Concussion Training for Coaches
Estimated reading time: 4 minutes
Anyone who watches or is interested in Rugby will be acutely aware of all the new rules which are aimed at reducing concussion in the sport, from new scrum and tackle laws to head injury assessments and return to play protocols the focus on concussions is enormous. Clearly Rugby is not the only sport that suffers with the potential for concussions, footballers heading the ball frequently can suffer brain injuries, boxers experience frequent blows to the head and perhaps surprisingly hockey players suffer frequent concussion injuries. In this blog article we will take a look at concussion, why it is such a hot topic and what can be done to help reduce the impact of concussions.
What is concussion?
Concussion is a mild brain injury that is caused by a blow to the head which caused the brain to shake back and forth in the skull. Whilst most concussions causes no lasting damage, they can lead to symptoms such as:
- Dizziness
- Nausea
- Confusion
- Inability to process or retain information
- Distorted vision
Why is it serious?
Typically, these symptoms will resolve themselves quite quickly if the concussion is a one off event, but they can affect some people more severely and the symptoms can persist. This is called Post-Concussion Syndrome. In sports like rugby or boxing, where the concussions can be repeated the mild brain injury can become more serious. One particularly serious issue is second impact syndrome. This is where someone who has not yet fully recovered from a previous concussion suffers a second blow to the head which can lead to rapid brain swelling. This is often fatal, but even when not fatal it can lead to permanent disability. Even when second impact syndrome does not occur repeated concussions can, over time, cause chronic traumatic encephalopathy. This is where the brain is subject to repeated minor injuries from concussions which progressively lead to more serious brain dysfunction. Symptoms of this are very similar to Alzheimer’s disease. One very high profile case is Steve Thompson, the Ex-England Rugby Hooker, who at 43 is suffering from dementia and Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy due to the repeated concussions he suffered as a player.
It is fair to say that concussion is a very serious issue, especially in sports and concussion management both in prevention, early detection and treatment and return to play protocols are vital for any sporting team.
Concussion Training for Coaches
At Chris Garland Training we run a concussion in sports awareness course. This 3 hour course is held at our training facility in Knutsford or can be carried out at your premises as you require. The course covers all aspects of concussion from what it is and the effects, to the complications of concussion such as second impact syndrome and post-concussion syndrome. The course also covers concussion guidance protocols and how to carry out immediate assessments and what return to play protocols are needed for both adults and children. Why not contact us and we can talk through your requirements and come up with the best options for us to help you manage concussions within your sports team or club.
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