Concussion & Injury Management Ensuring the highest welfare standards are delivered In partnership with
Content 1. Concussion a. Recognition & Manag...
Concussion & Injury Management Ensuring the highest welfare standards are delivered In partnership with
Content 1. Concussion a. Recognition & Management b. Medical Clearance 2. Injury recording 3. The Return2Play Platform
Concussion
is a big issue in World Sport
Excerpt from HKRU Concussion Statement; HKRU places player welfare above all else in our game. We believe that decisions about concussion should be made based on the latest available evidence not emotion and will continue to strive to enhance the well-being of all the players who take part in our game.'
Dr. David Owens HKRU Chief Medical Officer
The problem… Concussion numbers are increasing*: • 2015-2016 – HKRU Medical dept managed ~ 291 injury cases ~ 20 of which were concussions • 2016-2017 – HKRU Medical dept managed ~ 406 injury cases > 130 of which were concussion cases • Numbers are increasing as recognition of concussion increases • *the numbers recorded are purely from injury reports submitted by parents/coaches/medics. We currently have no way of knowing how many more concussions occur and which of those are managed appropriately, if at all.
The problem… We have an injury which: • We can’t properly define
• We have no way to confidently diagnose/rule out • Mismanagement may have disastrous consequences
But, with good education, it can be made simple…
Education
Of Coaches, Players and Parents
“Do the risks outweigh the benefits?” Things to ask yourself:
1. Could the described mode of injury have caused a concussion? 2. Have there been any signs or symptoms displayed which concern you? are you happy to let them play on?
“If in doubt, sit them out”
Clear management guidelines Players suffering from concussion may not return to play until: 1. All their symptoms have cleared 2. They have followed the Graduated Return to Play (GRTP) protocol 3. They have been medically cleared to return
Clear management guidelines Recovery Stage
Child (U19s)
Adults
Rest Period (minimum)
14 days
14 days
Graduated Return to Play
Can progress if symptom free Doctor review recommended 8 days 6 days
Medical Clearance by Doctor required Earliest Return to Play
23 days
21 days
Your Responsibility 1. Thorough documentation at time of injury - How the injury occurred - That worrying symptoms were checked for - That advice was given to parents 2. Inform all those involved in the care of that player - Parents - Coaches within your club - School (and likely multiple staff within it) - Sports clubs (possibly multiple) 3. Ensure the pathway is followed - Rest, GRTP, Medical clearance - Documentation of completion before return to sport
It can become a lot of work!
Other Injuries Clubs should ensure that: 1. All injuries, no matter how minor, are recorded 2. No player should return to sport until they have fully recovered or they are approved to do so by a medical profession 3. Injuries are regularly reviewed to consider whether they are preventable
Blue Card Protocols
Potential Concussive Incident Direct Removal
TEAM COACH
REFEREE
Team Coach identifies a player with suspected concussion
Referee identifies a player with suspected concussion prior to the Team Coach
If player is deemed unfit to continue, player must leave the field immediately and permanently
Referee blows whistle to stop play. Referee raises Blue Card to request removal of player by Team Coach
Referee to note the NUMBER & NAME OF PLAYER
Concussion & Return To Learn
Excerpt from Berlin Concussion Consensus Statement - 2016 Schools are encouraged to have a Sports Related Concussion (SRC) policy that includes education on SRC prevention and management for teachers, staff, students and parents, and should offer appropriate academic accommodation and support to students recovering from SRC. Students should have regular medical follow-up after an SRC to monitor recovery and help with return to school, and students may require temporary absence from school after injury. Children and adolescents should not return to sport until they have successfully returned to school. However, early introduction of symptomlimited physical activity is appropriate. Concussion & Return To Learn
Return2Play – management system
Return2Play platform
Check that your players are fit to play via the online platform
Record new injuries against a player using simple reporting forms
Automatic communication to all who need to know about the injury
Monitor a players recovery on the platform
Return2Play platform
Concussions are linked to doctors approved by HKRU
The club receives a notification to confirm the player has been cleared to return to sport
All injuries are stored in the player’s “Injury Passport” which can be shared with schools, clubs and doctors
Clubs can review injury details and Return2Play can provide reports to show trends
Platform Screenshots
Live Player Register
Record Injures
Monitor Recovery
Linking with Doctors • Done by players/parents • Linked with doctors approved by HKRU for management of concussion
“Injury Passport” • Able to be shared by players/parents with multiple organisations