This disturbance of brain function is typically associated with normal structural neuroimaging findings (i.e., CT scan, MRI) and can result in a combination of physical, cognitive, emotional and/or sleep-related symptoms. The duration of symptoms is highly variable and may last from several minutes to days, weeks, months, or even longer in some cases. The clinical effects of a concussion can vary widely from individual to individual and it is important to be evaluated as soon as possible to initiate treatment if needed.

An estimated 75%-90% of the 1.7 million traumatic brain injury related deaths, hospitalizations, and emergency department visits that occur each year are concussions or other forms of mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI). Approximately 1.6 – 3.8 million sports and recreation-related concussions occur in the United States each year. Most of these are concussions that are not treated in a hospital or emergency department; folks simply go home. Individuals with a history of concussion are at an increased risk of sustaining a subsequent concussion. When examining all severities of brain injuries, with one brain injury you are at a 3 times greater risk of a second brain injury. With two brain injuries, you have an 8 times greater risk of a third. Research shows that recovery time may be longer for children and adolescents as their brains are more vulnerable to injury and are still developing. With proper diagnosis and management, most patients with a concussion recover fully.