If a player shows any of the above features of a concussion, the following guidelines must be followed: The player should not be allowed to return to play in the current game or practice. The player should not be left alone; regular monitoring for deterioration is essential over the first few hours after the injury. The player should be medically evaluated following the injury. Return to play must follow a medically supervised stepwise process. A player should never return to play while symptomatic. The concussion mantra is "When in doubt, sit them out!!" The typical return to play protocol necessarily applies to simple concussions. It is important to emphasize that the initial "rest until asymptomatic" step of this protocol must involve cognitive rest for the pediatric athlete, not just physical rest. This may involve limiting school activities until all symptoms have resolved. This stepwise resumption of activity can only proceed if the child remains asymptomatic. If any symptoms recur, return to the previous activity level and try to proceed again after 24 hours. "Concussion" Pages: Previous 1 2 3 4 Next