Joint Section on Neurotrauma and Critical Care Position Statement on Traumatic Brain Injury in Sports
(Statement Approved by the AANS Board of Directors and CNS Executive Committee on 4/8/11)
Sports and recreational activities contribute significantly to personal health, well-being, and satisfaction throughout all stages of life. However, inherent to many of these activities is risk to the individual participant. Traumatic brain injuries (TBI), including concussions, may occur in a variety of sports and recreational settings, and participants should be educated as much as possible about the risks, safety measures, and protective equipment that are available to them. Equally important is understanding the potential long-term effects of both isolated and repeated TBI.
There are many available guidelines for return to play after TBI in sports; however, such guidelines are not routinely employed across the broad spectrum of athletic endeavor, especially in more junior or amateur settings and in certain sports. For sporting activities organized through educational and municipal institutions, as well as in professional settings, guidelines should be readily available and utilized routinely by coaches, trainers, athletes, and parents of minor athletes.
Click here to view the full AANS/CNS Position Statement on Traumatic Brain Injury in Sports.
