The Current State of Sports Concussion

Abstract

Concussion is a complex injury that requires a multimodal assessment to identify and manage the resulting dysfunction. To appropriately manage concussion, clinicians must be aware of the accompanying pathophysiology and dysfunction that occurs following the injury. The current best practice model of care includes symptom, motor, and neurocognitive assessment and management. Furthermore, clinicians should be aware that lifetime accumulation of head impacts may also play a role in neurologic presentation and response to concussion. This article reviews recent evidence concerning terminology, pathophysiology, epidemiology, and best practices in concussion management and potential long-term and cumulative implications of concussion.

Keywords: Assessment; Brain injury; Concussion; Head injury; Head trauma; Management; Return to play; Sport-related concussion.