RT Journal Article
SR Electronic
T1 Current practices in determining return to play following head injury in professional football in the UK
JF British Journal of Sports Medicine
JO Br J Sports Med
FD BMJ Publishing Group Ltd and British Association of Sport and Exercise Medicine
SP 1000
OP 1003
DO 10.1136/bjsports-2011-090687
VO 46
IS 14
A1 Jo Price
A1 Peter Malliaras
A1 Zoe Hudson
YR 2012
UL http://bjsm.bmj.com/content/46/14/1000.abstract
AB Objective To investigate the awareness of English football team doctors of the ‘Consensus in Sport’ (CIS) guidelines for the assessment and management of concussion, and to identify adherence to these internationally accepted recommendations. Method A questionnaire was sent to Club Medical Officers of all the 92 English Football league teams. Results The majority (55.6%) of teams in the English Football Association (FA) do not routinely follow the CIS guidelines. Only 21% of teams routinely record an approved preseason cognitive score and only 42% complete a recommended postconcussion assessment. One-third are still using outdated fixed periods of abstinence following a concussion. Conclusions FA players are not being treated according to the guidelines recommended by International sporting organisations. The endorsement of the CIS guidelines by the English FA would ensure that all medical teams have a sound and safe protocol for managing concussed players and making return to play decisions.