion.

 

Visit a TCO Primary Care Sports Medicine Physician 

  • If you’ve monitored your common concussion symptoms 24–48 hours after impact, and they aren’t improving.
    • Symptoms include mild headaches, nausea, sensitivity to light or noise, mood changes, and cognitive deficiencies.
  • If you’ve been diagnosed with a concussion and need a formal rehabilitation plan.
  • If you need return-to-play guidance specific to the sport or activity you’d like to resume.

 

Visit the Emergency Room

Sports concussion “red flags” are a list of symptoms that may indicate a more serious injury and require emergency medical attention.

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

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

 

Early Sports Concussion Care: Tips for the First 24-48 Hours

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.

Sports Concussion Patient Education