Post-concussion Experiences of Collegiate Student-athletes

Post-concussion Experiences of Collegiate Student-athletes PDF Author: Kaitlin Iris Singer
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category : Brain
Languages : en
Pages : 254

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Book Description
Sports-related concussions are a major public health concern affecting a significant number of collegiate student-athletes. Medical and public health research has addressed every aspect of concussion management processes including concussion education, medical diagnosis, recovery, and returning to sport and classroom. This research has led to several best-practices for concussion management. Since 2010, the NCAA has mandated that its member institutions maintain concussion management policies and procedures. However, the current recommendations, based primarily on medical research, have been found in quantitative studies of the behaviors and practices of athletic trainers, coaches, and student-athletes to be ineffective. To date, no studies have explored the perceptions and experiences of student-athletes post-concussion. The purpose of this study was to understand student-athletes' experiences post-concussion and how their experiences compared to concussion management policy. A qualitative research design was utilized to allow for an in-depth understanding of the student-athlete's perspective on concussion management. Data were collected from interviews with seven current and former NCAA student-athletes from five member institutions representing Division I football, lacrosse, men's soccer, women's soccer, Division II football, and Division III football; and from publicly obtained concussion management documents. The data were analyzed using Tesch's (2013) organizing system and Love's (2003) methods for document analysis. Eight major findings emerged from the data: 1) Symptomology and its effects, 2) Pressure to return, 3) Lack of Knowledge, 4) Inadequate support, 5) No rest, 6) No policy, 7) Double-injury, and 8) Inconsistent alignment between student-athletes' experiences and their institution's concussion policies. None of the student-athletes' experiences aligned with the current best-practices in concussion management. Recommendations for cultural change, NCAA practices, and higher education practices include using warning messaging and PSAs, applying effective preseason education, enforcing implementation of concussion management guidelines, leveraging media partnerships, investing in concussion specialists, and creating a team of support.

Post-concussion Experiences of Collegiate Student-athletes

Post-concussion Experiences of Collegiate Student-athletes PDF Author: Kaitlin Iris Singer
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category : Brain
Languages : en
Pages : 254

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Book Description
Sports-related concussions are a major public health concern affecting a significant number of collegiate student-athletes. Medical and public health research has addressed every aspect of concussion management processes including concussion education, medical diagnosis, recovery, and returning to sport and classroom. This research has led to several best-practices for concussion management. Since 2010, the NCAA has mandated that its member institutions maintain concussion management policies and procedures. However, the current recommendations, based primarily on medical research, have been found in quantitative studies of the behaviors and practices of athletic trainers, coaches, and student-athletes to be ineffective. To date, no studies have explored the perceptions and experiences of student-athletes post-concussion. The purpose of this study was to understand student-athletes' experiences post-concussion and how their experiences compared to concussion management policy. A qualitative research design was utilized to allow for an in-depth understanding of the student-athlete's perspective on concussion management. Data were collected from interviews with seven current and former NCAA student-athletes from five member institutions representing Division I football, lacrosse, men's soccer, women's soccer, Division II football, and Division III football; and from publicly obtained concussion management documents. The data were analyzed using Tesch's (2013) organizing system and Love's (2003) methods for document analysis. Eight major findings emerged from the data: 1) Symptomology and its effects, 2) Pressure to return, 3) Lack of Knowledge, 4) Inadequate support, 5) No rest, 6) No policy, 7) Double-injury, and 8) Inconsistent alignment between student-athletes' experiences and their institution's concussion policies. None of the student-athletes' experiences aligned with the current best-practices in concussion management. Recommendations for cultural change, NCAA practices, and higher education practices include using warning messaging and PSAs, applying effective preseason education, enforcing implementation of concussion management guidelines, leveraging media partnerships, investing in concussion specialists, and creating a team of support.

Sports-Related Concussions in Youth

Sports-Related Concussions in Youth PDF Author: National Research Council
Publisher: National Academies Press
ISBN: 0309288037
Category : Medical
Languages : en
Pages : 215

