Sport Concussion

Concussion graphic

As parents and coaches, we can't always prevent active children and teens from getting concussions, but when they do, our team is here to help. We'll work with your child, you and their athletic trainer or coach to ensure a full recovery and safe return. If you would like for us to communicate with them, please let us know so we can get a release of information signed.

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Who should come

We are here to help athletes 8 and older who sustained a concussion and will need clearance to return to activities. If your child has a history of prior concussions, it's important to note that the Sports Medicine department will not clear your child to return to contact activities after three concussions.

What will happen

At your first appointment, there will be a lot of information provided and reviewed with you and your child. We will review how your concussion happened and what has been going on since the injury as well as discuss the symptoms your child is currently experiencing. During the initial visit, the provider and athletic trainer will check your balance, complete a neurological exam and possibly administer a computerized neurocognitive exam. Using all of this information we will be able to create a list of accommodations to be used at school and determine if there is a need for physical therapy or consultation with another specialty. We will provide handouts to track your symptoms and information regarding the return to activities.

Subsequent visits will repeat any testing that was difficult or different than we would expect in addition to reviewing any symptoms your child is still experiencing. The computerized neurocognitive test is typically administered once your child is symptom-free during a follow-up visit.

Getting back in the game

Our team will guide your child through a gradual progression to increase activities and return to these and learning safely. This process will only be started once symptoms have fully resolved and your child is in school full-time without accommodations anymore. Each step will increase their heart rate and the amount of movement required to complete the activity as we make sure there is not a return of concussion symptoms. Multiple days of non-contact activities will be completed before introducing contact again. To be cleared to fully return to activities, your child will need to be symptom-free without the use of medication, in school full-time without accommodations, have a normal balance assessment, have a normal neurological exam, and have a neurocognitive exam within the expected norms and/or back at their baseline if baseline testing has been completed.

Guidelines and testing

At Cook Children's, we complete neurocognitive testing using ImPACT Applications, Inc. This is a computer-based assessment tool that is backed by scientific research and strong evidence of effectiveness. Our providers and athletic trainers have completed specialized training with ImPACT to administer the test and interpret the results. ImPACT testing evaluates the brain function for attention, memory, speed of thinking and reaction time with various assessments. Ideally, young athletes would come to us for a baseline test before the sports season, but we can utilize this tool even without a baseline test by comparing the post-injury results to normative data scores.

Baseline tests need to be completed before beginning sports participation and are kept as a record to be used in the event your child experiences a concussion. By having this information, we can compare your child's normal brain function to post-injury test results to detect even small changes that may have been missed otherwise.

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If your child doesn't have an athletic trainer or would like to work with one of the Cook Children's athletic trainers we can schedule visits at the John and Tracy Sellers Sports Complex.

Return to activity instructions Return to activity step chart

Post-injury symptom checklists

Ages 8-11 years old Ages 12+ years old

In the media

Down, Set...Safety First: Protecting players in the high stakes game of high school football

Meet our team

With availability in three locations, our clinic is here for you and your child, when and where you need us.

Meet our doctors

Nathalie Davila, MD

Sports Medicine

4.9 out of 5

98 Ratings

Accepting new patients

682-885-4405

Krystle Farmer, MD

Sports Medicine

4.9 out of 5

68 Ratings

Accepting new patients

682-885-4405

John Hicks, MD

Sports Medicine

4.9 out of 5

142 Ratings

Accepting new patients

682-885-4405

Aaren Stratton

Aaren Stratton ATC, LAT, CES

Aaren started working with Cook Children's in 2023 as an Athletic Trainer in the Orthopedics and Sports Medicine department. She received her Bachelor of Science Athletic Training degree from University of Texas Arlington in 2011. Prior to coming to Cook Children's, Aaren worked as a secondary school athletic trainer at Mansfield Lake Ridge High School for ten years.

Aaren has been a member of the National Athletic Training Association since 2008. She is a Corrective Exercise Specialist as well as an ImPACT Trained Athletic Trainer.

Aaren lives in Mansfield, Texas with her husband and their children. In her free time, she enjoys kickboxing, watching sports and spending time with her family.

Carolyn Snow

Carolyn Snow MS, LAT, ATC, OTC

Carolyn started working with Cook Children's in 2022 as an athletic trainer in the Orthopedics and Sports Medicine department. She received her Bachelor of Science Athletic Training degree from Texas Christian University in 2010. She went on to receive her Master's degree from the University of North Texas in 2012 in Kinesiology where she was also the athletic trainer for their volleyball team. Prior to coming to Cook Children's, Carolyn has worked in orthopedic clinics with all age groups where she would assist in clinic and surgery.

