UPEI conducting concussion research
“As partners of the Coaches Association of Canada, we are strong advocates of the Making Headway education tool and look forward to how this resource will support this work over the next three years. We are excited that the sport community will benefit from this work in keeping our Island athletes safe and healthy.” Gemma Koughan
Work is underway at the University of Prince Edward Island to better support people who receive concussions, as well as provide education on how to prevent the injuries.
Each year, 1,500 Islanders suffer concussions.
The concussion awareness program will focus on increasing concussion awareness, injury prevention, reliable and accurate concussion detection, injury management and surveillance.
“This is a great opportunity to work with young people to establish the groundwork for better understanding and shaping attitudes regarding concussion injuries,” said Tessa Roche, patient-centred research clinic co-ordinator with UPEI.
“This support gives P.E.I. the chance to be at the forefront of concussion research.”
New initiatives will include the following:
An education program for students;
Modular-based education session for coaches;
An annual concussion report for health-care professionals and general public;
Rehabilitation management for return-to-active living and return-to-learn protocols;
Protocols to enhance informed medical clearance;
Evidence to evaluate different therapies for concussion recovery.
The provincial government will provide the university with $210,000 during the next three years to develop the program, funding that will be matched by the Canadian Institutes for Health Research.
Gemma Koughan, executive director of Sport P.E.I., is pleased to see the partners come together to work on the project.
“As partners of the Coaches Association of Canada, we are strong advocates of the Making Headway education tool and look forward to how this resource will support this work over the next three years,” she said.
“We are excited that the sport community will benefit from this work in keeping our Island athletes safe and healthy.”
More information on the program is available online at http://projects.upei.ca/concussion/.