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Concussion Assessment and Management Program

"Athletes should be better informed about the cumulative and persistent effects of sports concussion on mental and physical processes"

Dr. Louis de Beaumont     
University of Montreal     


Welcome to CAMP Website

This website is dedicated to furthering the knowledge of cerebral concussion and it's impact on athletic competition.  A key component to full recovery is managing return to play for athletes in central New England.  

  

In spite of new MIAA requirements some athletic directors resist baseline testing - REPORTED IN PEDIATRICS 2010, HALSTEAD et al.

Private Schools balance MIAA mandates with high-level Athletics

NEW BRAINTREE, MA  October 7, 2011  A new series of policies are mandated by the MIAA and the Massachusetts Department of Health in support of concussion education across the commonwealth.  Athletic directors at private schools are balancing the need for athlete safety with a push for continued high level elite athletic programs.  Most private schools adhere to MIAA mandates and are highly cautious when it comes to management of concussions.

The Concussion Assessment and Management program can help with setting up programs for providing education and concussion management in your school.   According to Michael Sefton, Ph.D. the best practice now includes a seemless baseline testing program as well as return-to-school and return-to-play scenarios for student athletes afflicted with symptoms of concussion.  Contact Dr. Sefton for information about policy requirements and assistance with setting up your concussion protocols soon.  msefton@qmail.qcc.edu

 



Sefton Debuts New Concussion Blog 

 "INFORMATION ABOUT CONCUSSION CHANGES EVERY DAY"  MICHAEL SEFTON

This new blog will attempt to provide up-to-date information about brain injury including concussion. Topics relating to cutting edge research on chronic traumatic encephalopathy - a form of dementia that has been associated with repeated head injury. In the summer of 2011 three current or former NHL players died - 2 by self-inflicted injuries. The surviving families of all three players donated their brains for study at the Boston University Medical Center Brain Bank. 

 

The blog is titled concussioninsports.blogspot.com and will focus on both high school athletes and college teams. Cases will be discussed along with treatment protocols and outcome summaries.  In addition the blog will feature assessment tools and updated legislation.



DISCUSSION ON CONCUSSION

LINGERING HEADACHE FOLLOWS CONCUSSION

NEW BRAINTREE, MA October 29, 2011 Headaches occur with regularity after traumatic brain injury - especially injuries of the concussive variety. As a practitioner interested in concussion I always ask athletes to keep a headache diary because it serves as something of barometer of the "rest" they are getting after injury. Research suggests that 20-40 percent of athletes experience headaches after concussion with a subset of these cases that go on and develop chronic head pain. Arguably, when a player complains of a lingering headache in the days after a suspected concussion it is likely that a connection exists between bump on head and lingering head pain. Some do not make this connection especially when they have eyes set on returning to play.

 

It is surprising that so many people fail to see the connection between the impact of concussion and residual headaches. It is among the most common symptoms immediately following a concussion. Headaches are associated with the decreased efficiency of processing that results from the neurological cascade after injury. Headaches are a signal that the brain has not returned to homeostasis following the injury. After concussion the treatment of choice involves rest - physical and cognitive. A headache sometimes signals the lack of rest and may be a sign that an athlete is putting their recovery at risk. Post-exertion headaches may be a symptom of the onset of postconcussion syndrome and should delay the progression of further activity. Athletes should return to play in a step-wise fashion that affords them time to return to baseline.

 


Female Athletes at Risk for Concussion

NEW BRAINTREE, MA October 8, 2011  More information is being published about the impact of concussion on female athletes.  The incidence of concussion in female high school and college athletes has risen since 2001 dramatically.  Like thier male counterparts female athletes are being diagnosed with concussion more than ever. 

Nationally, girls soccer ranks just below boys football in high school sports, according to a 2007 study of injuries in high school and college sports by researchers from Ohio State University and the National Collegiate Athletic Association according to published reports.   According to Marla Kaufman, M.D. at the University of Washington the problem of concussions in female athletes may be linked to weaker core body muscles that leave them more vulnerable to forces applied to the torso.  Dr. Kaufman indicated that women play differently than male athletes.  Injuries occur when thier bodies collide or when the ladies jump and fall to the turf.               

 

EMS - Emergency Medical Service Role in Concussion Management

New Braintree, MA  October 9, 2011  The age old question in emergency medical care is what does the athlete need who is suspected to have sustained a concussion?  There is no clear consensus but it is well know that the prototypic response for EMS is to transport the athlete to the nearest Level I trauma center. In fact, the vast majority of EMS calls for head injured athletes are benign and result in no obvious findings of brain injury.  C-T scans and laboratory studies are generally normal but that doesn't mean the athlete is free and clear.  EMS personnel need to learn and understand the concussion cascade that result from metabolic changes from forces applied to the brain during game play.  Some trainers are using the SCAT-2, a neuropsychological screening tool used by many NHL teams.  It measures concentration, S-T memory and other neurocognitive functions associated with concussion.                                                                        Michael Sefton, Ph.D. 

 



UPCOMING EVENTS

WATCH FOR UPCOMING SEMINARS  If your school or organization needs consultation or educational programming on the topic of concussion or return to school and return to play programming do not hesitate to contact me.  Seminars are available for low cost to help. 


CONSULTATION AVAILABLE

School districts interested in using CAMP for supporting athletes injured while playing sports can contact Dr. Sefton at 508-579-0417.  Parents and physicians may call Dr. Sefton at any time to discuss individual injuries and school and sports  re-entry after injury. Post injury testing and neuropsychological consultation is also available.

Dr. Sefton at rinkside


 

PARTICIPATING SCHOOL LINK

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Start 2011 Program




Website Features

Concussion Education

Academic Re-entry Plan - consistent with CDC guidelines 

  • Return to Work
  • Return to School
  • Return to Play
  • Seasonal Case Conference
  • Sports Specific Planning
  • School and Team Consultation
  • On-Line ImPACT Testing


Concussion Blog Link

Click Here for MIAA ConcussionCourse