Brain injuries and young athletes

Doctors recommend a baseline test before hitting the field.

Summer is in full gear and school sport tryouts are fast approaching. As more research and information comes in about the dangers of concussion, experts are advising athletes of all ages to take greater precaution against head injuries.

A concussion is a brain injury caused by a bump or blow to the head. Every concussion is serious. It can change the way the brain normally functions and it takes time to heal.

This year, physicians at McLaren Macomb are urging all athletes participating in contact sports to have baseline concussion testing.

In the event of a concussion, physicians can then compare tests from after the injury with the person’s “normal,” or baseline test. This helps to determine the extent of the injury and how soon the athlete can safely return to the sport.

Baseline concussion testing is available through McLaren’s Athletic Medicine Institute. The goal is to provide the best possible care so the athlete can get back to play as safely and quickly as possible.

Other sports injuries

Athletes also risk a variety of other injuries. Often, these injuries are caused by improper technique, repetitive motion, lack of proper equipment or inadequate stretching and warm-ups.

One of the most common problems that orthopedic specialists handle is an injury to the ACL (the anterior cruciate ligament of the knee). Athletes can often prevent this type of injury by learning the right training for a particular sport. This typically includes dynamic warm-ups, proper jumping techniques, along with strengthening and stretching exercises.

It’s also important for the student athlete or the weekend warrior to make sure they are healthy enough for exercise or competitive sports. Underlying health issues, such as a heart condition or asthma, can lead to serious problems during prolonged exercise or strenuous sports.

For athletes of all ages and abilities, the team of experts at McLaren’s Athletic Medicine Institute (AMI) can provide the proper training, as well as the proper assessment to make sure an athlete is healthy enough to play and prepared enough to avoid injuries.

Services to assess athletes include:

• Lung function screening
• Computerized baseline and post-concussion assessment
• Heart screening
• Speed and agility testing
• ACL injury prevention program
• Video motion analysis

If surgery or treatment is needed, the AMI team can offer “treatment, testing and preventive care all through one hospital,” said Dr. Shariff K. Bishai, a board-certified McLaren Macomb orthopedic surgeon and director of the Athletic Medicine Institute.

“Our team of experts can provide a continuum of care in sports medicine for everyone in the community.”

Dr. Bishai is one of 26 physicians who participate in the program. The AMI team also brings customized wellness events to sports teams in Macomb County schools

For more information about McLaren Macomb’s Athletic Medicine Institute, or a list of participating physicians, visit www.mclaren.org/AMI or call (586) 992-9031.