Competitive sports as well as many activities of daily living put people of all ages at risk for falls and collisions that could lead to mild head injuries or, as they are commonly called, concussions. Frequently occurring without loss of consciousness or being classically “knocked out,” mild head injuries may not initially cause concern. Yet long-term neurological problems, from the physical to the cognitive, may develop without appropriate diagnosis, treatment and follow up.
Symptoms of a concussion can be subtle, with some not appearing until hours or days after injury. The most common signs of concussion include:
- Headaches
- Difficulty concentrating
- Disorientation or memory loss
- Dizziness
NorthShore Sports Concussion Program
While protective headwear such as helmets and other athletic gear can help prevent concussions, the physical demands of sports and recreational activities make athletes and “weekend warriors” susceptible to concussion. The NorthShore Sports Concussion Program benefits from the leadership of nationally-recognized experts in the area of head injury and sports medicine.
NorthShore is proud to be a ThinkFirst chapter, promoting injury prevention among youth and teens through outreach and community education. Our faculty members have presented numerous ThinkFirst programs about mild head injury to local schools, athletic trainers and coaches and provided resources such as concussion reference cards designed to be used as quick on-field reference tools.
Comprehensive Approach
NorthShore has a multidisciplinary team of specialists to provide a multipronged approach to the diagnosis and treatment of concussions. We combine the expertise of fellowship-trained neurologists, neurosurgeons, physiatrists, family medicine physicians and neuropsychologists to offer a full spectrum of assessment and treatment strategies.
When you contact the NorthShore Sports Concussion Program, we will connect you to the right specialist with the soonest possible appointment time. Urgent care appointment slots are available every weekday to quickly address each patient’s condition.
Uniquely addressing both the medical and neuropsychological aspects of concussions, our specialists conduct thorough medical evaluations based on the latest evidence-based medicine. Our highly qualified clinicians are experienced and attuned to detecting the less perceptible symptoms of head injuries, and utilize best-practices examination and treatment pathways.
Our neuropsychologists conduct extensive neuropsychological assessments using a broad range of standardized testing instruments, including ImPACT (Immediate Post-Concussion Assessment and Cognitive Testing), a widely-accepted computerized concussion evaluation system used to determine post-injury recovery progress and an individual’s safe return to activities.
Our specialists work in partnership with primary care physicians, communicating evaluation and treatment plans throughout an individual’s care. Utilizing one of the nation’s most advanced Electronic Medical Record (EMR) systems, we can ensure seamless collaboration and communication to patients, families, athletic trainers, coaches and others involved in return-to-activity decisions.
New Discoveries
In addition to caring for patients, NorthShore experts are advancing the diagnosis and treatment of brain injuries of all types, including concussions, through innovative research. Several ongoing projects include the development of genetic-based tests and therapies to predict and prevent neurological disorders as well as a bio bank for the collection and retrieval of DNA-based data useful for population-based studies.
For More Information
Please call 847.570.HEAD (4323) for more information or to schedule an appointment with one of our head injury specialists.