Concussion Protocols are guidelines and policies for diagnosing, monitoring and caring for brain injuries.  They're in place to help take the guesswork out of concussion assessment and management. The goal is to prevent long term post-concussion symptoms or further damaged for patients. The protocols do not treat every player the same. Each individual injury requires a customized care approach.

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Getting medical attention after receiving a blow to the head or neck area is extremely important. It is important to get a baseline of where the patient is at initially after the hit to know how the patient is progressing. Aside from the initial tests and questioning it is key that the patient undergo a CT scan to look for a possible brain bleed or other irregularities.

Even if the injury seems minor it is always necessary to be check out by a medical professional to document. It is important to know potential causes of certain diseases later in life such as Dementia, Alzheimer's, or CTE. Adding on to that, being evaluated by a doctor is crucial to be protected in the future. If the patient sustains a second blow to the head before the first fully heals the patient can develop "Second Impact Syndrome" which can be deadly

Importance of Receiving Medical Attention After a Head Injury

Collins, M. T. (2023, January 20). What is a concussion protocol? it’s more than just an NFL buzz word. Mid-Atlantic Concussion Alliance. https://macconcussion.com/what-is-a-concussion-protocol-its-more-than-just-an-nfl-buzz-word/#:~:text=Concussion%20protocols%20are%20supposed%20to,damage%20for%20every%20concussed%20player. 

What is Concussion Protocol?

One possible route to recovering from a brain injury is to see a neuropsychologist. Neuropsychologists will first review your history of head injuries and then general background of your health mentally and physically. They will then begin evaluating the patient's memory, attention, reasoning, and other cognitive skills. Personality and mood tests may also help the neuropsychologist if psychological factors are at work. Results help specify what abilities have been affected the most.

Treatment typically starts with psychoeducation, teaching patients about common symptoms and recovery patterns. This can help the patient from blaming the concussion for things like forgetting where their keys are, which can just be because they forgot. Cognitive behavioral therapy can help patients with this. In more serious cases. patients may be suggested a rehabilitation program to improve memory, reasoning, or other cognitive skills.

Neuropsychology and Concussions

Psychology and technology: How virtual reality can boost psychotherapy and neurorehabilitation. AIMS Neuroscience. (n.d.-b). https://www.aimspress.com/article/doi/10.3934/Neuroscience.2022025 

Psychology and Technology: How Virtual Reality can Boost Psychotherapy and Neurorehabilitation

This is a growing experimental field of rehabilitation that has yielded positive results. By using virtual reality, doctors can assess and observe patients under certain stimuli that may be the trigger of an issue. It is also beneficial it children by reducing their experience of aversive stimuli and anxiety levels. Furthermore, when VR is combined with mindfulness, clinical symptoms can improve. This more directly relates to PTSD and the depression/anxiety side effect of TBI. 

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