Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsDefinitionDiagnosisStepsRecovery TimeWhen to See a Provider
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Definition
Diagnosis
Steps
Recovery Time
When to See a Provider
Concussion protocols lay out a timeline for evaluation, recommendations for activity, as well as a set of benchmarks a patient must pass before it’s safe for them to resume normal activities or play.
This article explores the purpose of concussion protocols, the steps that may be included in one, and why they are necessary for evaluating this potentially dangerous type of injury.
What Is a Concussion Protocol?
A concussion protocol is a set of policies for the treatment and management of a concussion. It helps healthcare providers and caregivers establish a timeline for recovery. The protocol helps the care team ensure the patient has completely healed from the brain injury and that it’s safe for them to return to their usual activities. This means establishing:
Recovery from a concussion can vary based on its severity and location. The goal is to return to baseline measures of health and resolve all symptoms.
Concussion Facts and Statistics: What You Need to Know
Evaluation and Diagnosis
Concussions can bechallenging to diagnose, as symptoms can mimic those of other conditions or may be missed entirely. Diagnosis typically occurs in the emergency room setting or on the athletic field following the fall or head impact. This involves three basic steps:
Notably, imaging techniques, such asmagnetic resonance imaging (MRI), may be used in more severe cases, when bleeding in the brain is suspected.
Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) Causes and Complications
What Are the Protocol Steps?
CDC Guidelines
The CDC’s concussion protocol details a gradual timeline for return to normal activities, school, and athletics. Progress is monitored at every stage, with healthcare providers clearing patients for more activity once they’re certain it’s safe. For athletes, the protocol can be broken into six stages, following an initial rest period of 28 to 72 hours:
How Long Does a Concussion Last?
NFL Guidelines
Due to high numbers of traumatic brain injury among active and retired professional football players, the NFL established a concussion protocol in 2009, and it’s since been updated several times.Concussions are serious injuries and can remove athletes from competition for significant stretches.
The general progression of the NFL concussion guidelines is similar to others: The athlete gradually escalates the level of their activity, steering clear of full-contact work until cleared to do so. However, the NFL protocol includes additional stipulations and recommendations.
An NFL player immediately goes into the concussion protocol the moment there is an on-field concussion or a concussion is suspected. That player cannot re-enter the game. Team medical staff or neurology specialists must immediately assess symptoms, with a follow-up evaluation stipulated 24 hours after the injury. Regular monitoring of progress is required.
The NFL’s return-to-play protocol features five, rather than six, steps:
How Long Is a Concussion Protocol?
There’s no set duration for a concussion protocol because there’s a great deal of variation in how long it takes for the brain to recover and heal. In general, the length of the protocol depends on the length of recovery, which in most cases is about two weeks.More severe cases, however, lead to prolonged symptoms, which can lengthen the concussion protocol period, sometimes for months.
When to See a Healthcare Provider
If you have a concussion, you may not necessarily require emergency medical attention. That said, you do need emergency help if you are unconscious for any period of time following a blow to the head.
If the trauma is more severe or if there are signs ofhematoma, a pooling of blood in the brain, you must get emergency medical help at once. Call 911 if you experience any of the following:
Summary
A concussion protocol is a set of policies and procedures for treating someone with a concussion. It provides the tools healthcare providers need to decide when it is safe for someone who has experienced a concussion to return to activity.
Different sports organizations and medical facilities may have slightly different concussion protocols, but they typically include limitations on activities, careful monitoring, and a gradual return to play. There is no set time for a concussion protocol as every injury is different.
7 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Managing return to activities.American Association of Neurological Surgeons.Concussion.Weill Cornell Brain and Spine Center.Diagnosing and treating concussion.McCrory P, Meeuwisse W, Dvorak J,et al.Consensus statement on concussion in sport—the 5th international conference on concussion in sport held in Berlin, October 2016.Brit J Sport Med2017;51:838-847. doi:10.1136/bjsports-2017-097699NFL.NFL Head, Neck and Spine Committee’s concussion diagnosis and management protocol.Beaumont.What to expect after a concussion.Centers for Disease Control.Signs and symptoms of concussion.
7 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Managing return to activities.American Association of Neurological Surgeons.Concussion.Weill Cornell Brain and Spine Center.Diagnosing and treating concussion.McCrory P, Meeuwisse W, Dvorak J,et al.Consensus statement on concussion in sport—the 5th international conference on concussion in sport held in Berlin, October 2016.Brit J Sport Med2017;51:838-847. doi:10.1136/bjsports-2017-097699NFL.NFL Head, Neck and Spine Committee’s concussion diagnosis and management protocol.Beaumont.What to expect after a concussion.Centers for Disease Control.Signs and symptoms of concussion.
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Managing return to activities.American Association of Neurological Surgeons.Concussion.Weill Cornell Brain and Spine Center.Diagnosing and treating concussion.McCrory P, Meeuwisse W, Dvorak J,et al.Consensus statement on concussion in sport—the 5th international conference on concussion in sport held in Berlin, October 2016.Brit J Sport Med2017;51:838-847. doi:10.1136/bjsports-2017-097699NFL.NFL Head, Neck and Spine Committee’s concussion diagnosis and management protocol.Beaumont.What to expect after a concussion.Centers for Disease Control.Signs and symptoms of concussion.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Managing return to activities.
American Association of Neurological Surgeons.Concussion.
Weill Cornell Brain and Spine Center.Diagnosing and treating concussion.
McCrory P, Meeuwisse W, Dvorak J,et al.Consensus statement on concussion in sport—the 5th international conference on concussion in sport held in Berlin, October 2016.Brit J Sport Med2017;51:838-847. doi:10.1136/bjsports-2017-097699
NFL.NFL Head, Neck and Spine Committee’s concussion diagnosis and management protocol.
Beaumont.What to expect after a concussion.
Centers for Disease Control.Signs and symptoms of concussion.
Meet Our Medical Expert Board
Share Feedback
Was this page helpful?Thanks for your feedback!What is your feedback?OtherHelpfulReport an ErrorSubmit
Was this page helpful?
Thanks for your feedback!
What is your feedback?OtherHelpfulReport an ErrorSubmit
What is your feedback?
