Implementation of the 2017 Berlin Concussion in Sport Group Consensus Statement in contact and collision sports: a joint position statement from 11 national and international sports organisations

Abstract

The 2017 Berlin Concussion in Sport Group Consensus Statement provides a global summary of best practice in concussion prevention, diagnosis and management, underpinned by systematic reviews and expert consensus. Due to their different settings and rules, individual sports need to adapt concussion guidelines according to their specific regulatory environment. At the same time, consistent application of the Berlin Consensus Statement’s themes across sporting codes is likely to facilitate superior and uniform diagnosis and management, improve concussion education and highlight collaborative research opportunities. This document summarises the approaches discussed by medical representatives from the governing bodies of 10 different contact and collision sports in Dublin, Ireland in July 2017. Those sports are: American football, Australian football, basketball, cricket, equestrian sports, football/soccer, ice hockey, rugby league, rugby union and skiing. This document had been endorsed by 11 sport governing bodies/national federations at the time of being published.

Sports-related concussion (SRC) in road cycling: the RoadsIde heaD Injury assEssment (RIDE) for elite road cycling

“…Such an approach could be supported by rule changes and technological support provided and enforced by the UCI to allow for a safe space for thorough identification and management at the roadside. [30][31][32] Furthermore, central injury databases, as promoted by other authors, 7 particularly during the three grand tours in professional cycling, would allow road cycling medical teams to better understand the patterns of SRC injuries and therefore to develop methods of reducing SRC within road cycling.…”

Proceedings from the Ice Hockey Summit III: Action on Concussion

“…Game head impact frequency in same-age FB players occurred at 12.0 impacts per player per game (PPPG) versus 5.2 impacts PPPG among Bantams (13-14 yrs.) [30,31] Data suggest [13][14] year old FB players sustain greater HIE than age matched hockey players, differences that may influence SRC risk. A season of youth FB (13-14 years) was not associated with impaired clinical neurologic function [30,32] This finding might be similar in youth hockey players since they have a lower HIE.…”

“…The experts developed guidelines from a systematic literature review, meeting discussions and consensus building. Emphasis was placed on concussion education, detection and prevention [118].…”

“…The risk of concussion has been well documented [1][2][3][4][5][6][7] and potential sequelae, including chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE), are alarming. [8][9][10][11][12][13] The Ice Hockey Summit III: Action on Concussion brought together physicians, researchers, athletic trainers, sports scientists and engineers to describe sport related concussion (SRC) epidemiology, classify prevention strategies, define objective, diagnostic tests, identify treatment and integrate science and clinical care into prioritized action plans and policy. Presentations and discussion panels were organized to address the objectives before attendees selected the most highly prioritized action items.…”

Concussion in sport: best from Berlin, direction from Dublin and gems from gridiron

“…In July 2017, representatives from 10 national and international sports organisations (American football, Australian football, basketball, cricket, equestrian sports, football/soccer, ice hockey, rugby league, rugby union and skiing) met in Dublin to discuss implementation of the Berlin Statement with an emphasis on harmonising the interpretation across the codes 5. Key themes from this meeting centred on detection and diagnosis of SRC, sideline management protocols and criteria for return to play decisions.…”