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An Opinion Column by Ed Hagerty
One very important subject that has received increased attention over the past ten years is the incidence, tracking and consequences of concussions among high school, collegiate and professional athletes.
Rugbymag.com has received some very useful information regarding concussion testing and recognition from Kurt Mockenhaupt, Director of the Potomac Rugby Foundation’s Rugby Academy (www.rugby-foundation.org).
CONCUSSION TESTING
SCORE (Safe Concussion Outcome, Recovery & Education)
The Potomac RFU’s Rugby Academy, in its initial session, completed mandatory baseline concussion testing for 60 high school students through the SCORE Program in Washington, D.C. SCORES’ baseline concussion testing enables players, coaches and parents to determine if a player has lingering signs of concussion syndrome BEFORE he plays rugby.
It provides valuable data if a tested player sustains a head trauma injury and then tests again against the baseline.
The cost per, when part of a group, is approximately $20.
Gerard A. Gioia, PhD
Director, SCORE Program
George Washington Univ. School of Medicine
15245 Shady Grove Road, Suite 350
Rockville, Maryland 20850
P: 301-765-5430
F: 301-765-5497
Email: ggioia@cnmc.org
COACHES’ TRAINING PROGRAM
ImPACT
ImPACT Concussion Management Software is a sophisticated research-based software tool developed to help sports-medicine clinicians evaluate recovery following concussion. ImPACT evaluates and documents multiple aspects of neurocognitive functioning including memory, brain processing speed, reaction time, post-concussive symptoms, and an injury documentation system.
ACTive Coach’s Training Program
ImPACT teamed up with the Oregon Center for Applied Science to provide the ACTive Training Program. The ACTive (Athletic Concussion Training using Interactive Video Education) 20-minute online training program for coaches, based on the recommendations of key sports concussion experts, presents information about recognizing and managing sports concussion.
Using video, case examples and brief quizzes, the program offers practical, straightforward information. Coaches test their knowledge as they go through the program and, upon completion, are given access to printed materials including a clipboard guide.
This is crucial information for coaches to know, and in some states is required before you're allowed to coach youth.
Coaches who view the ACTive program are proven through research to have significantly increased knowledge of concussion symptoms and their confidence in making decisions about concussion management.
The cost per coach, when part of a group, is approximately $30.
To learn more, go to http://concussion.orcasinc.com/ for a demonstration and more information.
Labiba Russo
Marketing Officer
ImPACT Concussion Management Software
Tel: (954) 693-8887
www.impacttest.com
When It’s More Than a Headache
An article on concussions, When It’s More Than a Headache, was published in the New York Times on September 20th. Link to full article here.
The article outlines some of the attitudes that need to change, or have changed, with regard to head injuries in sports. They say, in part:
It’s part of the game — getting “dinged,” having one’s “bell rung,” or getting hit so hard you “see stars.” These phrases, commonly used to describe sports-related concussions, downplay the seriousness of these injuries.
The public’s lack of understanding about these injuries has made it harder for doctors to educate patients and evaluate and manage sports-related concussions. Physicians often do not know when a concussed athlete could safely return to normal activity. And, always in the back of the physician’s mind is the knowledge that allowing a concussed athlete to return to play before full recovery carries the risk of prolonged concussion-related symptoms or potentially catastrophic neurological injury.
While it may appear to some that speaking publicly about concussions and rugby's other dangers would hamper recruitment and drive people from the game, we owe it to all players involved to provide accurate information on causality, prevention and recovery from possible injury.
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