Background
Sport-related concussion is a form of traumatic brain injury with a potential for long-term neurologic sequelae (McKeithan et al., 2019) . The condition is caused when an athlete is exposed to a strong blow to the head. For instance, ice hockey players can suffer from concussion when they fall, being struck in the head by the puck, players colliding with each other, or with ice. Research shows that concussion affects the brain organ, the frontal, and temporal parts (McKeithan et al., 2019) . The brain serves as the centre of the nervous system, and athletes may end up experiencing symptoms such as headaches when the frontal and temporal parts are exposed to a strong force.
The injury can also cause cognitive problems such as changes in memory or mental fogginess, issues of balance and coordination, and temporary loss of consciousness. The severity of the symptoms differs among individuals. Most patients exhibit the symptoms within the first seven to ten days or even persist for more than one year. The overall prognosis is, however, is good because about 85 to 95 percent of affected individuals recover within one to three-month window from the time of the injury ( Levin & Diaz-Arrastia, 2015). Symptoms usually persist due to failure to diagnose or treat the concussion.
Delegate your assignment to our experts and they will do the rest.
On Scene Treatment (By First Aider and EMS)
The first thing a first aider should do when an ice hockey player suffers a head injury is to pull them out from the game immediately. Then check whether they are conscious, breathing, and have a pulse. It is also essential to support the neck to avoid movements that can make the athlete suffer paralysis if there is a fracture to the neck. A first aider should also strive to apply a compressor to the injury using a bag of frozen peas. Because the environment of the ice hockey field is cold, the first aider should wrap the victim in warm clothes to prevent the patient's temperature from falling. EMS personnel will diagnose the patient to ascertain whether "red flags" are present. Assessment will include the evaluation of signs such as neck pain or decreased levels of consciousness ( Granitto & Norton, 2018) . If the patient exhibits symptoms of immobility, the EMS practitioners will transport the hockey player using a stretcher with neck support.
Ongoing Care at Tertiary Facility
Once at the tertiary facility, the patient may be subjected to neuropsychological testing for a more detailed assessment of their cognitive processes ( Levin & Diaz-Arrastia, 2015). The approach of recovery involves physical and full cognitive rest until symptoms resolve. The rest specifically involve decreasing activities that involve attention and concentration. Such activities that they are supposed to refrain from include texting, watching television, or reading ( Muth, 2018). Ice hockey players suffering from concussions are supposed to rest for two to five days after the injury.
Return to Play Guidelines
A health care professional can clear athletes to return to physical activity when they no longer require medication or sedatives to control symptoms. Physical activity should, however, be resumed slowly and gradually. Athletes should be reintroduced into activity for short periods of between 5 to 10 minutes and before being increased as the severity of the symptoms decline (Granitto & Norton, 2018 ). However, how mild a concussion might look, athletes should not return to play on the same day the injury is sustained. According to the return to pal protocol, an athlete should be symptom-free for 24 hours before participating in ice hockey ( Granitto & Norton, 2018). Athletes should first start with light aerobic activity, such as brisk walking. Athletes are also required to avoid drinking alcohol or taking recreational drugs.
References
Granitto, M., & Norton, C. (2018). Concussion: Prevention, assessment, and management . American Nurse. Retrieved 30 April 2020, from https://www.myamericannurse.com/concussion-prevention-management/.
Levin, H. S., & Diaz-Arrastia, R. R. (2015). Diagnosis, prognosis, and clinical management of mild traumatic brain injury. The Lancet Neurology , 14 (5), 506-517.
McKeithan, L., Hibshman, N., Yengo-Kahn, A. M., Solomon, G. S., & Zuckerman, S. L. (2019). Sport-related concussion: evaluation, treatment, and future directions. Medical Sciences , 7 (3), 44.
Muth CC. (2018). Sport-Related Concussion. JAMA. 2018;319(8):840. DOI:10.1001/jama.2018.0436. https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jama/fullarticle/2671029
