When Can I Return to Sports? Concussion Recovery for Athletes

When Can I Return to Sports? Concussion Recovery for Athletes

by | Jan 23, 2025 | Sports Medicine

Over 7 million teens play high school sports in the U.S., and millions more kids play in youth and recreational leagues. Athletics are a great way to make friends, stay active and learn life lessons. However, sports can also lead to dangerous concussions. Just like a sprained ankle, concussions take time to heal. Parents and young athletes need to understand how long concussion recovery takes and why returning to play takes time.

 

Understanding Sport-Related Concussions

A concussion is a type of brain injury that happens after you are hit in the head or body by another person or an object. This blow can cause the brain to bounce around, leading to chemical changes in the brain. A concussion is a mild traumatic brain injury (TBI), and just like any TBI, it can be serious.

As soon as you suspect your child or teen has experienced a concussion, speak up. Learn the symptoms of concussion, and remove your athlete from a practice or game if you notice any of these signs after an injury:

  • Appearing confused, dazed or stunned
  • Balance problems
  • Changes in behavior
  • Losing consciousness
  • Memory issues, such as forgetting plays
  • Seizure, particularly with tension or stiffness in the arms or legs

 

Early Diagnosis for Successful Concussion Recovery

The first crucial step to healing after a concussion is getting athletes the medical care they need as soon as possible. Early intervention, and an accurate diagnosis from a physician who specializes in concussions, can help children and teens get back in the game sooner.

A pediatrician or concussion specialist can provide an assessment for treatment and may refer you to a neurologist or sports medicine expert, depending on symptoms. Young athletes may need neurocognitive testing to evaluate the extent of their injury.

 

Steps to Ease Healing

Concussion recovery can differ from athlete to athlete, but it typically takes weeks, not days, for the brain to heal. Taking the time needed to recover from a concussion is crucial to ensure proper healing.

Your young athlete’s medical provider will give you a treatment plan to help them gradually return to physical activities. It’s important to recognize that complete rest is no longer recommended. Concussion researchers, including those at Scottish Rite for Children, have found that returning to daily activities within two to three days helps children and teens feel better and recover faster than with total rest.

When your child or teen returns to school, talk to teachers and school administrators about the learning environment and any necessary schedule modifications.

Other steps to improve concussion recovery include:

  • Avoiding caffeinated drinks
  • Limiting screen time, which can worsen symptoms
  • Spending time with family members and friends to avoid isolation
  • Staying hydrated
  • Taking pain relievers such as acetaminophen or ibuprofen as recommended

Also, help your child or teen get sufficient sleep every night. Contrary to what many people think, sleep should not be avoided after a concussion. Our researchers have found that insufficient or poor-quality sleep slows recovery.

Athletes should get:

  • Nine to 12 hours of sleep per night if they are ages 6 to 12
  • Eight to 10 hours of sleep per night if they are ages 13 to 18

Most children and teens recover from a concussion within a few weeks. However, scheduling an appointment with an experienced doctor who has managed concussions is recommended if symptoms get worse instead of better. Some children develop post-concussive syndrome, a condition that can last months after the concussion.

 

Ready to Get Back in the Game?

Returning to play should be approached with caution for athletes of all ages. The University Interscholastic League recommends a health care provider with experience managing concussions should clear an athlete before he or she starts the progression to return to play. Your child’s school or coach may have additional protocols.

Typically, after an athlete is symptom-free, back in school and handling daily activities, he or she can start steps to return to sports, including:

  • Light aerobic exercise, such as riding a stationary bike or light jogging for 10 to 15 minutes
  • Sport-specific activity for 20 to 30 minutes with increased exertion, such as a running drill
  • Non-contact training drills with resistance training, such as ball handling or passing drills

Progression to the next step should occur only if no symptoms return during this activity or for 24 hours after. With a physician’s clearance, athletes can start full-contact practice, such as scrimmages. They may be cleared for competitive play after being symptom free for 24 hours after a vigorous practice.

