skater may appear fine immediately after a fall and still develop symptoms later.
That is why parents and coaches should pay attention to possible signs of concussion or other head injury.
Symptoms can include headache, dizziness, balance problems, confusion, visual disturbances, nausea, unusual fatigue or difficulty concentrating.
Importantly, not every concussion looks the same.
U.S. Figure Skating’s current guidance stresses that some concussions can be difficult to identify on the sidelines and that diagnosis should be made by an appropriate healthcare professional.
If a young athlete may have suffered a concussion, the priority should be medical evaluation—not returning immediately to practice.
Returning to the Ice Should Be a Process
One of the biggest mistakes after an injury is assuming that feeling better automatically means an athlete is ready for full training.
Recovery may require time.
For athletes who sustain a concussion, U.S. Figure Skating advises that returning to
