For many students, the fall sports season is just around the corner. While contact sports like hockey and football are fun and high-energy, they also come with the risk of concussions — a risk parents should know.
“A concussion is an injury that results from a direct or indirect force to the head,” explained Nicole Reams, MD, a general and sports neurologist at Endeavor Health. Due to the force, inflammatory and chemical changes in the nerve cells cause brain dysfunction.
Physically, symptoms may include: headache, light sensitivity, sound sensitivity, dizziness, imbalance, vision changes, alterations in thinking and memory, fatigue, sleep and mood disruption.
“Concussion recovery typically takes somewhere between two to four weeks, but everybody is different,” says Dr. Reams. “Some individuals might get better in a couple of days, while others might take several weeks or months for a full recovery.”
So, if your child experiences a head injury during a rough game or practice, and you’re worried that they have a concussion, what are your next steps?
Diagnosing a concussion and tracking recovery with Sway
“Historically, concussion diagnosis has been based on mostly subjective reports from patients — meaning, what the patient tells us happened and how they are feeling as a result,” explained Dr. Reams. “Some physical exam findings can support a diagnosis of concussion, but these exam findings are not always present. “
In many cases, a skilled clinician can determine whether someone has sustained a concussion based on the initial force of the impact, the onset and trajectory of symptoms, and any physical exam findings. However, there can still be uncertainty in some cases when diagnosing a concussion or determining when a full recovery has been made.
That’s where Sway comes in. Sway is an FDA-approved app that helps physicians diagnose a concussion and track the injury to recovery.
“Sway gives clinicians more objective data to pair with their clinical expertise, creating more accurate diagnoses,” explained Dr. Reams. “It also allows for more confidence in determining recovery and helps with making decisions, like whether or not the patient can return to athletics.”
Sway is used in Endeavor Health’s concussion centers in Glenbrook and Lincolnshire for patients ages 10 to 64.
How does it work?
A medical assistant uses the app on an iPad before the consultation with the doctor. Through the app, the medical assistant conducts several neurologic function tests such as balance, reaction time and memory. Each test results in a numeric score that is compared to other non-injured patients and matched by age and sex.
“The scores can help to confirm a physician’s suspicion about concussion, but more importantly, it serves as a tool that we can follow from visit to visit during recovery,” said Dr. Reams. “Sway can help us gauge how the patient is improving and whether they're ready for things like returning to work or athletics, or discontinuing physical therapy.”
Sway was launched at Endeavor Health in February 2025. “We are the only concussion program in Chicagoland that offers it, but many surrounding high schools, colleges and athletic leagues do as well. This allows Endeavor to create unified and longitudinal care with these community programs and build relationships with local athletic trainers, schools and athletic teams,” said Dr. Reams. “Sway is a well-respected and evidence-based tool that allows additional assessment in our clinic setting.”
A comprehensive approach to youth concussion care
Early and multifaceted care can positively impact a patient’s outcome following concussion, resulting in earlier symptom recovery and earlier return to play for athletes. When possible, it’s best to get a comprehensive exam that uses multiple methods for evaluating concussion.
“Multimodal evaluations are best when dealing with concussion,” said Dr. Reams. “We offer comprehensive evaluations at our flagship location, Glenbrook Ambulatory Center, that include Sway, a physician consultation, exercise testing in our concussion lab, and an evaluation with a concussion-trained physical therapist, all in one visit.”
If you suspect that your child has suffered a concussion, visit one of our concussion centers for an immediate evaluation.
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