Concussion Management Program
The Inova Sports Medicine Concussion Program is a physician-based team of experts trained in recognizing the signs and symptoms of concussion quickly to optimize and individualize care, recovery and return to play.
Comprehensive concussion care at Inova Sports Medicine
Any head injury requires immediate, specialized attention. The concussion specialists at Inova Sports Medicine Comprehensive Concussion Center offer:
- Expert care: Our concussion specialists are trained in treating mild traumatic brain injuries (i.e. concussion) and performing thorough concussion evaluations. We provide care for all ages with an individualized and comprehensive treatment approach.
- Convenient services: We have all the resources you need right at our center, including exertion therapy, vestibular therapy, as well as access to specialists throughout Inova’s health system and within the community.
- Easy appointments: For acute injuries, we strive to get patients in within 48-72 hours after injury. Our team is also trained to treat patients who are experiencing prolonged signs and symptoms months to years after injury.
- Concussion outreach: We provide a variety of concussion services beyond the traditional clinic setting that include: (1) baseline concussion assessment, (2) athlete, parent and coach educational presentations and (3) partnerships with youth and adult sport/recreation organizations. Read more about our concussion outreach activities by visiting the Concussion Baseline Testing and Concussion Education pages. Adult and youth organizations partnered with Inova Sports Medicine receive priority access to services and scheduling of appointments.
Concussion Hotline at Inova
Our team understands the importance of prompt recognition and management of concussions. We’ve created a telephone hotline dedicated to concussion-related questions, information and appointment scheduling. The concussion hotline gives parents, athletes and coaches immediate access to one of our experts when an injury is suspected.
Concerned about concussion and need help identifying symptoms or scheduling a concussion appointment?
Contact our Concussion Hotline: 703-970-6427.
Common signs and symptoms
| Physical |
Cognitive |
Emotional |
Sleep |
- Headache
- Nausea/Vomiting
- Fatigue
- Dizziness
- Balance Problems
- Visual Problems
- Sensitivity to Light
- Sensitivity to Noise
- Numbness/Tingling
|
- Feeling “foggy”
- Feeling slowed down
- Difficulty Remembering
- Difficulty Concentrating
|
- Irritability
- Anxious
- Feeling More Emotional
- Sadness
- Nervousness
- Rumination
|
- Sleeping more
- Sleeping less
- Drowsiness
- Trouble Falling Asleep
|
When to seek emergency medical care
|
Persistent or worsening headache
|
Very drowsy, or cannot be awakened
|
Increasing confusion or irritability
|
|
Seizures/loss of consciousness (LOC)
|
Repeated vomiting
|
Not recognizing familiar people/places
|
|
Neck pain
|
Strange or unusual behavior changes
|
Slurred speech
|
|
Weakness/numbness in extremities
|
Significant irritability
|
Less responsive than usual
|
Home management techniques following concussion
| Diet
|
Eating breakfast, lunch and dinner each day is important, even if three meals are not typically eaten |
| Hydration
|
It is important to stay well hydrated |
| Sleep
|
Stick to a strict sleep schedule, with a regular bedtime and wake-up time. We recommend obtaining 7-9
hours each night, with limited naps of no more than 30 minutes.
|
| Physical Activity |
It is beneficial to take walks and/or engage in light non-contact physical activities, following the injury. Once you are seen by our team of concussion specialists, additional recommendations will be discussed.
|
| Stress
|
Try to reduce additional stress, nervousness and anxiety by limiting focus on the injury and symptoms.
|
Symptoms of concussion
There are many symptoms of concussion. Sometimes the symptoms are obvious, such as a loss of consciousness. Other times they are subtle and require testing to confirm. Symptoms can appear immediately or take hours and even days to show up after a blow to the head.
Some symptoms of concussion are:
- Loss of consciousness – though this symptom occurs in only 10% of concussions. The majority of concussions occur without a loss of consciousness.
- Visual disturbances
- Dizziness, headache, fatigue, sensitivity to light or sound
- Irritability, sadness, emotional instability, anxiety
- Drowsiness, increase or decrease in normal sleep patterns, or in the time it takes to fall asleep
- Weakness
- Slurred speech
- Nausea or repeated vomiting
For more information or to make an appointment for concussion treatment, please call 703-970-6427.