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Book Description
In the past decade, few subjects at the intersection of medicine and sports have generated as much public interest as sports-related concussions - especially among youth. Despite growing awareness of sports-related concussions and campaigns to educate athletes, coaches, physicians, and parents of young athletes about concussion recognition and management, confusion and controversy persist in many areas. Currently, diagnosis is based primarily on the symptoms reported by the individual rather than on objective diagnostic markers, and there is little empirical evidence for the optimal degree and duration of physical rest needed to promote recovery or the best timing and approach for returning to full physical activity. Sports-Related Concussions in Youth: Improving the Science, Changing the Culture reviews the science of sports-related concussions in youth from elementary school through young adulthood, as well as in military personnel and their dependents. This report recommends actions that can be taken by a range of audiences - including research funding agencies, legislatures, state and school superintendents and athletic directors, military organizations, and equipment manufacturers, as well as youth who participate in sports and their parents - to improve what is known about concussions and to reduce their occurrence. Sports-Related Concussions in Youth finds that while some studies provide useful information, much remains unknown about the extent of concussions in youth; how to diagnose, manage, and prevent concussions; and the short- and long-term consequences of concussions as well as repetitive head impacts that do not result in concussion symptoms. The culture of sports negatively influences athletes' self-reporting of concussion symptoms and their adherence to return-to-play guidance. Athletes, their teammates, and, in some cases, coaches and parents may not fully appreciate the health threats posed by concussions. Similarly, military recruits are immersed in a culture that includes devotion to duty and service before self, and the critical nature of concussions may often go unheeded. According to Sports-Related Concussions in Youth, if the youth sports community can adopt the belief that concussions are serious injuries and emphasize care for players with concussions until they are fully recovered, then the culture in which these athletes perform and compete will become much safer. Improving understanding of the extent, causes, effects, and prevention of sports-related concussions is vitally important for the health and well-being of youth athletes. The findings and recommendations in this report set a direction for research to reach this goal.

Reintegration Experiences of Collegiate Athletes After Sustaining a Sport-related Concussion

Reintegration Experiences of Collegiate Athletes After Sustaining a Sport-related Concussion PDF Author: Mary Catherine Lee
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category : Brain
Languages : en
Pages : 0

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Book Description
Concussions are a public health concern that can affect many aspects of an individual's life from a physical, mental, and social health perspective. Additionally, student-athletes are often at a greater risk of sustaining a concussion than their fellow non-athlete classmates. Due to their roles as both a student and an athlete, concussed student-athletes often must successfully return to the classroom and to their sport. Thus, they must return to a level of high functioning cognitively, socially, and physically. While the research supports recommendations for the reintegration into school and sport following a concussion, there is little research that investigates the experiences of student-athletes as they navigate these processes. While there has been previous research to explore specific processes for a student-athlete's recovery after sustaining a SRC1-8, there has been very little research investigating the experience of student-athletes as they reintegrate into school and sport after SRC, specifically collegiate student-athletes. While most research involving RTL and RTP protocols has focused on establishing a set of guidelines for clinicians to follow, there has not been much attention given to determining if those guidelines truly benefit the student-athlete. The purpose of this qualitative research study is to investigate the experiences of NCAA student-athletes as they reintegrate into school and sport after SRC. The results of this study could significantly impact patient care and patient outcomes following SRC and promote future research to establish updated protocols that are focused more on the well-being of the student-athlete, instead of focusing on the processes used to return them to school and sport.

NCAA Division-I Student Athletes' Lived Experiences of an In-season Concussion

NCAA Division-I Student Athletes' Lived Experiences of an In-season Concussion PDF Author: Matthew S. Moreau
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category : Football
Languages : en
Pages : 70

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Book Description
Author's abstract: An estimated 1.6-3.8 million people suffer a concussion annually in the United States. Concussions are becoming an increasingly mainstream topic, especially with the amount coverage of concussions in different media outlets. Furthermore, peers such as athletic trainers, friends, coaches, and parents that may influence their experience of concussions. The purpose of this study was to examine NCAA Division I student-athletes' lived experiences of an in-season concussion. A phenomenological approach was used. The following open-ended question was asked: "Can you tell me about your experience of having your most recent concussion?" The research participants consisted of 4 in-season collegiate student-athletes, 18-21 years old. The participants were withheld from activity per the institution's concussion policy and interviewed within six months of their return to play. Interviews were tape recorded, transcribed, and analyzed. Pseudonyms were used to ensure participant anonymity and confidentiality. The researcher used triangulation to maintain validity by using member checks, peer reviews, other members of the research team, a bracketing interview. 6 major themes developed from the research including: Focus on Symptoms, Emotional Response to Injury, Experiences of Concussion Testing, Fear of Failing to Meet Teammate Expectations, Support From Friends and Family, and Effect on School. Emotional Response to Injury and Symptoms were the most prevalent themes with their experiences following suit with previous research. Some participants seemed to struggle with schoolwork, which supports the cognitive rest theories that are currently being used to help treat concussions in some areas. Overall concussions are very individualized injuries and athletic trainers should be aware of athletes' personalities and use compassion to help them recover from their concussion.

