Concussions are still a hot topic and will continue to be for the foreseeable future. The media loves to discuss them, coaches loathe them, parents fear them, and the research is still within its infancy. It isn't time for anyone to jump to conclusions or panic but it is definitely a good time to stay informed and properly educated on the topic.
This blog post came as a result of the latest edition of the Journal of Athletic Training, which had several concussion related articles. To begin the issue there was a special editorial written by concussion research expert, Kevin Guskiewicz, PhD, ATC, FNATA, FACSM. He is also the chair of the Department of Exercise and Sport Science at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
Dr. Guskiewicz recommends that sports medicine professionals stay informed on upcoming concussion research to be published within the next 6 months.
This includes the ‘‘Consensus statement on concussion in sport: the 4th International Conference on Concussion in Sport, Zurich, November 2012’’ that was published in this edition of the Journal of Athletic Training and originally published in the British Journal of Sports Medicine in March, 2013. He advises that these documents "will define the standard of care for athletic trainers and team physicians for at least the next 4 to 5 years. These documents are very well prepared and will make significant contributions to the sports medicine community."
He also had these three major closing points:
- Read these documents,
- Develop and implement a sound concussion-management program and policy
- Check the boxes each time you manage a patient with a concussion.
Dr. Guskiewicz had one last closing piece of advice that is very important for concussion management but is applicable to everything we do as clinicians and arguable important for any person to learn. I know football season for me is fast approaching so I know I need to make sure I get caught up on my concussion literature. I will leave you with his advice in quotes and a link to the latest journal issue!
"But just as important, be sure you go the extra mile to educate yourself and your athletes and to ensure that both you and your athletes are protected. "
.gif)
