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Sports-Related Concussions in Youth Improving the Science, Changing the Culture (2014) / Chapter Skim
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7 Conclusions and Recommendations
Pages 285-292

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From page 285...
... Understanding of the epidemiology of sports-related concussions is further hindered by variations in terminology and the data elements employed in relevant research. Federal interagency initiatives to identify com mon data elements for traumatic brain injury research, including research on concussions, and to develop the Federal Interagency Traumatic Brain Injury Research (FITBIR)
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From page 286...
... The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, taking account of existing surveillance systems and relevant federal data collection efforts, should establish and oversee a national surveil lance system to accurately determine the incidence of sports-related concussions, including those in youth ages 5 to 21. The surveillance data collected should include, but not be limited to, demographic infor mation (e.g., age, sex, race and ethnicity)
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From page 287...
... There are limited data from imaging research indicating that repetitive head impacts result in changes to the integrity of brain white matter. Research involving retired professional football players provides prelimi nary evidence of a positive association between the number of concussions an athlete has sustained and the risk of depression; however, data on the relationship between the number of concus sions and the risk of suicide are not available.
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From page 288...
... AGE-APPROPRIATE RULES AND PLAYING STANDARDS • Rules are the foundation for safe play in sports and have the po tential to discourage player behaviors that may increase the risk of injury and to advance a culture in which youth athletes are not pressured to play through their injuries or return to activity before they have fully recovered. There is some evidence from studies of youth ice hockey and soccer that the modification and enforcement of rules to promote player safety and fair play policies contribute to a reduction in practices that contribute to sports-related inju ries, including concussions.
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From page 289...
... These data are critical for informing the development of rules of play, effective protective equip ment and equipment safety standards, impact-monitoring systems, and athletic and military training programs. CULTURE CHANGE • Acknowledgment of the seriousness of sports-related concussions has initiated a culture change, as evidenced by campaigns to edu cate athletes, coaches, physicians, and parents of young athletes about concussion recognition and management; by rule changes designed to reduce the risk of head injury; and by the enactment of legislation designed to protect young athletes suspected of hav ing a concussion.
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From page 290...
... PARTNERSHIPS • Efforts to increase concussion knowledge and to change behav ior among young athletes might include the development by the Department of Education, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the National Athletic Trainers Association, or other organizations of evidence-based curricula with which to educate elementary, middle, and high school students about concussions, including sports-related concussions. It will be important to evalu ate the effectiveness of concussion education programs on stu dents' knowledge of concussions and on their attitudes toward and compliance with guidelines for removal from play and return to physical and cognitive activity following concussion.
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From page 291...
... • It is important for health care professional credentialing bodies to incorporate evidence-based standards for concussion diagnosis and management into the core curricula for students in medicine, nursing, and other health professions and to provide continuing medical education on concussion diagnosis and management to practicing professionals.
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Key Terms

  • concussion diagnosis
  • repetitive head
  • collegiate athletic
  • multiple concussions
  • national collegiate

  • national federation
  • athletic association
  • traumatic brain
  • brain injury
  • head injury

  • safety standards
  • governing bodies
  • youth sports
  • national athletic
  • national governing

  • concussive injury
  • concussion risk
  • youth athletes
  • equivalent research
  • injury research

  • conduct equivalent
  • athletic trainers
  • data elements
  • tive equipment
  • elements employed

  • deficit hyperactivity
  • prospective studies
  • curves specifically
  • credentialing bodies
  • player behaviors


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