Changes in Mood State Subsequent to Concussion in Collegiate Student-athletes

Changes in Mood State Subsequent to Concussion in Collegiate Student-athletes PDF Author: Denise Vagt
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category :
Languages : en
Pages : 144

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Book Description
Objective: This study examined mood changes that occurred in student-athletes after they sustained a sports related concussion (SRC). Previous research has demonstrated an increase in depressive symptoms following SRC and other non-head related injuries. However, the prevalence and relative intensities of these depressive symptoms in student-athlete populations have not been fully investigated. This study will provide athletes, trainers, physicians, and other related staff with additional information about expected mood changes following injury that will allow swifter and more targeted interventions. Method: All athletes at an NCAA Division II university completed baseline assessments that included both cognitive and affective measures. Athletes who sustained a SRC during the following academic year completed the assessment battery again, including affective measures, at 24-48 hours post trauma, approximately 7-10 days post-trauma, and in follow-up evaluations as needed. A control group of same aged college peers who did not experience a concussion during the time period they participated in the study also completed a brief mood measure at three time points during the study year. Differences among the mood measure scores between the concussed student-athlete group and the control group were examined. The Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9), a brief depression screener, was the primary mood measure used. Results: Initial baseline PHQ-9 scores were significantly higher for the SRC group than the control group. Relative change from baseline to post-trauma was significantly different between the groups, with the SRC group demonstrating an increase in depressive symptoms after concussion injury compared to non-injured controls. However, this increase in depressive symptoms resolved and PHQ-9 scores returned to baseline levels for the SRC group at follow-up; PHQ-9 score for the control group remained stable over time. Examination of a brief three item list of mood related symptoms from a larger symptom inventory revealed the same pattern of performance: individuals in the SRC group tended to endorse more negative mood changes with greater severity during their post-trauma evaluation than they did at baseline or follow-up. Conclusions: There is an increase in student-athlete endorsement of depressive symptoms after sustaining a concussion as compared to non-injured controls. However, this increase is not great enough to increase the mean PHQ-9 score into the clinical range, indicating post-trauma depression screening scores, on average, are still in the non-clinical range. After sustaining a concussion injury student-athletes are more likely to report depressive symptoms during the window of 24 hours to 7-10 days post-trauma. This indicates interventions targeted at alleviating mood change after concussion need to be implemented within 1-3 days post-trauma and emphasizes the importance of early detection in this population.

Sports Neuropsychology

Sports Neuropsychology PDF Author: Ruben J. Echemend?a
Publisher: Guilford Press
ISBN: 1572300787
Category : Psychology
Languages : en
Pages : 337

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Book Description
In actual therapy sesions, the video shows Dr. Linehan teaching patients the use of such skills as mindfulness, distress tolerance, interpersonal effectiveness, and emotional regulation in order to manage extreme beliefs and behaviors. Viewers observe how Dr. Linehan and a team of therapists work through the range of problems and frustrations that arise in treatment.

Concussion, Help Seeking, and Mental Health Outcomes in Collegiate Athletes

Concussion, Help Seeking, and Mental Health Outcomes in Collegiate Athletes PDF Author: Brandon Tyler Cooper
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category : Counseling psychology
Languages : en
Pages : 0

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Book Description
Recently, there has been an increase in the awareness of sport concussion and its potential deleterious effects as progressively more research has been conducted within the past few decades. Despite this increase, there is much about sport concussion and the consequences of sport concussion that are still unknown. The current study aims to examine the prevalence of sport concussion in NCAA collegiate student athletes. Furthermore, this study seeks to investigate the prevalence of underreporting sport concussions as well as the factors that may lead athletes not to seek help for their concussion. To better understand mental health outcomes that follow sport concussion, this study attempts to understand the potential impact sport concussion has on mental health outcomes of depression and suicide ideation. Altogether, 964 student athletes across all three NCAA divisions were surveyed about their experiences in college with sport concussion. Results of this study indicate that there may be a long-term impact of sport concussion on depression and suicide ideation. Additionally, the leading reason student athletes reported they chose to not seek help for their sport concussion was being unsure of the signs and symptoms of concussion. Implications for future research, practice, and advocacy of sport and counseling psychologists are discussed.

