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Updated: Jul 19, 2026
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A Multi-Modal Approach to Assessing Recovery in Youth Athletes Following Concussion
Published on: September 25, 2014
Head injury in athletes.
1Department of Neurosurgery, West Virginia University, School of Medicine, Morgantown 26506, USA.
Neurosurgery
|January 11, 2001
Summary
Athletic head injuries, including mild traumatic brain injury (MTBI) or concussion, have serious long-term effects. Understanding injury trends and management, especially return-to-play criteria, is crucial for athlete safety.
Area of Science:
- Sports Medicine
- Neurology
- Public Health
Background:
- Head injuries in sports have a long history, with understanding of cerebral insults evolving significantly over the past century.
- Mild traumatic brain injury (MTBI), or concussion, is now recognized as a major health concern with potentially long-ranging effects.
- The widespread participation in sports globally, including soccer and youth contact sports, highlights the significant public health implications of athletic head injuries.
Purpose of the Study:
- To analyze injury trends and recommended treatments for athletes experiencing head injuries.
- To review historical developments in the recognition and care of athletic head injuries.
- To discuss current understanding of pathophysiology, biomechanics, and management strategies, including return-to-play criteria.
Main Methods:
- Review of historical developments in athletic head injury recognition and care.
- Analysis of current epidemiological issues related to sports injuries affecting the central nervous system.
- Examination of modern management paradigms, including clinical recognition, neuropsychological assessment, radiographic evaluations, and pathophysiology appreciation.
Main Results:
- Recent research has improved the definition of epidemiological issues and established classification/management paradigms for sports-related central nervous system injuries.
- Current management strategies involve improved recognition of MTBI syndromes, advanced testing (neuropsychological, radiographic), and a better understanding of concussive brain injury pathophysiology.
- The long-term consequences of repetitive MTBI are now recognized, moving away from the past perception of concussions as benign.
Conclusions:
- Athletic head injuries, particularly concussions, require careful management due to potential long-term effects.
- Effective management strategies, informed by recent research and advanced diagnostic tools, are essential for guiding treatment decisions.
- Return-to-play criteria are critical components of the management strategy for athletes recovering from MTBI.
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