UW Medicine and Harborview Medical Center, in collaboration with Seattle Children's, have established the Seattle Sports Concussion Program to provide children, teen and adult athletes with evaluation, treatment and medical clearance to return to sports.
The comprehensive program is composed of health-care providers in
Rehabilitation Medicine,
Neurological Surgery, Neuropsychology, Sports Medicine and
Radiology and Imaging Services. In addition to concussion management, the program will provide education on the prevention and treatment of concussions to parents, trainers, athletes, athletic directors and many others involved in youth sports.
About Concussions
Concussions can be a serious health problem, and they require immediate recognition and proper management. With this program, our community is taking an important step forward to protect athletes who play organized sports.
As many as 3.8 million sports-and-recreation-related concussions occur each year in the United States, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Early identification of an athlete with a concussion is critical. Youth athletes who return to play too soon following initial injury are at risk for brain injuries, some of which can be catastrophic.
Concussions can happen to any athlete, even without losing consciousness. Prevention and proper treatment are essential. Youth athletes should seek medical care immediately if they experience any symptoms after a blow or jolt to the head.
Zackery Lystedt Law
The Seattle Sports Concussion Program will help school and team coaches meet the provisions of a new state law that prohibits youth athletes showing signs of a concussion from returning to play without a licensed health-care professional’s approval. The law is named after Zackery Lystedt, a Maple Valley teenager who suffered a traumatic brain injury while playing football in October 2006. After sustaining the injury, Zackery returned to play because no one recognized the signs and symptoms of his serious brain injury.
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