Learning Objectives
Upon completion of the activity, participants will be able to:
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Describe the changes in the historical clinical significance of a concussion.
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Identify the potential for serious long-term sequale of a concussion.
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Review the best practice for evaluation and management of a concussion.
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Describe the neuropathological changes associated with chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE).
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Compare the neuropathological difference and similarities between CTE and other diseases such as Alzheimer’s disease and ALS.
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Explain the clinical features associated with CTE.
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Discuss structural changes in the deep white matter of the brain associated with concussion.
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Describe neural patterns of recovery after concussion.
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Understand the clinical significance of the delay between behavioral and neural recovery after concussion.
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Review the current approach to diagnosing concussion, its limitations, and the evolving role of biomarkers.
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Describe how limits in concussion detection impact determination of the epidemiology of sports related concussion (SRC), subconcussive injury, and chronic traumatic encephalopathy.
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Discuss recent progress in SRC and a path forward towards identifying personalized short-term and long-term impacts of SRC, the potential value of laws and sports rule changes, and emerging discoveries
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Discuss the invisible nature of the concussive injury for both the athlete and others around him/her.
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Recognize athletes want to return to play (due to both internal and external pressures) and how this can impede recovery and result in further, greater, and longer lasting injury.
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Describe the importance of education for athletes related to their understanding of severity of concussions before it occurs.