Sports Neurology Center

The Sports Neurology Center provides comprehensive care for a full range of neurological sports injuries.
Our primary areas of expertise include:

• Sports-related head and nerve injuries
• Second opinions for sports-team physicians, trainers, athletes and their families
• Electrodiagnostic testing, memory testing, and imaging procedures (ie, MRI) for sports injuries
• Safe “return to play” recommendations

Neurology Associates, PA provides comprehensive treatment for a variety of sports-related injuries, including concussions and brain injuries. Whether you are a high school student or business professional, serious injuries can occur regardless of amateur or professional status. Our primary services focus on diagnosing sports-related injuries, prescribing treatment, and assessing “return to play.”

Sports-related neurological injuries have increasingly become a major public health concern. According to the Center of Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), an estimated 300,000 sports related traumatic brain injuries (TBIs), most of which can be classified as concussions, occur in the United States each year.  5.3 million Americans are currently living with disability as a result of TBI. Among American children and adolescents, recreational and sports activities are responsible for about 21% of all traumatic brain injuries. The proportion of these concussions that are repeat injuries is unknown; however, there is an increased risk for subsequent TBI among persons who have had at least one previous TBI. Repeated mild brain injuries occurring over an extended period (i.e., months or years can result in cumulative neurologic and cognitive deficits, but repeated mild brain injuries occurring within a short period (i.e., hours, days, weeks) can be catastrophic or fatal.  The latter phenomenon, termed "second impact syndrome" has been reported more frequently since it was first characterized in 1984.  In the state of North Carolina alone, two high school football players recently died from second impact syndrome.

In addition to providing concussion and head injury treatment to patients throughout North Carolina, Neurology Associates has become part of a larger community effort by collaborating with local health care providers. Together, we are working to develop a system to efficiently and proactively address the growing problems of sports-related injuries like concussions and ultimately minimizing the chances of a first event.

Symptoms of a Concussion

• Headache
• Altered level of consciousness (drowsy— hard to arouse)
• Loss of consciousness
• Dizziness
• Memory loss (amnesia of events surrounding the injury)
• Blurred vision
• Nausea or vomiting

Call 911 if Symptoms Include:

• Changes in alertness & consciousness
• Convulsions
• Muscle weakness on one or both sides
• Persistent unconsciousness (Coma)
• Repeated vomited
• Unequal pupils
• Unusual eye movement
• Walking problems

According to The United States Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) and the National Injury Surveillance System (NEISS), some of the most common sports contributing to sports-related injuries are hockey, football, wrestling, basketball, baseball and softball.

Neurology Associates, PA is proud to be an integral part of a Western North Carolina community task force helping to educate, treat and prevent sports-related injuries. If you are experiencing or have experienced any symptoms from a recreational injury and require treatment for a concussion or possible brain injury, please contact your family practice physician for a referral to Neurology Associates for a comprehensive neurological evaluation. We are conveniently located in Hickory, Taylorsville, Denver and Lincolnton, Western North Carolina, just a short drive from Asheville, Statesville and Morganton, and can be reached at 828-485-2476.