Whether it's a Friday night football game or a weekend soccer tournament, one hard hit can change everything. Concussions in sports can affect school, work, and daily life long after the final whistle. Knowing the signs, the risks, and the right next steps helps athletes protect their brain health and return safely.
Concussions can affect memory, balance, concentration, and daily activities, even without loss of consciousness. Symptoms may appear immediately or develop later, so athletes with a suspected concussion should stop playing and seek medical evaluation. Recovery requires a gradual, supervised return to activity. Garden State Sports Medicine supports recovery through personalized evaluations, targeted treatment, and guidance for safely resuming school, work, and sports.
What Happens During a Concussion?
A concussion is a traumatic brain injury caused by a bump, blow, or jolt to the head, or a hit to the body that makes the head move rapidly. That sudden movement can change how the brain functions, whether or not you lose consciousness. Many concussions in sport events occur during contact play, but recreational activities and sudden falls can cause them, as well.
Certain factors can raise your risk or lengthen recovery, including:
A history of previous concussions or migraines
Higher-risk sports such as football, wrestling, and cheerleading
Younger age, since children and teens often take longer to heal
Returning to play before symptoms have fully resolved
Recognizing Concussions in Sport Events
Symptoms don't always appear right away. They can be delayed for hours or even days, which is why athletes who feel fine after a hit should still be evaluated. Common signs include:
Headache or pressure in the head
Dizziness, nausea, or balance problems
Blurry vision or sensitivity to light and noise
Trouble concentrating or remembering information
Feeling foggy, sluggish, or unusually irritable
Coaches, parents, and teammates play a key role in spotting concussions during sporting events. They may notice confusion, clumsiness, slow responses, or behavior changes the athlete overlooks.
Call 911 or seek emergency care for a worsening headache, repeated vomiting, seizures, slurred speech, weakness, increasing confusion, or difficulty waking up. These warning signs can indicate a more serious injury.
Why You Should Never "Play Through It"
Feeling well enough to finish the game doesn't mean it's safe to keep going. If you suspect a concussion, stop playing immediately and sit out for the rest of the day, even if symptoms improve. A second blow before the brain has healed can be especially serious for young athletes.
New Jersey law reflects this risk. Any student-athlete suspected of having a concussion must be removed from practice or competition right away. Before returning, the student must:
Be evaluated by a healthcare provider trained in concussion care
Get written clearance from a doctor trained in concussion evaluation and management
Be back to regular school activities without symptoms.
These rules exist because concussions affect learning and everyday life, and not just athletic performance.
How Doctors Diagnose a Concussion
Concussions usually don't show up on medical imaging like MRIs, CT scans, or X-rays. This means that diagnosis depends on a careful hands-on exam. At Garden State Sports Medicine, Dr. Kevin Valvano, DO, FAOASM, reviews how the injury happened and the symptoms you've noticed since. He then checks your vision, balance, memory, and concentration.
He may use standardized tools based on your individual case, such as the:
Sport Concussion Assessment Tool (SCAT)
Sport Concussion Office Assessment Tool (SCOAT)
Vestibular/Ocular-Motor Screening (VOMS)
None of these require a pre-injury baseline test, so athletes who never completed one can still receive a thorough evaluation after a sports-related concussion. Imaging is typically recommended only when warning signs point to a more serious injury.
Active Recovery and a Safe Return to Play
Recovery doesn't have to mean simply waiting it out. Dr. Valvano uses modern, active concussion treatment to support healing, including:
Guided aerobic exercise based on the Buffalo protocol
Osteopathic manipulative treatment (OMT)
Early referral to physical or occupational therapy
His evaluations also look for secondary issues, such as neck strain, vision or balance problems, and poor sleep, that often keep symptoms lingering.
Most people feel better within a few weeks, though children and teens often need more time. Once symptoms resolve and normal school or work activities are back on track, athletes follow a supervised return-to-play progression, with each step typically taking at least 24 hours.
If symptoms return, stop the activity and contact our office immediately. Taking this measured approach to concussions from playing sports gives the brain the best chance to heal fully.
Choose Garden State Sports Medicine for Sports-Related Concussion Treatment in Parsippany, NJ
Don't let a concussion sideline you longer than necessary. At Garden State Sports Medicine, Dr. Kevin Valvano takes a personalized, whole-person approach when planning care, considering your:
Symptoms
Daily demands
Activity goals
He evaluates student-athletes, coordinates temporary schoolwork adjustments, and provides written clearance when it's safe to return. Many patients come to us after earlier care hasn't helped, and Dr. Valvano focuses on finding what's holding recovery back.
Whether you’re managing school, training, work, or family responsibilities, start with a conversation about your needs by calling (862) 217-4355 or request an appointment online. Located at 3799 US-46, Suite 101, in Parsippany, NJ, we provide options for Morris County residents, including families in Mountain Lakes, Denville, Boonton, and Boonton Township.