A concussion is a type of traumatic brain injury that interferes with normal functioning within the brain. They are most commonly caused by a direct blow to the head, but they can also be caused by a blow to the body. Common signs and symptoms of a concussion include: 

 

Physical	Cognitive	Emotional	Sleep
Bothered by light or noise Dizziness or balance problems Feeling tired, no energy Headaches Nausea or vomiting Vision problems	Attention or concentration problems Feeling slowed down or groggy Problems with memory Trouble thinking clearly	Anxiety/nervousness Irritability Feeling more emotional Sadness	Sleeping less than usual Sleeping more than usual Trouble falling asleep

Per Northland Pines School District and WIAA concussion guidelines, students with a concussion must have written medical clearance from an appropriate health care provider before starting return-to-play guidelines.

RETURN TO PLAY

RETURN TO LEARN

Once receiving clearance from a medical provider and being symptom free, athletes may begin the following process under the direction of the athletic trainer:  STAGE ONE: Daily activities that do not increase symptoms (gradual reintroduction of school, work and walking). STAGE TWO: Light aerobic exercise: slow to medium pace jogging, stationary cycling.  No resistance training. No increase in symptoms. This stage allows for increased heart rate - begin with <55% of max HR, but if tolerating, can progress to <70% of max HR. STAGE THREE: Sport-specific exercise: moderate to higher intensity running or skating drills, but no activities with risk of head impact.  This allows for increased heart rate and agility/movement. STAGE FOUR: Non-contact training: Higher intensity aerobic fitness, and non-contact/non-collision team training drills (e.g., passing drills).  May begin progressive resistance training. This increases coordination and thinking during sport. STAGE FIVE: Full contact practice. Written medical clearance is required to resume contact or high-risk activity, allowing the athlete to participate fully in normal training activities. This restores confidence and allows coaches to assess functional skills. STAGE SIX: Full clearance / Normal game play. It is important to note this program allows for one step per 24 hours. It allows for a gradual increase in heart rate/physical exertion, coordination, and then allows contact. If symptoms return, the athlete should stop activity and notify their healthcare provider before progressing to the next level.

Returning to the classroom can look different for all athletes depending on severity of symptoms. We know that concussions can affect the child's ability to think, concentrate, remember and be efficient at processing and learning new school material. Returning to learn does not mean student athletes are cleared to return to play! When a student is diagnosed with a concussion and the school nurse is notified, staff will receive a handout from the Center of Disease Control explaining what symptoms staff members can expect to see in their classrooms, how concussions can affect learning and help guide common accommodations in the classroom such as wearing noise canceling earbuds and allowing the student to rest in the office as needed. Please note, if your student requires curriculum modifications such as extended test time, modified work loads, or work excuses this needs to be directed by their physician and we would require a medical note on file.

 

For additional questions or concerns please contact:

AJ Zayia
Activities Director
Northland Pines Middle & High School
Office: (715) 479-4473 ext. 0202

Chad Spaulding, LAT/ATC
Athletic Trainer
Northland Pines High School
Cell: (920) 268-2826

Rachel Perry BSN, RN
Northland Pines School District Nurse
NPHS/NPMS Office: 715-479-4473 ext. 0212
ERES Office: 715-479-6471 ext. 3112