A concussion protocol is a set of policies, tools, and assessments for managing concussions. It outlines how the concussion care team prepares for and responds to this injury, taking into consideration that every concussion is different. The protocol provides steps to safely return to normal life and activities after a concussion. The concussion protocol should be in place for anyone who handles concussions, including organizations with children or adults.
The concussion protocol begins with educating oneself about concussions and identifying the symptoms. A concussion may be caused by a blow, bump, or jolt to the head or by any fall or hit that jars the brain. It is important to arrange for the person to be evaluated by a medical professional qualified and educated in concussion evaluation and management, such as an athletic trainer or sports medicine physician.
The concussion recovery should be a collaborative approach, and the key to concussion recovery is to reduce mental activities until symptoms improve and then gradually begin increasing the length and difficulty of those activities as symptoms allow. After a concussion, an athlete should only return to sports practices with the approval and under the supervision of their health care provider. The athlete should only move to the next step of the return-to-play progression if they do not have any new symptoms at the current step.
The NFL Head, Neck and Spine Committee developed the NFL Game Day Concussion Diagnosis and Management Protocol in 2011, which is reviewed each year to ensure players are receiving care that reflects the most up-to-date medical consensus on the identification, diagnosis, and treatment of concussions.
