Racing’s probe into concussion
FIVE former champion jump jockeys are to take part in a groundbreaking study into links between concussion and degenerative disorders in retirement.
Sir Anthony McCoy, Richard Dunwoody, John Francome, Peter Scudamore and Stan Mellor have all volunteered for blood tests, MRI scans and neuropsychological screening conducted by the International Concussion and Head Injury Research Foundation, who are looking into the long- term effect of concussion in contact sports.
Medical experts will try to identify increased incidence, or earlier onset, of neurodegenerative disorders such as Parkinson’s, Alzheimer’s and chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE), a condition that has been identified in former American NFL players.
Treatment of concussion is a hot topic in all contact sports. Incidence in jump racing — in which, on average, a rider falls every 14 mounts — is at its highest. Figures published in the British Journal of Sports Medicine estimate that a jump jockey will suffer concussion on average once every 54 falls. Three-time champion Dunwoody (left), was forced to retire in 1999 with a neck injury.
He said: ‘As professional jockeys, it was accepted that we would suffer concussion but we gave little thought to what the long-term effects of repetitive head injuries would be, so this
is an important research project for all sports.’
The project will see more than 200 former amateur and professional jump jockeys in Britain, Ireland and France screened and results compared with a similar age ‘control group’ who have never been concussed.
The debate will be fuelled by next month’s release of the film Concussion, starring Will Smith.
It tells the story of attempts by the NFL to suppress research on brain damage in American football players and how it affected the sportsmen in retirement.
The BHA are to review protocols, focusing on racecourse treatment, postconcussion management and education.
Currently, any incident results in a jockey being prevented from riding for a minimum of six days. He must than pass a set of neuropsychological tests before being allowed to return.