Sports and Concussions

Youth sports participation is a wonderful way to encourage children to develop lifelong healthy exercise habits, promote teamwork and friendships, and teach many life lessons. Injuries do happen, but they do not need to be “part of the game,” and it is important to educate yourself (and your child) about ways to prevent injuries.

Concussions can occur both within and outside the context of sports, and may even occur without obvious significant head injury. Typical symptoms include headaches, dizziness or balance issues, difficulty concentrating, and memory problems. If you feel your child is experiencing these symptoms, please contact our office for evaluation. Your physician will be able to direct you on the best steps for recovery, and discuss when and how it will be appropriate to return to sports after a concussion. In certain circumstances we may also refer your child to one of the local concussion specialty clinics.

For more information on concussions, please visit these resources:

• MGH Youth Sports Concussion Program
• Boston Children’s Hospital’s guide to concussions, prevention and recovery
• Understanding Neurocognitive Testing (aka, the ImPACT Test)