Health Tip: Game Day Nutrition

September 24, 2019

By Nick Parkinson, M.Ed., ATC, AT
Henry Ford Health System

Parents, you know how important it is for your student athlete to be well-rested, well-fueled and well-hydrated. Just like a car needs gas, their bodies needs food.

So, whether they’re doing an intense workout during practice or competing in a strenuous game, it’s crucial for them to be properly hydrated and nourished, both before and after, so they can perform their best and recover properly.

Pre-Training Nutrition

The most important part of pre-training nutrition is making sure your child’s food choices give them the healthy energy boost they need for the type of physical activity they’re engaged in, and not a just quick sugar rush.

Carbohydrates may have a bad reputation, but they’re actually the body’s main source of energy. Before a workout, a healthy snack is a great idea. The trick is to eat far enough in advance to be able to digest before being active.

To ensure proper digestion while fueling up, follow these tips:

If there’s less than two hours until go time, try a quick snack like a banana, apple, or a small bowl of Greek yogurt with granola and fruit.

Have a little time to spare? You could try a brown rice bowl with sautéed vegetables or a cup of oatmeal topped with fruit.

Either way, carbs will fuel the body so your child can perform at his or her peak.

Post-Training Nutrition

After an intense workout or game, your child’s body is depleted of its nutrients. It needs to be recharged, which means eating carbs, fats and proteins. The word “fats” tends to scare people, but they’re actually a crucial component in building muscle and recovering.

After an event where your athlete worked out hard, encourage your child to eat something that includes multiples food groups. Try something simple like avocado or peanut butter toast, hummus with veggies and whole-wheat pita, or even a smoothie.

Hydration No Matter What

Regardless of the intensity of the workout, the most important thing is to keep your kid hydrated before, during and after.

It is recommended to top off water intake approximately two hours before any physical activity. Then, athletes should continue hydrating throughout. And while there are many sports drinks to choose from, the healthiest option is water. If you want to add some fun (and natural) flavors to them, try infusing with fruits and/or veggies.

Want to learn more? Henry Ford Health System sports medicine experts are treating the whole athlete, in a whole new way. From nutrition to neurology, and from injury prevention to treatment of sports-related conditions, they can give your athlete a unique game plan.

Visit henryford.com/sports or call (313) 972-4216 for an appointment within 24 business hours.

Health & Safety

Concussion Care: Signs & Symptoms to Watch

By Henry Ford Health

November 1, 2022

When you experience a blow to the head, knowing whether you've suffered a concussion isn't always clear cut.

Head injuries have a range of physical, psychological and intellectual effects — and only a small number of people lose consciousness.

"It's critical for parents, coaches, players and trainers to recognize the potential signs and symptoms of a concussion," says Jeffrey Kutcher, M.D., a sports neurologist who treats athletes at the Henry Ford Kutcher Clinic for Concussion and Sports Neurology. "The basic rule is that a concussion can affect any aspect of brain function."

Signs of Concussion

The Latin root of the word "concussion" means "to shake violently" — which makes sense. Concussions happen when there's a combination of movement and impact. So, any injury that involves a hit to the head — a fall, collision or hard hit by a heavy object — could cause one. So could a hit to the body that causes the head to move quickly.

"But every brain injury is different," Dr. Kutcher says. "Some symptoms show up right away while others develop gradually over days."

Here are common concussion symptoms to watch for — both immediately following a head injury and in the hours and days after:

Physical Concussion Symptoms

Changes in sleep patterns
Difficulty with balance
Dizziness or lightheadedness
Fatigue
Headache
Light sensitivity
Nausea
Numbness or tingling
Sensitivity to sound
Visual problems
Vomiting

Emotional Concussion Symptoms

Anxiety
Depression
Irritability
Mood swings

Cognitive Concussion Symptoms

Confusion
Difficulty concentrating
Feeling "slow" or "foggy"
Memory problems

Diagnosing Concussion: Getting It Right

One reason concussions are frequently misdiagnosed is because they're assessed on the field or courtside during game play or practice. Coaches, trainers and parents often make lightning fast decisions about whether symptoms, such as headache, nausea and light sensitivity, are signs of concussion.

"Unfortunately, it’s more complicated than completing a concussion checklist. Everyone — and every concussion — is different. So, observers shouldn’t be diagnosing a head injury on the spot, but rather making a triage decision for safety. They should leave the diagnosis to the medical professionals," Dr. Kutcher says. In fact, those in-the-moment assessments are wrong about half of the time.

People should focus instead on getting immediate, emergency care for anyone who displays the following signs and symptoms right after a hit:

Difficulty walking
Weakness on one or both sides
Not waking up
Repeated vomiting
Persistent confusion
Seizures
Unconsciousness

No matter how hard (or lightly) you think you've been hit, it's important to take head injury symptoms seriously. Even a seemingly minor blow could have a major impact. A complete evaluation by a medical professional will not only determine whether you have a concussion, it can also identify more serious, or even life-threatening, concerns.

"In every case, medical professionals are better equipped to assess the extent of the damage if you have a comprehensive baseline evaluation on file," Dr. Kutcher says. This thorough evaluation with a sports neurologist, including a complete family and neurological history, can act as a critical point of reference when trainers and medical professionals are trying to diagnose or manage a concussion.

Dr. Jeffrey Kutcher is a sports neurologist and the medical director of the Henry Ford Kutcher Clinic for Concussion and Sports Neurology.