Aspetar – the orthopaedic sports medicine hospital in Qatar – has urged healthcare professionals to adopt stronger guideline implementations to effectively diagnose concussion injuries during play, particularly for incidents involving footballers at the world’s biggest sporting tournament currently taking place in Russia.
A number of widely reported clashes between players in recent games have sharpened a focus on the issue, prompting debate and discussion between pundits and commentators around the world. The implementation of stronger guidelines would also help minimise the risk of long-term damage to players following head injuries.
Dr Louis Holtzhausen, a sports medicine physician at Aspetar, said: “It can be very difficult sometimes to spot a suspected concussion, particularly in the heat of the moment. Sometimes there can be obvious symptoms such as headache, vomiting or loss of consciousness or loss of memory, it can be much easier to spot and the player himself might sometimes ask for medical assistance. On the other hand, there are subtle symptoms that can be difficult to diagnose such as loss of balance or disorientation.”
“The solution for this difficult problem starts with education at different levels, first of all at the executive level with the decision makers in sport. They must understand what the medical and sports consequences of concussion can be,” he said.
Aspetar’s advanced protocol helps identify and treat concussion injuries in sports, on and off the field, and equips healthcare providers and team doctors to play an essential role in protecting athletes, since concussion signs are not always easily identifiable. It is specifically designed to only allow safe return to play under universally accepted guidelines. The protocol has been developed over a number of years by some of the world’s foremost experts in sports medicine and concussion-related issues. It has the potential to significantly improve decision-making and concussion management in games at all levels.


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