Who was Matthew Gfeller and why is your center named after him?
Matthew Gfeller was a sophomore student at Reynolds High School in Winston-Salem, NC. Sadly, he passed away on August 24, 2008, at the young age of fifteen years. He was involved in a head to head collision during a high school football game, where he collapsed on the field, and passed away shortly thereafter. His spirit lives strong, and through his memory and the hard work of the Gfeller family, we have been successful in building a new clinical research center dedicated to the study of sport-related traumatic brain injury. It represents one of the only centers of its kind in the United States. For more information, please visit our page about Matthew Gfeller.
I think my child may have suffered a concussion. What should I do?
The first thing is to remove him or her from any athletic or recreational activity until a medical professional familiar with the management of sport-related concussion can properly evaluate them. We are happy to provide referrals if you reside outside the Greater Triangle Area, and equally willing to schedule a follow-up appointment directly with us at the Matthew Gfeller Center. For more information, please call (919)962-0409.
How long after a concussion should my child be withheld from competition?
Typically, mild concussions will take approximately 10 days to recover in the younger athlete. In some cases, recovery is quicker while in others it may be longer. Providing access to medical professionals familiar with the management of sport-related brain injuries can ensure your child will receive competent and comprehensive care for their injury, while at the same time being return to participation in a safe and effective manner.
My child has already suffered one concussion. Should they stop playing sports?
The decision to medically disqualify an athlete from athletic participation on the basis of a single concussion is rare, but not impossible. Every athlete should be evaluated comprehensively following a concussion, especially if decisions pertaining to medical retirement are to be made. Every case is fact-dependent and visitors to this website should seek a competent medical professional for follow-up.
My child’s schoolwork has been suffering after their concussion. What are some steps I can follow to ease their transition back to school?
It is not uncommon for student-athletes to experience academic difficulties following a sport-related traumatic brain injury. Further, the exact areas of these academic deficits are unpredictable without extensive clinical testing. Student-athletes typically experience functional school problems including short focus on lectures/classwork/homework, difficulty with retaining new information or accessing information they have learned when they need it, to name a few. As many misunderstand concussions, a candid discussion with school officials (including the principal, school nurse, and counselors) may allow for your child to be accommodated during the short-term recovery period.
Do you provide preseason concussion baseline testing to non-UNC athletes?
Yes. Our preseason concussion baseline testing program includes a complete computerized neurocognitive test battery, computerized postural stability evaluation, as well as some traditional mental status and balance tests often employed by athletic trainers. Once the test session is complete, we provide you with a copy of all the test reports so that you have them on hand. We also keep a copy of these documents in the athlete’s folder in the event a post-injury evaluation is needed in the future. Testing costs only $40 for each individual. We also offer tiered group/family rates. For more information about this program, please call (919)962-0409.
Where are you located?
We are located on the top floor of the new Stallings-Evans Sports Medicine Center, nestled in the heart of The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill’s campus. For location and directions, please refer to our Contact Us page.
Where can I read about more of your work?
We have consistently published our research work among the top-tier research journals in our field. To view a complete list of our peer-reviewed work, please visit our Publications page. If you would prefer to read about us through the news, we have established our News & Updates page to provide direct links to news stories featuring our work.
Can I participate in one of your ongoing studies?
We are often seeking participants for our ongoing research studies. Please visit our Research Projects page for more information about our ongoing work, and to read the inclusion and exclusion criteria necessary for your involvement in a study you may be interested in. Should you feel you meet the listed requirements, please contact the study coordinator for that particular study for more information. Without volunteer participants, our research would be difficult to accomplish, and we thank you for your willingness to contribute to our work in this area.
I need to buy my child a helmet. Do you have any recommendations?
While unpublished data may suggest some helmets perform better than others, no prospective study with comprehensive injury surveillance has established any one helmet to be superior to another. In order to be commercially available, all helmets of a sport must meet a minimum certification standard. Notwithstanding, parents and players alike should understand some key features of helmets. They should fit properly according to the helmet manufacturer’s recommendations. This fit should be verified on a regular (i.e. weekly basis) and any adjustments be made accordingly. Helmets should be fitted after the athlete has thoroughly wet his or her hair to simulate how the helmet will fit when they have been sweating. Helmets should be comfortable when properly fit.
My child’s coach said that mouthguards prevent concussion. Is this true?
We have published a number of papers studying this question. To date, no mouthguard emerging on the market has provided objective peer-reviewed data to support this claim. In one study, we found no association between mouthguard type and the number of concussions in all games and practice. While mouthguards don’t appear to reduce the number of concussions sustained by athletes, we further explored whether wearing mouthguards would reduce the severity of concussion. Our results did not support any effect of mouthguards reducing the severity of concussions on measure of neurocognitive function.
Do you accept invitations to present to recreational organizations?
We present often at international, national, and local research meetings. We also value the opportunities we have to present with recreational organizations and local groups. For more information, please call (919)962-0409.
