“Very positive shifts”
Commenting on the findings, Nick Reed, PhD, Canada research chair in pediatric concussion and associate professor of occupational science and occupational therapy, University of Toronto, said that sports medicine physicians are seeing “very positive shifts” in concussion awareness and related behaviors such as providing education, support, and accommodations to students within the school environment. “More and more teachers are seeking education to learn what a concussion is and what to do to best support their students with concussion,” he said. Dr. Reed was not involved in the current study.
Indeed, this increasing awareness led to the development of a concussion education tool for teachers – SCHOOLFirst – although Dr. Reed did acknowledge that not all teachers have either the knowledge or the resources they need to optimally support their students with concussion. In the meantime, to reduce the risk of injury, Dr. Reed stressed that it is important for students to wear equipment appropriate for the game being played and to play by the rules.
“It is key to play sports in a way that is fair and respectful and not [engage] in behaviors with the intent of injuring an opponent,” he stressed. It is also important for athletes themselves to know the signs and symptoms of concussion and, if they think they have a concussion, to immediately stop playing, report how they are feeling to a coach, teacher, or parent, and to seek medical assessment to determine if they have a concussion or not.
“The key here is to focus on what the athlete can do after a concussion rather than what they can’t do,” Dr. Reed said. After even a few days of complete rest, students with a concussion can gradually introduce low levels of physical and cognitive activity that won’t make their symptoms worse. This activity can include going back to school with temporary accommodations in place, such as shorter school days and increased rest breaks. “When returning to school and to sport after a concussion, it is important to follow a stepwise and gradual return to activities so that you aren’t doing too much too fast,” Dr. Reed emphasized.
The study was conducted without external funding. Dr. Carson and Dr. Reed reported no conflicts of interest.
A version of this article first appeared on Medscape.com.