American Academy of Neurology Calls for Athletes to be Removed from Play after Suffering Concussion
The Board of Directors of the American Academy of Neurology (AAN) approved a statement earlier this month which was proposed by the Academy’s Sports Neurology Section. The statement called for athletes who are suspected of sustaining a concussion to be removed from play until they have been evaluated by a physician who has been trained in the evaluation and management of sports concussions. This is just one part of the Academy’s recent requests which targets the policymakers who are responsible for determining the procedures used when an athlete suffers from a sports-related concussion.
The recent increase in media attention focused on concussions in professional and youth sports, coupled with the increased state legislative activity on head injuries in student athletes prompted the Sports Neurology Section to draft the position statement. I’m hopeful that continued awareness of this increasingly dangerous epidemic will urge parents, coaches and students themselves to be more aware of the dangers associated with sports-related concussions and will increase the funding for prevention and treatment programs.