The Use of Mobile Phone Applications for Concussions When Athletic Trainers Are Not Present

Abstract

Concussions continue to be an injury that is confusing for healthcare professionals, athletes and parents alike. This confusion stems from the fact that not every concussion presents or resolves in the same way. What is known, however, is that coaches must have appropriate screening and identifying practices in place for every athlete at every level. This article reviews which smartphone applications follow best-practice guidelines for helping parents and coaches at the youth level when a concussion is suspected. Collegiate and professional athletes have access to an athletic trainer and often a team of doctors to help in the diagnosis of a concussion, but coaches must find a way to help the younger athletes who often do not have an athletic trainer available to them immediately following an injury.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Julie Howard

Julie Howard at the time of writing was a master's student, Sandor Dorgo is a professor, and Jason B. Boyle ([email protected]) is an assistant professor, in the Department of Kinesiology at the University of Texas at El Paso in El Paso, TX. Anthony Salvatore is a distinguished professor in the Department of Communicative Disorders at the University of Louisiana–Lafayette.