Talk to a health care provider if symptoms return at any stage of these steps, either during training exercises or within 24 hours after.

Throughout your child’s or teen’s recovery, work closely with the school’s athletic trainer, if one is available, and ensure your athlete follows the provider’s directions closely before returning to sports, especially contact sports.

 

If your young athlete has recently experienced a concussion, Scottish Rite for Children sports medicine specialists are here to help. Request an appointment today.

Get to Know Our Staff: Rowana Moreau, Dental

Get to Know Our Staff: Rowana Moreau, Dental

by | Jan 22, 2025 | Spotlight

What is your job title/your role at Scottish Rite?   
I am a clinical dental hygienist. My role is to help provide checkups and cleanings to our patients at Scottish Rite. I also assist our dental manager with daily activities in the clinic, including scheduling surgeries, ordering supplies and managing clinic flow.

 

What is the most fulfilling part of your job?
It’s definitely the kids. Being able to provide care to our patients is very rewarding. A smile from them can brighten my whole day.

 

What makes Scottish Rite a special place to you?
There is always a little magic in the air at Scottish Rite. It’s a place where everyone feels included and cared for.

 

What made you choose a career in health care?
I always loved to help people, so I chose a career where I could work in a nonprofit setting and provide care to an underserved population. I am also a total science nerd, and I love to learn new things. I feel like I get to all of that at Scottish Rite!

 

What is something unique you get to do in your position?
We sing a lot in dental. If you haven’t heard us in the hallways, you should swing by sometime. Many of our patients get nervous before their appointments, and they ask us to sing to calm them down.

 

What’s your favorite thing to do outside of work?
My two passions outside of work are gardening and yoga. I have spent the past few years putting together an extensive vegetable and flower garden. I also have practiced yoga for more than 20 years and love the way it makes me feel.

 

Do you have any hidden talents?
I am really good with a hammer! In 2018, I bought a fixer-up house and spent two years gutting and remodeling it.

 

Where are you from and what brought you to DFW?
I was born and raised in Dallas.

 

If you could travel to anywhere in the world, where would you go and why?
I would love to travel to Spain. It is the one country in Europe I haven’t been able check off my travel list.

 

If you had to pick one meal to eat for the rest of your life, what would it be and why?
I would choose chicken, as well as macaroni and cheese with fried okra. It reminds me of my childhood. Must be the southerner in me!

 

What movie do you think everyone should watch at least once?
Everyone should watch “Groundhog Day”. I think if we all had a chance to re-do one day, we would learn that the way we treat each other is one of the most important things to remember.

 

What was the first concert you attended?
New Kids on the Block.

 

Favorite DFW hidden gem?
My favorite is the Balcony Club in East Dallas. It’s the cutest jazz bar with live music every night, almost like a time capsule of the 1980s.

 

If you were to have a movie based on your life, which actress/actor would you choose to play your character?
I would choose Scarlett Johansson.

 

What is some advice you would give your younger self OR what’s the best piece of advice you’ve received?
If I could give my younger self advice, I would say don’t worry so much about how the world sees you. You should worry more about doing better each day.

Juju Displays His Winning Spirit at the 89th Goodyear Cotton Bowl Classic

Juju Displays His Winning Spirit at the 89th Goodyear Cotton Bowl Classic

by | Jan 21, 2025 | General News, Neurology

Scottish Rite for Children patient Juju, of Mesquite, Texas, cheered on The Ohio State University Buckeyes as their honorary captain at the 89th Goodyear Cotton Bowl Classic.

In a 28-14 victory against The University of Texas, football fans across the country gathered to watch the matchup and also learned about Juju’s inspiring story on the jumbotron. Over the last six years, the Goodyear Cotton Bowl Classic has donated more than $90,000 to Scottish Rite for Children, supporting the ability to provide world-class care for children, like Juju

At age 6, Juju represents resilience. He was born with myelomeningocele, a form of spina bifida, which is a complex condition that occurs when the spine does not close properly during development. He and his family came to Scottish Rite to receive care from the Spina Bifida Program at 2 months old, beginning his care journey with a multidisciplinary team of experts.

