Post Concussion Syndrome (PCS) in Cedar Rapids IA

With high school basketball season gearing up and college and NBA seasons in full swing, along with college football and the NFL, I (Dr. Stephanie) want to take some time to discuss with you an important topic that basketball and football players (as well as parents and ALL athletes) should be aware of-concussions and post concussion syndrome in Cedar Rapids IA.

I want to start by just letting everyone know that the forces required to obtain a concussion are much less than people think. As little as 80gs (g-force) of translation acceleration is enough to start the concussive process. To put this in perspective, heading a soccer ball generates around 40gs.

Signs of a concussion in Cedar Rapids IA

Signs and symptoms of a concussion include but are not limited to:

• Loss of consciousness for ANY period of time (most concussions do not have this as a symptom, however)
• Headache
• Nausea and/or vomiting
• Dizziness
• Balance disturbances
• Visual disturbances
• Fatigue
• Sensitivity to light and/or sound
• Numbness/Tingling
• Feeling "dazed" and/or stunned
• Difficulty concentrating/slow to answer questions
• Confusion/Forgetfulness
• Irritability/Sadness/Nervousness

Impact forces to the head are reduced by helmets and mouthpieces, however, using these does not translate into a reduction of concussive injuries. Does equipment give athletes a false sense of protection? Possibly, but this does not mean that you should not use them.

Girls are 68% more likely to suffer from sports-related concussions when compared to boys.

Post Concussion Syndrome (PCS) is defined as "when the behavioral, cognitive, or somatic symptoms of concussion persist beyond the typical recovery period". What is the "typical" recovery period? While every individual is different, in this case, "typical" is generally within a few weeks, but can be up to a few months.

PCS is the most common entity to be diagnosed in people who have suffered a concussion and is present in up to 64% of patients. As many as 15% of patients can still suffer deficits one year after the initial concussion. Some studies have indicated that women are more likely to develop PCS, both in terms of more symptoms reported and a longer duration of impairment.

At Integrated Medicine of Iowa, we see a lot of athletes. If you have any concerns about whether or not you or a loved one is experiencing these symptoms, please call us at (319) 395-9897 and schedule an appointment.