Mild Exercise and Screen Rest Recommended
The United States Centers for Disease Control estimates that as many as 10% of athletes will experience a concussion during any given sports season. Many of these go unreported and undiagnosed, leading to mismanagement and potential premature return to activity.
For more than 20 years, the Concussion in Sport Group has hosted meetings to develop 5 international statements on concussion in sport, with the intent of understanding the improving the management of sports related concussion and minimizing the impact of concussion on the athlete, while optimizing recovery. The 6th International Conference on Concussion in Sport was held in Amsterdam in October, 2022; its findings were published in the British Journal of Sports Medicine in June, 2023.[1]
Over 3 years leading up to the 6th International Conference, statement author groups conducted systematic reviews of predetermined priority topics specific to concussion in sport. The statement draws on the work of 100 researchers and clinicians, and is accompanied by 10 systemic reviews. Per the methodology paper outlining the consensus protocol, expert panel meetings and workshops met to revise, or develop new, clinical assessment tools evolved from previous consensus meetings.
The conference built on prior Concussion in Sport Group statements seeking to update current recommendations for sport related concussion through and evidence based consensus methodology. The Statement seeks to provide a summary of the evidence and practice recommendations based on scientific and expert panel consensus, including tools to assist in the detection and assessment of sports-related concussion.
The conference process created revised tools that include the Concussion Recognition Tool – 6 (CRT6) and Sport Concussion Assessment Tool – 6 (SCAT6, and Child SCAT6), as well as created a new tool, the Sport Concussion Office Assessment Tool – 6 (SCOAT6, and Child SCOAT6). The new SCOAT6 can be a powerful tool to aid doctors, emergency responders, pediatricians and neurologists in managing sport-related concussions in the 3 to 30 day period post injury.
In the context of computerized neurocognitive testing tools, the conference recommended that such results should be interpreted in the context of the broader clinical findings and not used in isolation to inform management or diagnostic decisions.
In addition to revisions to existing tools and the creation of a new one, the conference further made new recommendations concerning athletes who have suffered mild concussion with early, mild exercise. The new advice calls for easy walking in the first 48 hours, followed by approved aerobic activity between days 2 to 10.
The conference further calls upon limitations to use of computers and cellphones in the first 48 hours post-injury.
[1] Patricios JS, Schneider KJ, Dvorak J, et al. Consensus statement on concussion in sport: the 6th International Conference on Concussion in Sport–Amsterdam, October 2022. British Journal of Sports Medicine 2023;57:695-711.