Juju is known to light up any room he enters! One of his favorite parts about visiting Scottish Rite is spending time with his occupational therapist Grace Evasco. Better known to him as “Gracey-Grace,” Grace has introduced Juju to new activities that he loves, such as throwing the ball around with friends and family.

As Juju continues to make amazing progress through his care journey, we are here to cheer him on! Watch his exciting Goodyear Cotton Bowl Classic experience here.

Dallas Morning News: How Volunteering at Scottish Rite Fostered a Heartwarming Friendship

Dallas Morning News: How Volunteering at Scottish Rite Fostered a Heartwarming Friendship

by | Jan 17, 2025 | Press Coverage, Spotlight

At Scottish Rite for Children, volunteers play a vital role in staff, patients and their families’ experiences. By contributing their unique skills, they unite to support the organization’s mission of giving children back their childhoods.

24-year-old Nick Blockzynski returned to Scottish Rite as a volunteer, previously treated for scoliosis. He began volunteering in 2019 and worked in the organization’s mail room. He met 62-year-old retiree Tom Shehan there, and the two quickly formed an extraordinary bond. From delivering mail to having meaningful conversations, Nick and Tom work together as a dynamic duo to bring joy to all children who visit Scottish Rite.

Read the full Dallas Morning News article here. 

Back on Beat: Alyson’s Determination to Heal Her Knees

Back on Beat: Alyson’s Determination to Heal Her Knees

by | Jan 16, 2025 | Sports Medicine

Alyson, a 17-year-old of Dallas, TX, has a passion for the fine arts! She has performed in her school’s musical productions, such as “Chicago” and “Mean Girls,” and even sings in the choir. Her most beloved hobby is dancing, but Alyson’s love for dance was threatened at age 9 when she began to feel frequent pain at dance practice.

Prior to visiting Scottish Rite for Children, Alyson was diagnosed with osteochondritis dissecans (OCD) in her knees. OCD causes the bone and cartilage at the joint surface to separate due to a lack of blood supply. It is common in young athletes, and may cause symptoms whensport requires running or jumping frequently. Alyson also has a condition called genu valgum, commonly known as knock-knees.

“I found myself needing frequent breaks from dance class, often icing my knees afterwards,” Alyson says. “In choir, I was often told, ‘Aly, stand with your knees straight.’ I physically could not.”

When Alyson’s paid did not improve, a pediatrician referred her to Scottish Rite for Children Orthopedic and Sports Medicine Center in Frisco. Philip L. Wilson, M.D., assistant chief of staff, director of Sports Medicine and pediatric orthopedic surgeon, met Alyson and her family and recommended surgery as the best course of action to heal Alyson’s knees.   

“My world came to a standstill,” Alyson says. “My afternoons that I previously spent laughing with my friends or learning techniques from my dance teachers were now spent crying and feeling sick to my stomach with the dread of potentially not dancing again.”

Already familiar with Dr. Wilson from a fracture years before, Alyson decided to proceed with surgery. Dr. Wilson performed a double knee surgery, which involved placing plates and screws in both of her knees. The plates stabilized her knees and assisted in helping her knees grow straighter. The road to recovery required Alyson to stop dancing until she was fully healed.

“All of the doctors and nurses were so helpful,” Alyson says. “My determination to return to my sport fueled me through months and the challenging journey of learning how to walk again.”

Once the screws were removed, Alyson began working hard to heal her knees through physical therapy. What began as a painful setback has transformed into a triumphant comeback, and Alyson’s determination has led her to become her school’s drill team captain this year.

“When the ability to not move freely was taken away from me, I realized how much dance shaped me — not just on the stage and field, but in all areas of my life,” Alyson says. “Scottish Rite will always be remembered as an amazing environment for me. Not only were all of my nurses and doctors encouraging, but I also truly felt open to share what I was feeling with them.”