Concussion and Return to Diving
Photo by Tom Jur on Unsplash
I sustained a concussion a few weeks ago. When can I return to diving?
Given that your injury occurred a few weeks ago, it is still too early in your recovery to give specific return-to-dive recommendations. Diving may be possible for you, but whether it’s safe is not a quick and easy answer because there are many additional factors to consider regarding a concussion. If you experienced a loss of consciousness (LOC) that caused you to fall or that otherwise led to your concussion, however, you should seek further evaluation to determine the cause of that LOC and if that condition is compatible with diving.
The risk of seizures is one of the biggest concerns for determining fitness to dive after a head injury. The recommended waiting period before returning to diving varies depending on the degree of injury, recovery period, and seizure risk. Return to diving is based on your symptom-free recovery and evaluation by your physician team.
The best recommendation is to focus on your recovery and not resume diving during this period. Determining your seizure risk after your head injury is necessary before consideration for a return to diving. Once you are completely healed and released by your physician team for full, unrestricted activity, seek a fitness-to-dive evaluation with a physician who is knowledgeable in dive medicine before attempting to dive.
— Anne Strysniewicz, AEMT, DMT
© Alert Diver Magazine Q1 2022/ DAN.org
Given that your injury occurred a few weeks ago, it is still too early in your recovery to give specific return-to-dive recommendations. Diving may be possible for you, but whether it’s safe is not a quick and easy answer because there are many additional factors to consider regarding a concussion. If you experienced a loss of consciousness (LOC) that caused you to fall or that otherwise led to your concussion, however, you should seek further evaluation to determine the cause of that LOC and if that condition is compatible with diving.
The risk of seizures is one of the biggest concerns for determining fitness to dive after a head injury. The recommended waiting period before returning to diving varies depending on the degree of injury, recovery period, and seizure risk. Return to diving is based on your symptom-free recovery and evaluation by your physician team.
The best recommendation is to focus on your recovery and not resume diving during this period. Determining your seizure risk after your head injury is necessary before consideration for a return to diving. Once you are completely healed and released by your physician team for full, unrestricted activity, seek a fitness-to-dive evaluation with a physician who is knowledgeable in dive medicine before attempting to dive.
— Anne Strysniewicz, AEMT, DMT
© Alert Diver Magazine Q1 2022/ DAN.org
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