Page Concussions: Symptoms, Evaluation, Recuperation
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By Falcon Physical Therapy, www.falconpt.com

One of the things that we all love about Judo is that it is a contact sport. As you well know, with all contact sports, judoka run the risk of getting concussions.

Concussions are defined as “an alteration in mental status caused by biomechanical forces with or without loss of consciousness.” In other words, an injury to the brain caused by a blow.

Concussions are caused by the brain hitting the inside of the skull which can cause bleeding and tearing of nerve fibers. Any blow to the head can cause a concussion whether it is from the head hitting the ground (from a judo throw) or a car accident. When recognizing whether or not one of your athletes might have suffered a concussion, look for these general signs and symptoms. (It may be one or a combination of multiple symptoms): headaches, drowsiness, dizziness, slurred speech, balance issues, nausea or vomiting, moving clumsily, loss of consciousness, sensitivity to light and or noise, difficulty concentrating, “feeling foggy,” unusual behavior, confusion or irritability, seizure, blurred or double vision, difficulty remembering or memory loss, unequal pupils, persistent ringing in ears, answers slowly, and/or acts more emotional than normal.

Significant findings show that amnesia is a better mat side predictor vs. loss of consciousness. New findings also show that we no longer grade concussions. If any signs or symptoms of a concussion are positive, the athlete should not be allowed to continue with practice or competition and should be evaluated by a medical doctor as soon as possible.

If a player is believed to have suffered a concussion in the dojo, you can evaluate them using a SAC (Standardized Assessment of Concussion) Test or a SCAT 2 (Sport Concussion Assessment Tool). The SCAT 2 form can be downloaded from the Internet and kept in the dojo for use.

In order for a judoka to be able to return to judo following a concussion, you should follow these steps.

     1. Be cleared by a MEDICAL doctor (MD/ DO)
     2. Must complete full waiting period at rest
     3. Must remain asymptomatic with exertion
     4. Pass all concussion testing
     5. Follow return to play protocol

Return to play protocol is as follows:

     1. Once cleared by an MD/ DO, the judoka may return to light aerobic exercise i.e. jogging or bicycle.
     2. Sports specific training (non-contact)
     3. Return to contact
     4. Competition

Keep in mind that a young brain takes longer to heal so high school and college age athletes recover one week slower than older athletes.

According to Lorne MacDonald, otherwise known to judo athletes as “Mac,” “Concussions are always a concern when doing mat coverage at judo events whether it is at the Junior Olympics or the World Championships. We also are concerned about second impact syndrome because it is as great a concern as the initial injury so we are very cautious when dealing with any head injury. ”

For more information on concussions, contact Falcon Physical Therapy via email falconphysicaltherapy@netzero.com or visit our website at www.falconpt.com.

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