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Review
. 2019 Mar 15;7(3):44.
doi: 10.3390/medsci7030044.

Sport-Related Concussion: Evaluation, Treatment, and Future Directions

Lydia McKeithan  1 , Natalie Hibshman  2 , Aaron M Yengo-Kahn  3   4 , Gary S Solomon  5   6 , Scott L Zuckerman  7   8
Affiliations
Review

Sport-Related Concussion: Evaluation, Treatment, and Future Directions

Lydia McKeithan et al. Med Sci (Basel). .

Abstract

Sport-related concussion (SRC) is a highly prevalent injury predominantly affecting millions of youth through high school athletes every year. In recent years, SRC has received a significant amount of attention due to potential for long-term neurologic sequelae. However, the acute symptoms and possibility of prolonged recovery account for the vast majority of morbidity from SRC. Modifying factors have been identified and may allow for improved prediction of a protracted course. Potential novel modifying factors may include genetic determinants of recovery, as well as radiographic biomarkers, which represent burgeoning subfields in SRC research. Helmet design and understanding the biomechanical stressors on the brain that lead to concussion also represent active areas of research. This narrative review provides a general synopsis of SRC, including relevant definitions, current treatment paradigms, and modifying factors for recovery, in addition to novel areas of research and future directions for SRC research.

Keywords: biomechanics; genetics; mild traumatic brain injury; neuroimaging; sport-related concussion.

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Conflict of interest statement

G.S. has served as a member of the senior advisory board for ImPACT and is a senior advisor in the National Football League’s Department of Health and Safety. N.H., L.M., A.M.Y-K., and S.L.Z. report no conflict of interest.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
One page of the SCAT5 (please find the figure at the bottom of the manuscript). Reproduced from sport concussion assessment tool—5th edition with permission from BMJ Publishing Group Ltd. doi.org/10.1136/bjsports-2017-097506SCAT5.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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