Concussion: An Urgent Challenge

Discover the key points of the webinar on concussion, brilliantly presented by Frédérique Campeau, Product Manager at MonClubSportif. Frédérique holds a bachelor’s degree in sports intervention, a master’s degree in educational technology and a master’s degree in intelligence and transformation, during which she worked on a project focusing on concussion management in sport. Through her reading summary, Frédérique explored the issues, challenges and approaches to concussion management in sport, emphasizing the crucial importance of prevention and education. The rich, informative content is designed to raise awareness and guide action on this critical topic.

Concussions are a mild form of head trauma, but should not be taken lightly. They result from a force applied directly or indirectly to the head, causing confusion and temporary cerebral deformities. This phenomenon can cause significant damage, even in the absence of a direct blow to the head, highlighting the complexity of their management and the need for rapid, informed intervention.

Second Impact Syndrome occurs when a second concussion is sustained before the first has fully resolved, resulting in dangerous brain swelling. This condition is particularly prevalent and dangerous in young people, where it can lead to catastrophic consequences, including a 50% mortality rate. This alarming statistic underlines the importance of strict rest and recovery policies before returning to play.

The frequency of concussions in sport is alarming, with up to 40% of athletes affected annually. However, the lack of diagnosis in 80% of cases points to an underestimated crisis, often described as a silent epidemic requiring increased attention and preventive measures.

Major concussion-related issues in schools and associations :

1. Lack of return-to-play protocol or overall management: The absence of standardized procedures for managing athletes’ return from concussion increases the risk of complications, including second-impact syndrome.
2. Inappropriate budget prioritization: Funds are often allocated to more visible or spectacular aspects of the sport (the “WOW” effect) to the detriment of player safety, including concussion prevention and management.
3. Contact training: Training involving physical contact without adequate preventive measures increases the risk of concussion, especially if athletes are not properly prepared or equipped.
4. Lack of education and awareness: A lack of education and awareness about the risks of concussion, its symptoms, its management, and the importance of full recovery contributes to an underestimation of the problem.
5. Inadequate equipment: The use of poor-quality or ill-fitting protective equipment can increase the risk of injury, including concussion. Furthermore, the use of certified equipment is fundamental to minimizing the risk of concussions and other serious injuries in sport. Certification guarantees that equipment has undergone rigorous testing to meet high safety standards, offering athletes optimum protection during their activities.
6. Lack of experts on the sidelines: The absence of healthcare professionals specializing in concussions during sporting activities limits the ability to diagnose and treat these injuries quickly.

These points highlight the need for a holistic approach to improving athlete safety, including adequate investment, better education, appropriate equipment, and the availability of health experts on the ground. These collective efforts are crucial if concussions are to be effectively prevented and managed in school and association sports.

The long-term consequences of concussions raise major concerns about the health and well-being of athletes, especially with regard to their increased susceptibility to suffering repeated concussions and the associated risks of neurodegenerative diseases

Increased risk of repeated concussions: Data indicate an exponential increase in the risk of suffering further concussions after the first. After a first concussion, an athlete is 5 times more likely to suffer a second. This risk rises to 9 times after two concussions, and to 27 times after three concussions. This trend highlights the increasing vulnerability of the brain after each concussion suffered.

Risk of neurodegenerative diseases: After three concussions, the risk of developing neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer’s increases by a factor of 10. This alarming statistic underlines the crucial importance of preventing concussions and meticulously managing those that do occur, in order to protect the long-term health of athletes.

The symptoms of concussion are varied and can affect many facets of an individual’s health. They mainly manifest themselves in four forms: physical (such as headaches, dizziness, and sensitivity to light or noise), cognitive (difficulty concentrating, confusion, memory loss), emotional (irritability, sadness, anxiety) and sleep disturbances (changes in sleep patterns, difficulty falling asleep). Recognizing these signs is essential for rapid, effective concussion management.

Awareness and proper management of concussions are crucial to the safety and well-being of athletes. The webinar presented by Frédérique Campeau highlighted the importance of education, early diagnosis and rapid intervention in preventing the long-term consequences of these injuries. Through a better understanding of symptoms, the adoption of prudent return-to-play protocols and increased risk awareness, we can work together for a safer sporting environment. It is imperative that all those involved – coaches, parents and sports organizations – commit to this approach to prevention and the protection of athletes’ health.

Mediagraphy:

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McCrory, P., Davis, G., & Makdissi, M. (2012). Second impact syndrome or cerebral swelling after sporting head injury. Current sports medicine reports, 11(1), 21-23.

Ministère de l’Éducation et de l’Enseignement supérieur concussion management protocol

https://cdn-contenu.quebec.ca/cdn-contenu/education/Sport-Loisir-Plein-air/Protocole_de_gestion_des_commotions_cerebrales_FR.pdf