HOW SPORTS COMPARE ON CONCUSSION PROTOCOL
FOOTBALL ( PREMIER LEAGUE)
If there is an incident where concussion is feared, the recipient of a blow to the head has to answer a series of questions from a medical expert.
The footballer is asked, “What venue are we at today? Which half is it now? Who scored last in this game? What team did you play last week? Did your team win the last game?”
And a player should be removed from the field if he complains of neck pain, has increasing confusion or irritability, repeated vomiting, a seizure or convulsion, weakness or tingling/ burning in the arms or legs, a deteriorating conscious state, a severe or increasing headache, double vision, or an unusual behaviour change.
RUGBY UNION
ANY suspected incident of head impact results in the player involved being removed from the field.
Those who display clear signs of concussion are removed from the game permanently. In cases where it is suspected, a player undergoes a thorough off- field assessment.
Those failing the assessment are pulled from the game and obliged to follow a six- stage, return- to- play protocol.
The stages, each of which take 24 hours to complete, go from initial rest to light aerobic exercise, sport- specific exercise and non- contact training drills.
Only after these have been completed satisfactorily can the player return to full- contact training and then, finally, game- play.
CRICKET
THE issue of concussion is taken extremely seriously in cricket, with the sport having introduced new protocols to ensure players are not put at unnecessary risk.
Despite wearing helmets, the quick speeds eds that balls can be bowled at – close to 100mph – mean that a strike on the head is a consistent threat. Former Australian Test duo Chris Rogers and Justin Langer have spoken about being hit on the head and suffering dizziness, but also being allowed to carry on batting. Not any more.
Since August 2019, concussion substitutes have been allowed. The most high- profile incident occurred when Aussie Steve Smith, above, was hit on the head by a short ball from Jofra Archer in the Ashes at Lord’s last year.
HORSE RACING
HORSE RACING has the highest concussion rate of any sport.
Races are followed by an ambulance as one in every 27 rides on average results in a fall for a jockey. Any incident can result in serious injury as horses travel at up to 40mph.
Fallen riders are assessed by an on- course doctor. When concussion is suspected, their short and long- term memory is checked – and further assessment considers balance and mental processing. Concussed jockey are stood down.
Most recover fully within seven days but they could be sidelined for months.
A BHA survey found former jockeys are 2.5 times more likely to suffer from anxiety or depression while the late Liam Treadwell, a Grand National winner, spoke of his difficulties after cumulative concussions.
RUGBY LEAGUE
PROTOCOLS have been strengthened in recent years with a Graduated Return to Play ( GRTP) process.
Players who suffer symptoms are immediately ediately taken for a head injury assessment.
Medical staff have 15 minutes to sum up p the situation and, if the player is deemed unfit to return, it becomes a regular substitution.
If the player cannot go back on to the field, he begins a detailed protocol that came to the fore in the build- up to the e climax to the Super League season.
James Graham, above, of St Helens failed an assessment in the semi- final against Catalans. However, he ticked every box during the seven- day protocol and was cleared to play in the 8- 4 Grand Final win over rivals Wigan last Friday.
AMERICAN FOOTBALL
THE NFL has a five- step concussion protocol. An independent neurotrauma consultant must be at every game to help identify any player with a problem, and players receive an instant examination on the sideline.
The team doctor and the independent neurotrauma consultant jointly evaluate the player in a tent.
If a player fails that examination, he is withdrawn from the game and begins a time- limitless, five- step process which he has to pass before he can return to action. Failure to complete any of the steps means he has to go back to the previous step.