ROANOKE, Va. – Dr. Steven Cromer is in the office almost every day. He’s a sports medicine physician at Carilion Clinic.
But come Friday night, he’ll be on the sidelines watching a Glenvar High School football game.
“I’m from Salem and I’m a local kid, so it’s fun to look after the local team especially,” Cromer said.
Carilion partners with 22 local high schools and seven universities in Southwest Virginia, providing athletic trainers and physicians directly to athletes in every sport, and Cromer has been at Glenvar for five years, treating all kinds of injuries.
With sports-related brain injuries and deaths making headlines across the country, Cromer says a quick diagnosis can make a big difference.
“If warning signs are identified quickly and such players are removed, (further damage) can be avoided.”
Message to parents and coaches:
“When in doubt, don’t play,” Cromer said. “It’s never safe to let a child or athlete return to play if there is a suspected concussion, because they could sustain further damage to the brain and body.”
There are several common symptoms of a concussion, including headache, nausea, vomiting, dizziness, blurred vision, balance problems, etc. If injured, a medical professional should examine the player immediately.
Cromer said there’s a lot of research being done to protect athletes in the long term, from the Guardian Cap to new recommendations on aggressive recovery from concussions, and he’s happy to just be one play in that playbook.
“I think that if concussions are treated properly, most athletes can go on to have long and fulfilling careers without any long-term consequences,” Cromer said.
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