Erlanger doctors teach trainers about concussions

CHATTANOOGA (WDEF) – Physicians from Erlanger Medical Center are helping to make sure students with concussions are treated properly.

Concussions are a major health risk, especially for student athletes.

Doctors from Erlanger Medical Center met with school athletic trainers today to make sure they are up to speed on the most recent concussion protocols as the fall sports season gets underway.

Doctor Derek Worley treats a lot of student athletes with concussions and he is making sure athletic trainers have the ability to do the same.

“So what they’re learning is how we should go about assessing student athletes for concussions, and there’s a lot of different ways to do that.”

Those ways include testing for balance, memory, and vision issues. Then doctors and trainers can craft a treatment plan for the athlete.

“If we can make those types of assessments, then we can get them in the right rehab protocol to help get them better from their concussion.”

Physical therapist Matthew Carbone believes the key to successful concussion rehab comes when there is a full network of people communicating about how to best care for the patient.

“Its really a challenging diagnosis to work with. But ideally, working as a team with the athletic trainers, the physicians, the physical therapists and the others in the health field, we can recognize what the patient needs immediately and get them the right rehab so they can get better as quickly as they can.”

While athletic trainers are typically the first point of contact for kids who get concussions, parents play an important role in recognizing when their kids need to seek extra medical attention.

“At the end of the day, moms know their kids and if mom says he’s just not acting right and he just got hit in football practice two days ago’ a concussion should definitely be ruled out.”

Carbone says that treatment is important for head injuries but many can be avoided by properly training for and engaging in their contact sport.

“Fundamentals are key. Having your athlete, if we’re talking athletes in the best shape they can be in. Aerobically and cardiovascularly, strength wise and flexibility wise.”