Concussion to Classroom

Concussion to Classroom PDF Author: Felicia Sison Conlan
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category :
Languages : en
Pages : 184

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Book Description
Sports-related concussions have raised great interest and concern as a significant worldwide health issue. This phenomenological case study gathered the personal perspectives of college club sports athletes at a western four-year public university about their recovery and rehabilitation post-concussion. This rarely studied yet growing population of student-athletes shared details about the challenges they faced during the transition from concussion injury to the classroom. Ten athletes from high impact sports of soccer, rugby, ice hockey, and wrestling participated in this qualitative study. In addition, four interviews with on campus service providers and a review of documents related to the processes of Return to Play and Return to Learn, brought context to the accessibility of resources for these students. Two theoretical frameworks were combined in the design of the study and data analysis, transition theory and resiliency. Schlossberg’s Transition Theory and its 4S factors of self, situation, support, and strategy assisted in the analysis of how club athletes coped with unexpected changes in their daily life. Resiliency was utilized to explore how students drew upon external and internal resources in a positive manner when coping with adversity. The study revealed that although campus resources were accessible, most of the student-athletes did not seek formal academic support unless it potentially impacted their grades. Underutilized support included accommodations offered through the Disability Resource Center. Many research participants considered their brain injury “no big deal” and developed compensatory strategies to keep up with the responsibilities and expectations of student life. Post injury procedures focused more on return to play and less on return to learn. However, participants expressed difficulties with attention, memory, information processing, and organization. A more integrated approach is recommended which monitors physical and cognitive demands plus behavioral and sleep concerns during return to school and sport. A recommended pathway for incorporating post-concussion support and strategies during the transition from injury to the classroom is provided along with a list of suggested learning strategies. Overall, the research highlighted the need for more concussion education, opportunities for inter-professional collaboration, and the potential of an inter-professional alliance on college campuses for this multifaceted health issue.

Return to Play and Class for Concussed College Athletes Predicted from Post-concussion Symptom Domains

Return to Play and Class for Concussed College Athletes Predicted from Post-concussion Symptom Domains PDF Author: Jazmin N. Mogavero
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category :
Languages : en
Pages : 98

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Book Description
Each year approximately 1.6 to 3.8 million people suffer a sports-related traumatic brain injury (Langlois, Rutland-Brown, & Wald, 2006). Concussions, a common form of mild traumatic brain injury, account for 75% of total brain injuries in the United States (Faul, Xu, Wald, & Coronado, 2010). In sports, concussions account for 1 of every 10 injuries (Marar, McIlvain, Fields, & Comstock, 2012). Overall, concussion symptoms typically remit within one to four weeks from injury (McCrea, 2007); however, conflict exists surrounding the duration of time that would be safe for a concussed student-athlete to return to functioning, both to sport and to class. According to the most recent evidence on concussion recovery and return to play statistics in a collegiate student-athlete population, an athlete, on average, will return to functioning within 16.1 days (McCrea et al, 2019). The primary role in evaluating collegiate sports-related concussions is to determine when and how a student-athlete should return to physical and cognitive activity. Concussions are known to result in a wide array of neurologic, somatic, cognitive, and behavioral deficits. The diagnosis of a concussion is determined by the athlete's presentation of symptoms; however, many of these symptoms are both subjective and ubiquitous. When athletes are concussed, they undergo a series of tests including a self-reported inventory of symptoms. Previous research has identified four distinct domains of symptoms endorsed by athletes on the Post-Concussion Symptom Scale (PCSS) consisting of cognitive, physical, affective, and sleep symptoms (Merritt & Arnett, 2014). The aim of this study is to critically examine post-concussive symptoms within a collegiate athlete sample and identify existing relationships between symptom clusters and recovery times. Identifying such relationships could be the first step in understanding symptom-based markers of concussion duration, which would inform the challenging return to play and return to class decisions.

Brain Injury Medicine, 2nd Edition

Brain Injury Medicine, 2nd Edition PDF Author: Nathan D. Zasler, MD
Publisher: Demos Medical Publishing
ISBN: 1936287277
Category : Medical
Languages : en
Pages : 1549

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Book Description
This book is a clear and comprehensive guide to all aspects of the management of traumatic brain injury-from early diagnosis and evaluation through the post-acute period and rehabilitation. An essential reference for physicians and other health care professionals who work with brain injured patients, the book focuses on assessment and treatment of the wider variety of clinical problems these patients face and addresses many associated concerns such as epidemiology, ethical issues, legal issues, and life-care planning. Written by over 190 acknowledged leaders, the text covers the full spectrum of the practice of brain injury medicine including principles of neural recovery, neuroimaging and neurodiagnostic testing, prognosis and outcome, acute care, rehabilitation, treatment of specific populations, neurologic and other medical problems following injury, cognitive and behavioral problems, post-traumatic pain disorders, pharmacologic and alternative treatments, and community reentry and productivity.