Carolyn has been a member of the National Athletic Training Association since 2006. She is a Certified Orthopaedic Technologist as well as an ImPACT Trained Athletic Trainer. Carolyn has a passion for helping her community, especially keeping youth in the activities they love.

Carolyn lives in Weatherford, Texas with her husband and their children. In her free time, she enjoys cooking, watching sports and spending time with her family.

Jeffrey Bass

Jeffrey Bass MS, ATC, LAT, OPE-C

Jeffrey joined the Cook Childrens Orthopedics and Sports Medicine Department in 2023. He received both his Bachelors and Masters degrees from Texas Tech University. Jeffrey is licensed and board certified as an athletic trainer as well certified as an Orthopedic Physician Extender. He has worked in multiple athletic training practice settings including, high school, college, professional sports as well as clinical orthopedics. He also works as a football medical observer in the Big 12 Conference.

Jeffrey has been a member of the National Athletic Trainers Association since 1977 where he has served in various committee positions. Specifically, his service work in District 6 of the NATA (Southwest Athletic Trainers Association) includes over 25 years in leadership, including serving as president of the SWATA during 1999-2000.

Currently, Jeffrey lives in Fort Worth with his wife. They have two grown daughters and in his free time enjoys spending time with his family that includes two grandchildren, cooking outside, playing and watching golf, and spending time working on DIY projects.

Micaela Lozano

Micaela Lozano, DAT, LAT, ATC, ROT, OPE-C

Micaela started working with Cook Children's in 2024 as an athletic trainer in the Orthopedics and Sports Medicine Department. She has two Bachelor of Arts degrees in Psychology and Exercise Science from Marquette University in 2009. She then got her Master's degree in Athletic Training at Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center in 2011, before getting her Doctorate of Athletic Training at Indiana State University in 2021. Before coming to Cook Children's, Micaela worked at the D1 level, the secondary school level and in clinic settings in pediatrics as well as the general population for the last 12 years.

Micaela has been a member of the National Athletic Training Association since 2010. She is a registered orthopedic technologist as well as an ImPACT-trained athletic trainer and is a certified orthopedic physician extender.

Micaela lives in Coppell, Texas with her husband and two border collies. In her free time, she enjoys spending time outdoors, watching sports and reading.

Sarah Washington

Sarah Washington, MHA, LAT, ATC, CSCS, CES, PES

Sarah joined the Cook Children's Orthopedics and Sports Medicine department as an athletic trainer and a strength and conditioning specialist in 2024. She graduated with her Bachelor of Science degree in Athletic Training from Angelo State University in 2009, and completed her Master of Science degree in Healthcare Administration from Grand Canyon University in 2023. Before coming to Cook Children's she worked in the secondary school setting for 11 years, most recently with Fort Worth ISD.

Sarah has been a member of the National Athletic Training Association since 2013, and is a member of the Southwest Athletic Trainers Association. Licensed and certified as an athletic trainer, she also holds the Corrective Exercise Specialist and Performance Enhancement Specialist credentials from the National Academy of Sports Medicine.

Sarah lives in Fort Worth with her husband, son and two dogs. In her free time, she enjoys reading, catching up with friends over coffee and trying out all the taco shops Fort Worth has to offer!

Frankie Kindy

Frankie Kindy, MS, RD, LD

Frankie started working with Cook Children's in 2023 as a Registered Dietitian in the Orthopedics and Sports Medicine department. She received her Bachelor of Science in Food and Nutrition, Master of Science in Human Nutrition, and completed her dietetic internship at the University of Alabama (Roll Tide!). Prior to coming to Cook Children's, Frankie worked as a Registered Dietitian and Personal Trainer at a commercial gym, providing fitness and nutrition guidance for teens and adults in all walks of life. She is currently studying to become a board-certified specialist in sports dietetics.

Frankie grew up participating in sports and loves teaching young athletes how to fuel their bodies to perform at their best and reduce their risk of injury. In addition, she is very passionate about promoting a good relationship with food that lasts a lifetime. Food is fuel and fun! In her free time, Frankie enjoys exercising, reading, eating yummy food, and spending time with her husband and two cats.

Sport Concussion

Who should come

What will happen

Getting back in the game

Guidelines and testing

Neurocognitive testing

Baseline testing

Return to activity

Post-injury symptom checklists

In the media

Meet our team

Meet our doctors

Nathalie Davila, MD

Krystle Farmer, MD

John Hicks, MD

Meet our athletic trainers

Aaren Stratton ATC, LAT, CES

Carolyn Snow MS, LAT, ATC, OTC

Jeffrey Bass MS, ATC, LAT, OPE-C

Micaela Lozano, DAT, LAT, ATC, ROT, OPE-C

Sarah Washington, MHA, LAT, ATC, CSCS, CES, PES

Meet our registered dietitian

Frankie Kindy, MS, RD, LD

We're here to help