The Jacksonville Jaguars suffered a major blow this past Sunday in their 23-20 loss to the Houston Texans. Their star quarterback, Trevor Lawrence, scrambled out of the pocket and went down to slide when he sustained an illegal hit to the helmet by linebacker Azeez Al-Shaair. Lawrence was down on the field in a fencing response which is an involuntary body position that occurs post traumatic brain injury like a concussion. A brawl broke out on the field between the teams as Lawrence was being attended to by the medical staff. He eventually sat up under his own power and was carted off the field to the locker room for further evaluation.
A concussion occurs when a force strikes the head or body. It is considered a brain injury that occurs when the brain rocks back and forth within the skull. There may or may not be a loss of consciousness. Symptoms can include headache, dizziness, balance/coordination issues, nausea or vomiting, blurred or double vision, and sensitivity to light and sound. Some cognitive symptoms include memory issues, confusion, slowed processing, difficulty concentrating, and fogginess. There are also emotion symptoms that can come after a concussion, such as irritability, anxiety, depression, mood swings, aggression, and personality or behavior changes. Concussions may also have long term issues like chronic headaches, chronic dizziness, fatigue, and decreased tolerance to exercise. Concussions are complex injuries and require proper diagnosis and treatment to ensure a successful recovery.
After a concussion is sustained, like with Lawrence, there is an immediate examination that takes place to determine the severity of the injury. The medical staff will perform a physical exam to assess vision, hearing, strength, sensation, balance, coordination, and reflexes. Next, a cognitive exam will be performed to assess memory, ability to concentrate, and level of recall. Once a baseline is obtained the patient will undergo CT imaging to further investigate the injury. The patient will then be advised to rest for the next 24-48 hours along with both activity and cognitive modification.
It is often assumed that after a concussion a patient should be under complete rest in a dark room, however this is a misconception and may not be beneficial for healing. It is advised that reducing both cognitive and physical stress will be beneficial to the healing process. Light exercise has even been found to help progress healing. Physical therapy is vital in addressing concussion symptoms and treating patients to allow for a return to normal activity.
During the physical therapy evaluation, the patient will undergo tests to determine their current baseline and deficits. Usually, there will be soft tissue injury around the neck due to the impact sustained to the head and neck region. Massage and other soft tissue techniques will help decrease guarding and spasms to decrease the immediate pain. It will also be important to begin light exercises and stretching to improve mobility and range of motion. As the symptoms subside exercise can gradually be progressed to eventually resume regular activity. Typically, with concussions there are associated balance and coordination deficits due to dizziness and inner ear issues. These are addressed with targeted balance exercises and visual tracking training. Each concussion patient is different and will require specific treatment plans to address their unique symptoms to ensure a successful recovery.
Recovery from a concussion can range from several weeks to months to even years depending on the severity of the concussion. A major concern for an athlete that sustains a concussion is returning to play too soon. Second impact syndrome is when a second head injury is sustained while the first concussion is still healing. It’s a serious condition that can cause permanent brain damage or even death. This is why it is imperative that concussions are diagnosed quickly and properly after injury. Physical therapy will be an important part of the recovery process to ensure a successful recovery.
Jacksonville Jaguar fans will have to wait to see Trevor Lawrence back out on the field until the extent of his concussion is determined. At this time, it is expected that he will miss the next several weeks due to the severity of the initial injury. Right now, Lawrence will undergo further testing and will start his rehabilitation to address his concussion symptoms. The next few weeks will give more insight as to the severity of his injury.
Published December 9, 2024 | Posted in NFL Injury Spotlight.