As both an Athletic Trainer and a sports official, I was very pleased to see some of the changes that the state of Michigan is implementing regarding concussion management.
Here is a link to a news article covering this story. Here is a link to Michigan’s protocol for handling players with concussions.
In the past, the language regarding an athlete and their participation in a contest after sustaining a concussion was always a little gray. The new language helps to take all of the ambiguity out of the decision making process.
I particularly like the language:
““Any athlete who exhibits signs, symptoms or behaviors consistent with a concussion (such as loss of consciousness, headache, dizziness, confusion, or balance problems) shall be immediately removed from the contest and shall not return to play until cleared by an appropriate health care professional.”
In the instances where a health care professional is not available, this clearly lays out to coaches that if a players exhibits any of these signs, they are to be withheld from competition.
I am unfamiliar with other states regulations but the Michigan High School Athletic Association (MHSAA) has measures for monitoring players that are removed from a contest resulting from a concussion. A report is filed to the State of Michigan following the contest in which an athlete sustained a concussion. The athlete must receive physician clearance to return to participation and if this clearance is not received and an athlete participates, they will be treated as an ineligible player and the contest is subject to forfeit. This is particularly harsh language but certainly drives home the point that any lenience on this issue will not be tolerated.
While many of us still want to see a Certified Athletic Trainer at every school and contest, the likelihood of this happening any time soon is simply not reality. However, I do commend national and state associations for taking concussions seriously and doing what they can to help ensure the safety of high school athletes. The issue of concussions involves a “global effort” and requires involvement from physicians and athletic trainers, national and state associations, school administration, coaches, parents, and athletes. This is a great step in the right direction and I am very pleased the state of Michigan has adopted this new policy on concussion management.
Has your state adopted additional language in support of new federation rules? Has your state included severe penalties such as possible game forfeiture for schools that allow participation without medical release? Please share what your state and local associations are doing to help confront this issue.
This article (http://www.mlive.com/sports/kalamazoo/index.ssf/2010/08/no_playing_around_with_concuss.html ) says that only a doctor can clear/evaluate. Can an athletic trainer do this in Michigan?
BJ – Not one hundred percent sure on this but I believe this is in reference to returning to play once it has been evaluated that a concussion has taken place.
Once the determination has been made that an athlete has sustained a concussion, they need clearance by an MD or DO with written “permission” that they can participate in athletics once again.
An ATC can not do this on his/her own – as far as I understand.
As far as in contest, my understanding is that the ATC can assess whether or not an athlete has sustained a concussion – if not, they can allow the athlete to return to competition.
Thanks,
Bill
The NFHS just adopted the exact same wording to clarify concussion management in boys’ lacrosse.
Devon-
In Michigan, I believe this policy applies to all sports.
Take care,
Bill
This was adopted for all sports for all 50 states. That is why the laguage is so vague in the rule about an “appropriate health care provider.” The rules committee could not make a rule that covered 50 different state practice acts (or lack thereof) covering a host of potential qualified persons. In Ohio, the ATC is listed in the rule to be able to allow an athlete to RTP during that game. However, the rule is in place only so that the ATC can allow an athlete who may have a headache unrelated to a TBI to RTP. Any athlete who exhibits symptoms potentially related to a TBI must be cleared by a physician. This is consistent with Ohio’s state practice act.
The problem I foresee is when teams play across state lines. There will need to be a clear delineation of what is to happen in these cases.