Concussions are very serious and the appropriate management of concussed athletes regarding returning to sport is an important issue. The American Academy of Neurology (AAN) release new evidence based guidelines for evaluating and managing athletes with concussions. The updated guidelines recommend immediate removal from the game and not returning until evaluated by a licensed health care professional trained in concussion.
According to the guidelines:
- A person is most at risks for a repeat concussion within the first 10 days after being concussed
- No clear evidence that one type of football helmet can better protect against a concussion then another
- Licensed health care professionals should look for ongoing symptoms including headaches and fogginess
The sports with the highest risk of concussions were football and rugby, followed by hockey and soccer. Guidelines were published in the March 18, 2013 online issue of Neurology.
More info at PT in Motion website: http://www.apta.org/PTinMotion/2013/6/
Concussions: Are They Underdiagnosed?: Here is an article from the Journal of Orthopaedic and Sports Physical Therapy Journal discussing concussion screening and diagnosis. Concussions have been become a popular topic as of late and are especially important as we head into the fall sports season. It’s always best to lean on the side of caution when it comes to concussions; if you are displaying any symptoms refrain from further activity.
