CHARLOTTE, N.C. – Concussions are certainly not just an issue for professional athletes.
For high school student-athletes, coaches, and parents, awareness is at an all-time high for head injuries. WCNC sat down with sports medicine expert Dr. Kevin Burroughs to give parents a glimpse at some of the not-so-obvious symptoms associated with concussions.
Dr. Burroughs told WCNC that perhaps the rarest symptoms found with concussions is a total loss of consciousness.
"Yeah, now that might make the ESPN highlight reel, but the loss of consciousness is fairly rare. Most of the time we are looking for more subtle clues as to whether or not there is a concussion," said Dr. Burroughs.
Dr. Burroughs says there are several physical symptoms parents should watch for, including balance issues, dizziness, headaches, and nausea, all of which are considered obvious to trainers and coaches on the sideline. But it's the invisible symptoms that can provide the key to determining if an athlete has suffered a concussion.
"Emotional issues can occur on the sideline, and I've had some players come over and start crying on the sideline uncontrollably. They can't explain it, they don't know why it's happening," said Burroughs. "On the other hand, concentration difficulties may not show up on Friday night. If they're having a great difficulty focusing in school or reading, that's when they'll maybe say, 'Oh, I've had a concussion,'" Burroughs told WCNC.
