title: Post-Traumatic Headache Therapy in the Athlete.
abstract: Post-traumatic headache can occur after any traumatic brain injury, regardless of severity. Headache is consistently the most common symptom following concussion and occurs in over 90% of athletes with sports-related concussion. Despite this prevalence, the complaint of headache after a possible concussive injury is often dismissed. Even when sports-related concussion is accurately diagnosed, many athletes fall victim to mismanagement of this associated symptom by clinicians who are not well-versed in headache treatment. Furthermore, benign headaches may also occur incidentally in the context of head trauma. This complex, and often non-specific, nature of headaches provides a significant challenge in return to play decision-making. Post-traumatic headaches are generally categorized according to primary headache disorders in an attempt to guide treatment; however, there is minimal medical literature on headache management in the concussed athlete. There is clearly a continued need for prospective studies of existing treatments and new approaches.
authors.affiliation: Sports Concussion Program, Norton Healthcare, 3991 Dutchmans Lane, Suite 310, Louisville, 40207, KY, USA. tad.seifert@nortonhealthcare.org.
authors.forename: Tad
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Seifert
mesh_terms: D056352:Athletes; D001265:Athletic Injuries / Q000150:complications* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy; D001924:Brain Concussion / Q000150:complications* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy; D019317:Evidence-Based Medicine; D006801:Humans; D059906:Neuroimaging; D009460:Neurologic Examination; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D051298:Post-Traumatic Headache / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000209:etiology* / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy*; D004856:Postural Balance; D011379:Prognosis; D020127:Recovery of Function
keywords: Concussion; Headache; Migraine; Post-concussion syndrome; Post-concussive headache; Post-traumatic headache; Return to play; Sports; Sports neurology; Trauma; Traumatic brain injury