HEALTH EXPERT

Stuart Schmidt MS, ATC, CSCS PROGRAM MANAGER/HEAD ATHLETIC TRAINER THE CENTER FOUNDATION

physicians often do not classify a concussion until after the individual has fully recovered.

Before returning to activity it is important that your child be cleared by a medical professional. Typically, an individual should be asymptomatic, pass a graduated exercise progression, score within normal ranges on neuropsychological tests, such as ImPACT or SWAY and receive clearance by a physician prior to returning to sports.

QI don’t see what all the hype about concussions is. When I was a kid, everyone got their bell rung. Now, it seems every time a child falls, a parent is there to overreact. What has changed?

AConcussions are serious head injuries and are considered a mild traumatic brain injury. Medical knowledge of concussions has increased significantly over the past 20 years, partially in thanks to the increased attention and awareness of concussions in professional sports, such as the NFL.

We now know that getting your “bell rung” is in fact a concussion and should be treated as such. Having healthcare professionals, such as athletic trainers, at all sporting events is important to ensure that when a child is hit in the head they can be evaluated by a healthcare professional trained in concussion care to determine if the individual has sustained a concussion or not. This allows parents to relax knowing that their children are being looked after by independent health care professionals who have their child’s best interest at heart.

Additionally, Oregon law dictates that all youth who show signs of a possible concussion must be removed from play and cannot return until they have been cleared by a healthcare professional.

QI noticed this year at my son’s high school soccer games an athletic trainer present on the sidelines ready to evaluate any athlete involved in a collision. I am impressed by this program and would like to know more.

AAthletic trainers are highly qualified, multi-skilled health care professionals specifically trained in the prevention, examination, diagnosis, treatment and rehabilitation of medical conditions and emergent, acute and chronic injuries. Athletic training is recognized by the American Medical Association, Health Resources Services Administration and the Department of Health and Human Services as an allied health care profession.

The Center Foundation, a local 501(c) (3) nonprofit, has been providing athletic trainers to Central Oregon high schools since 2000. You can learn more about this program and other programs we provide by visiting: centerfoundation.org.