Nov.
4,
2010-
CNN's
neurosurgeon
Dr.
Sanja
Gupta
explains
the
importance
of
the
new
American
Academy
of
Neurology's
guidelines
regarding
sports-related concussions.
The first update since 1997, our
understanding has changed
dramatically.
Recommendations include removing
any athlete who is suspected of
having sustained a concussion
from a practice or game, keeping
them out of play until evaluated
by a specialist, and a renewed
focus on having a certified
athletic trainer at all games -
and practices.
American
Academy of Neurology
Concussion Position Statement
Nov. 1, 2010
ST. PAUL,
Minn.
– The
American
Academy of Neurology (AAN) is
calling for any athlete who is
suspected of having a concussion
to be removed from play until
the athlete is evaluated by a
physician with training in the
evaluation and management of
sports concussion.
The request is one of five
recommendations from a new
position statement approved by
the AAN’s Board of Directors
that targets policymakers with
authority over determining the
policy procedures for when an
athlete suffers from concussion
while participating in a
sporting activity.
“While the majority of
concussions are self-limited
injuries, catastrophic results
can occur and we do not yet know
the long-term effects of
multiple concussions,” said
Jeffrey Kutcher, MD, MPH, chair
of the AAN’s Sports Neurology
Section, which drafted the
position statement. “We owe it
to athletes to advocate for
policy measures that promote
high quality, safe care for
those participating in contact
sports.”
Members of the AAN specialize
in treating disorders of the
brain and nervous system. Some
AAN members have extensive
experience caring for athletes
and are best qualified to
develop and disseminate
guidelines for managing athletes
with sports concussion.
According to the new AAN
position statement, no athlete
should be allowed to participate
in sports if he or she is still
experiencing symptoms from a
concussion, and a neurologist or
physician with proper training
should be consulted prior to
clearing the athlete for return
to participation.
In addition, the AAN
recommends a certified athletic
trainer be present at all
sporting events, including
practices, where athletes are at
risk for concussion. Education
efforts should also be maximized
to improving the understanding
of sports concussion by all
athletes, parents and coaches.
“We need to make sure coaches,
trainers, and even parents, are
properly educated on this issue,
and that the right steps have
been taken before an athlete
returns to the field,” said
Kutcher, who is also director of
the University of Michigan’s
Neurosport program.
In 1997, the AAN published a
guideline on the management of
sports concussion that defines
concussion grade levels and
provides recommendations. The
guideline is currently being
updated.
According to the Centers for
Disease Control, sports-related
concussions occur in the United
States three million times per
year, and among people ages 15
to 24 are now second only to
motor vehicle accidents as a
leading cause of
traumatic
brain injury.
The
American Academy of Neurology,
an association of more than
22,000 neurologists and
neuroscience professionals, is
dedicated to promoting the
highest quality patient-centered
neurologic care. A neurologist
is a doctor with specialized
training in diagnosing, treating
and managing disorders of the
brain and nervous system such as
traumatic brain injury, stroke,
Alzheimer’s disease, epilepsy,
Parkinson’s disease, and
multiple sclerosis. For more
information about the American
Academy of Neurology, visit
https://www.aan.com.