- Concussions and sports go hand in hand. Fast moving bodies and a competitive mindset lead to collisions and unfortunately, “mild traumatic brain injuries.” As athletic trainers, we deal with these injuries often and in the last one or two decades the spotlight has been on these injuries and how to best manage them. However, with all of the attention and research about concussions, there is still much to learn about how to diagnose these injuries more accurately, tools in the rehabilitation of head injuries. As well as, best practice to treat these injuries so that our athletes can return to play and remain as safe as possible.
-By participating in this program, the viewer will gain new knowledge in the newest diagnostic tests, apply and perform VOMS testing and understand its uses in both diagnosis and rehabilitation, identify proper treatment options, and explain best return to play practices. This information will improve the athletic trainers diagnostic accuracy both on field and in the clinic, as well as provide the most recent and approved methods for returning to play.
- Concussions have been at the forefront of discussion among medical professionals and those in the sports community for many years now. They present a unique and complex challenge, concussions are difficult to diagnose and difficult to treat. With any injury, the golden rule is “the best cure is prevention”. But with many new advances such as high tech helmets, sensors and training changes, the true cause of concussions is still not being addressed, which is the anatomy of the athlete. The athletes neck and head control and strength is the only thing a person has control over when it comes to the prevention of head injuries. Yet is one of the most neglected areas of conditioning in any athlete.
-By participating in this program, the clinician will learn new valuable information on the prevention of concussions. They will be able to implement a strength program for the head and neck for athletes in the clinical setting. Provide coaches with techniques to add in their training schedule to help reduce risk of concussion. As well as explain the importance of training the neck and head in the effort to reduce concussions.
MaineGeneral Sports Medicine & Colby College Sports Medicine offer 2nd Annual Fall Symposium Concussion Diagnosis, Treatment, VOMS & The Importance of Training the Muscles of the Head and Neck
CAT A Presentation
On-Demand
- Kevin Connolly, DO, Maine-Dartmouth Family Residency
- James Poulin, MD, Maine-Dartmouth Family Residency
- Alycia Nored, ATC, MaineGeneral Sports Medicine
- Craig Buckley, CSCS Colby College Sports Medicine
Objectives
At the conclusion of this program, the participant will be able to:
• Identify signs and symptoms to aid in the diagnosis of concussions.
• Identify treatment options for the rehabilitation and care of concussions.
• Explain the most accepted return to play protocol to decrease re-injury and medical disqualification from sport.
• Explain and define VOMS testing.
• Identify different causes of vestibular ocular dysfunction.
• Define the importance of training the muscles of the head and neck and how neck strength helps reduce risk of concussions.
• Demonstrate how to develop a program to train the neck.
• Provide the information necessary to educate athletes and coaches on training the head and neck.
According to the education levels described by the PDC, the following continuing education course is considered to be Advanced.
Credits Awarded
CEUs awarded: 3.5 CAT A CEUs
MaineGeneral Medical Center (BOC AP#: P2258) is approved by the Board of Certification, Inc. to provide continuing education to Certified Athletic Trainers. This program is eligible for a maximum of (3.5) CAT A CEUs. ATs should claim only those hours actually spent in the educational program.
