Concussion Care in Westchester County

A concussion is a mild traumatic brain injury, and it deserves a real evaluation rather than a wait-and-see approach. At New York Sports Medicine Institute, our concussion care program provides prompt assessment, objective testing, and a guided return to sport, school, and work. We treat athletes and non-athletes of every age at our New York City and White Plains offices.

What Is a Concussion?

A concussion is an injury to the brain caused by a bump, blow, or jolt to the head that changes how the brain normally functions. Most concussions happen during practice or games, though a fall or a blow to the body can also cause the head and brain to move rapidly back and forth inside the skull.

Most concussions do not involve a loss of consciousness, and most people recover within a few days to a few weeks. They are still complex injuries with short- and long-term effects that reach across physical, neurological, cognitive, and psychological function, so every suspected concussion should be evaluated by an experienced multidisciplinary team. Our guide on telling a mild concussion from a severe one walks through the grades and the warning signs that call for immediate care.

Signs and Symptoms of a Concussion

A concussion is not visible from the outside. Symptoms sometimes appear immediately after an injury, and sometimes they surface hours or days later. Common signs include the following:

• Headache or a feeling of pressure in the head
• Confusion, fogginess, or difficulty concentrating
• Dizziness or problems with balance
• Nausea or vomiting
• Sensitivity to light or noise
• Memory problems, particularly around the injury itself
• Fatigue, irritability, or changes in mood
• Sleeping more or less than usual

Children and teenagers carry some of the highest concussion risk, and they do not always describe what they are feeling accurately. Watch for changes in how a child is acting, whether symptoms are worsening, or whether they simply say they do not feel right. Any of those is reason enough to have them seen.

How We Diagnose a Concussion

Diagnosis starts with a clinical exam and a detailed history of the injury, then adds objective testing to remove the guesswork.

ImPACT® Testing

NYSMI is a Credentialed ImPACT® Consultant and offers both baseline and post-injury ImPACT® testing, the most widely used and most scientifically validated computerized concussion evaluation system available. A baseline test taken before the season gives us a personal point of comparison, which makes a post-injury result far more meaningful than a generic benchmark.

EyeBOX Eye-Tracking (White Plains)

EyeBOX is the first FDA-approved, non-invasive, baseline-free tool developed to aid in concussion diagnosis. The test takes about four minutes, requires no prior baseline, and uses eye-tracking technology to produce objective data on a suspected concussion. EyeBOX is available at our White Plains location.

Our Concussion Care Services

• Baseline neurocognitive assessment for individual athletes and full teams, including coordinated pre-season screening
• Comprehensive post-injury physical and neurocognitive evaluation, with post-injury ImPACT® testing and subspecialty referral where it is warranted
• Balance and vestibular testing, along with rehabilitation therapy
• Coordination with families, schools, and athletic departments on the accommodations a student needs during recovery
• Educational workshops for parents, coaches, trainers, athletes, and school nurses

Recovery and Return to Activity

Roughly 80% of concussions resolve within one to two weeks. Recovery is staged rather than sudden: physical and cognitive rest come first; light aerobic activity follows once symptoms settle; sport-specific movement comes next; and full contact returns only when the athlete is symptom-free and cleared. Rushing that sequence is what turns a short recovery into a long one.

A smaller group of patients continues to have trouble with memory, concentration, mood, or sleep well after the injury, a pattern sometimes described as post-concussion syndrome. We cover that in more detail in our article on the long-term effects of a concussion.

Schedule a Concussion Evaluation

If you or your child has taken a hit to the head, getting evaluated quickly matters. You can learn about the clinicians who lead the program on our concussion care team page, or request an appointment at either office.