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A recent study suggests that sports authorities should give doctors the decision making power of who should return to the field, considering the long-term neurological affect of repeated concussions in football players. Cerebral concussion is the most common form of sports-related traumatic brain injury (TBI), and the long-term effects of repeated concussions may include dementia, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, and other neurological disorders, say the journal editors. (Read: Why men recover later from concussions than women)
However, what was perhaps more concerning was that even when the symptoms of concussion were delayed, or came and went quickly, neurological damage could remain without detection. This could lead to footballers, such as Uruguayan defender Alvaro Pereira during the 2014 FIFA World Cup, overruling doctors' advice to be substituted and returning to play after sustaining a head injury. (Read: Concussions or head trauma linked to Alzheimer's disease)
The researchers argued that the decision for players to return to a game after sustaining a concussion should be made only by healthcare professionals and should surely be taken out of the hands of those with a vested interest in the player's performance. They added that many sporting organizations were now acknowledging the potentially serious consequences of mild TBI and had drawn up new protocols to protect athletes who sustained a head injury. An investigation of concussion protocols and return-to-play standards has been called by FIFPro, the world players' union following Pereira's injury. (Read: New products, new regulations aim to reduce concussions in sports)
The editorial is published in The Lancet Neurology.
With inputs from ANI
A similar debate raged in England during the Premier League season when French international and Tottenham Hotspur goalkeeper was allowed to continue playing after losing consciousness. The move was severely condemned by the FIFPro the worldwide representative organisation of professional football players. This decision is unacceptable, FIFPro Medical Advisor Vincent Gouttebarge had said: 'FIFPro condemns that the health and safety of players are let to coaches/trainers or even to players themselves. Medical professionals should be aware of any relevant medical guidelines and apply them in order to empower the health and safety on the field. The health and safety of the players should be the number one priority and should prevail against any other matters.'
Current FA guidelines on head injuries
Medical Regulations. 2.7
All clubs shall ensure that any player having left the field of play with a head injury shall not be allowed to resume playing or training without the clearance of a qualified medical practitioner. The same provision shall apply where a head injury is sustained in training.
'If anyone suffers severe trauma to the head and loses consciousness, they should be required to leave the field,' the PFA's John Bramall told BBC Sport. Bramall added: 'It is important to take the pressure off the players, club medical staff, and the manager removing the need for them to make a very difficult decision. The PFA will continue to work with the stakeholders within the game, to evaluate what guidelines are currently in place and to see if and how they need to be improved.'
What is a concussion?
A concussion is a traumatic brain injury that alters the way your brain functions. It can be caused by not only an injury to the head but also if the person's head or upper body has been shaken violently. A concussion may result in loss of consciousness in some cases, but not everybody loses consciousness because of a concussion. That is why lots of people suffer from concussions and don't realize it.
Concussions are common if you play contact sports like Football or Rugby, but it is important to remember that every time you have a concussion, you are damaging a part of your brain. That is why it is important to give your body enough time to rest and heal properly. The brighter side is that most mild concussions are easy to recover from.
Symptoms of a concussion:
Because of the nature of the injury, most people don't realize they have had a concussion, but even so, there are a few common symptoms:
In case of children, the common symptoms are irritability, listlessness, change in eating or sleeping patterns, lack of interest in playing and unsteady gait.
In case your child has hurt his/her head, it is important you visit the doctor, whether it is an emergency or not.
In the case of adults, you should see a doctor if the person has persistent vomiting, has been unconscious for more than 1 minute, shows change in his/her physical coordination, slurring of speech, vision disturbances, lasting or recurrent dizziness.
Lastly, if a person has suffered a concussion, it is important that he/she should not participate in high intensity activities like sports, etc. till they fully recover.
With inputs by Pavitra Sampath
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