Concussion Assessment and Management

Components of the SCAT Assessment

The SCAT6 includes a symptom evaluation, which is a comprehensive checklist where athletes self-report symptoms and their severity on a scale of 0-6, as recommended by the American Academy of Pediatrics 1
The SCAT6 includes a cognitive assessment, which includes immediate memory tests, concentration tests, and delayed recall, as recommended by the American Academy of Pediatrics 2
The SCAT6 includes a neurological screening, which evaluates basic neurological function, as recommended by the American Academy of Pediatrics 3
The SCAT6 includes a balance examination, which tests postural stability under different stance conditions, as recommended by the American Academy of Pediatrics 4
The SCAT6 includes a coordination testing, which assesses motor coordination, as recommended by the American Academy of Pediatrics 5

Any athlete with suspected concussion should be immediately removed from play for evaluation, as recommended by the American Academy of Pediatrics 1
The SCAT6 should be administered by a healthcare professional trained in concussion management, as recommended by the American Academy of Pediatrics 3
Initial assessment should include ruling out more severe injuries requiring emergency care, particularly cervical spine injuries in unconscious athletes, as recommended by the American Academy of Pediatrics 1
Loss of consciousness (LOC) occurs in less than 10% of concussions but may indicate more significant injury if it lasts longer than 30 seconds, as reported by the American Academy of Pediatrics 1

Symptom evaluation should be conducted by having the athlete complete the symptom form independently, circling subjective values for each symptom, as recommended by the American Academy of Pediatrics 6
Cognitive assessment should be administered, including memory tests, such as immediate recall of word lists and concentration tasks, as recommended by the American Academy of Pediatrics 2
Balance testing should be conducted using the Modified Balance Error Scoring System (mBESS) with different stance positions, as recommended by the American Academy of Pediatrics 4
Delayed recall should be tested by assessing the athlete's ability to recall previously presented information, as recommended by the American Academy of Pediatrics 5

Consider pre-existing conditions that may affect baseline scores, such as attention-deficit disorder or depression, as recommended by the American Academy of Pediatrics 6
Athletes should never return to play while symptomatic at rest or with exertion, even if SCAT scores improve, as recommended by the American Academy of Pediatrics 3

Athletes with concussion should rest both physically and cognitively until symptoms resolve at rest and with exertion, as recommended by the American Academy of Pediatrics 3
Any pediatric or adolescent athlete with concussion should be evaluated by a healthcare professional with experience in concussion management before returning to play, as recommended by the American Academy of Pediatrics 3
Signs and symptoms typically resolve in 7-10 days in most cases, though some athletes may take weeks to months to recover, as reported by the American Academy of Pediatrics 3

Pediatric and adolescent athletes generally have a longer recovery course than college and professional athletes, as reported by the American Academy of Pediatrics 3
Athletes should never return to play on the same day of concussion, even if they become asymptomatic, as recommended by the American Academy of Pediatrics 3
Consider retirement from contact or collision sports for athletes with multiple concussions or prolonged symptoms, as recommended by the American Academy of Pediatrics 3