We Treat:
Our brain is protected by the skull, our own natural crash helmet. It is the only organ to be completely surrounded by bone. But while the skull has evolved to protect the brain, it remains vulnerable to significant impact, or rapid changes in direction. A concussion occurs when brain function is affected by these forces, causing symptoms that can include headache, nausea, blurred vision, changes in cognitive function (attention, memory), fatigue, changes in mood and sleep.
Each year, somewhere between 1.8 and 3 million concussions are reported in the U.S., with more than 300,000 in U.S high schools. Research published by clinicians at Gray Matters suggests that the true numbers are between 21 and 51% higher. Most concussions resolve naturally within a couple of weeks, but for some, symptoms linger, becoming what is known as “post-concussion syndrome” – symptoms that persist for months or even years.
Our research has shown that male and female athletes experience concussions and recover differently. Our experience has shown us that no two concussions are the same - that every concussion is a unique injury, requiring individualized treatment. But the greatest challenge with concussion is not with diagnosis, but with the critical decisions made later:
When is an athlete recovered?
When is it safe to return to play?
Gray Matters is the regions’ first truly integrated concussion center, bringing together the field’s leading experts to collaborate and coordinate concussion care – to improve diagnosis, target treatment, and accelerate the brain’s recovery.
