Sports leagues’ concussion guidelines must be broadened as brain health concerns rise
Many sporting leagues are trying to reduce concussion risk, but their policies mainly fail to mention a growing threat.
The Australian Football League (AFL) and other contact sports have implemented various measures in recent years to address concussion concerns, such as rule changes, rigorous assessment protocols, and mandatory "stand-down" periods after concussion. While these steps should be commended, research is now suggesting that subconcussive impacts may pose a greater risk to brain health.
Subconcussive impacts, which rarely cause symptoms, are the result of repeated subconcussive head impacts that occur during normal gameplay. These impacts can accumulate over time and lead to chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE), a neurodegenerative brain disease that predominantly appears later in life but has been diagnosed in younger athletes as well.
The AFL and other sports leagues have largely focused on concussion prevention, diagnosis, and management, with minimal mention of subconcussive impacts or the risk of repeated head impacts. This lack of emphasis on subconcussive impacts in guidelines is concerning, as it may contribute to athletes, families, and officials underestimating the severity of brain health risks associated with contact sports.
Written by urgent.news from The Conversation AU's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
