Sports Concussions

A concussion can affect athletes of all ages and skill levels, making prompt evaluation and proper treatment essential for a safe recovery. Knoxville Orthopaedic Clinic provides comprehensive concussion care through a team of certified athletic trainers, nonsurgical sports medicine doctors, and physical therapists who work together to help patients recover and safely return to their activities.
football player holding head

What Is a Concussion?

A concussion is a type of brain injury typically caused by a bump to the head or by a hit to the body that causes the head and brain to be jolted. When this happens, tissues change shape, which can damage or stretch brain cells and cause chemical and metabolic changes within the brain. This can make it difficult for brain cells to function and communicate properly.

Concussions & Sports

One of the most common ways children and adolescents get concussions is through sports injuries. Young athletes' brains are still developing, which may place them at higher risk for the effects of a concussion. The way in which the injury happens may be important in predicting how serious the injury will be. Although concussions are not usually life-threatening, they should be taken seriously and reported immediately to a medical professional.
injured soccer player on field
injured soccer player on field

Concussions & Sports

One of the most common ways children and adolescents get concussions is through sports injuries. Young athletes' brains are still developing, which may place them at higher risk for the effects of a concussion. The way in which the injury happens may be important in predicting how serious the injury will be. Although concussions are not usually life-threatening, they should be taken seriously and reported immediately to a medical professional.
Image

Signs & Symptoms

Symptoms may include:

  • Headache
  • Confusion
  • Lack of coordination
  • Memory loss
  • Nausea
  • Vomiting
  • Dizziness
  • Ringing in the ears
  • Sleepiness
  • Excessive fatigue

KOC Concussion Care Team

Knoxville Orthopaedic Clinic's staff of certified athletic trainers are often the first healthcare providers to identify and evaluate athletes with a possible concussion. Through KOC's Sports Medicine Outreach program, athletic trainers serve area high schools and are present during school, at practices, and on the sidelines of games. As trained first responders, they play a critical role in recognizing concussion symptoms, providing an initial evaluation, and helping determine the appropriate next steps for care. This program helps keep student-athletes safe and healthy while providing coaches and parents direct access to trained concussion specialists when injuries occur.
Joshua R. Johnson, MD

Joshua Johnson, MD
865-244-3033

Amber G. Luhn, MD

Amber Luhn, MD
865-410-7903

Our athletic trainers work closely with KOC's sports medicine doctors, who evaluate and treat sports-related concussions in the office. Nonsurgical sports medicine specialists Dr. Joshua Johnson and Dr. Amber Luhn are ImPACT-certified concussion care providers with specialty concussion training. ImPACT (Immediate Post-Concussion Assessment and Cognitive Testing) is a neurocognitive assessment administered online in a controlled environment.
Physical therapists are another important part of KOC’s Concussion Care Team. With a rehabilitation facility located in the same building as most KOC clinics, KOC Therapy provides convenient, patient-friendly services for patients recovering from concussions, whether they are sports-related or caused by other injuries. KOC Therapy's concussion program helps patients manage symptoms, progress through recovery, and safely return to their daily activities.