Activating Safe Sport communities
Highlights In May 2021, the Sport Information Resource Centre (SIRC) announced the launch of its Community Activation Grants. This program supports sport organizations in developing and disseminating concussion and Safe Sport resources in Canadian communities. The launch was set against the backdrop of the Government of Canada’s commitment to reactivate local sport organizations, after the COVID‑19…
Return to Play Post-Concussion
The Collège des médecins du Québec and the Ordre professionnel de la physiothérapie du Québec have endorsed a mulitdisciplinary approach to concussion management that enables team physiotherapists to play a role in return to play decisions. Learn more in the SIRC blog.
Helmet fit
The way a helmet fits can change if an athlete changes their hairstyle (e.g., from a braid to a bun) or gets a haircut. To ensure athletes are well protected, consider re-checking their helmets’ fit at regular intervals during the season.
Competing with concussion symptoms
A study of former collegiate athletes in Ontario discovered 44.9% competed despite experiencing concussion symptoms. Consider how changing group norms can support effective concussion management in the SIRC blog, and access concussion prevention and management resources on SIRC’s concussion hub.
Sleep and concussion recovery
Getting a good night’s sleep is important for athletes recovering from a concussion, but many athletes struggle to get quality sleep following their injury. Improving sleep hygiene, including creating a regular pre-bed routine, avoiding technology before bed, and optimizing your sleep environment, can improve sleep patterns to help the brain recover and allow athletes to…
Subconcussive impacts in boxing
Assessments of the motor control and cognitive function of boxers before and after a nine-minute sparring session showed short-term impairment to brain-to-muscle communications and decreased memory performance. The findings help understand how subconcussive impacts — those that are below the concussion threshold — may have immediate effects on the brain.
Female athletes seek treatment later
New research discovered female athletes seek specialty medical treatment later than male athletes for sport-related concussions, which may contribute to worse symptoms and longer recoveries. These findings reinforce the importance of early identification and the implementation of concussion management plans and protocols.
Soccer balls and concussion
The average soccer player heads the ball 12 times in a game, and each header carries up to 100g acceleration – enough to cause serious brain damage. New research from Purdue University shows that deflating balls to pressures on the lower end of ranges enforced by soccer governing bodies, and replacing them when they get…
Concussion research
“The reality is there simply aren’t nearly enough qualified physicians to provide timely assessments for athletes hoping to return-to-play after a sports concussion…For athletes and parents frustrated with long waiting lists to see a doctor or nurse practitioner, [a role for team therapists in return-to-play decisions] is a potential game changer.” Dr. Pierre Frémont from…
Protective effects of nutrition
In American football, measurements revealed youth and college-level athletes experienced anywhere from 100-1,000 head impacts during the season. That trauma can add up, risking long-term impacts on brain health, including cognitive, emotional and behaviour difficulties and dysfunction. Consider the role of nutrition in protecting against repetitive sub-concussive injury.