An athlete who is suspected of having a concussion should be removed from play until a trained physician has examined and evaluated the condition.
The American Academy of Neurology (AAN) has announced this request that is one of five recommendations from a new position statement approved by the AAN's Board of Directors that targets policymakers with authority over determining the policy procedures for when an athlete suffers from concussion while participating in a sporting activity.
"While the majority of concussions are self-limited injuries, catastrophic results can occur and we do not yet know the long-term effects of multiple concussions," said Jeffrey Kutcher, MD, MPH, chair of the AAN's Sports Neurology Section, which drafted the position statement. "We owe it to athletes to advocate for policy measures that promote high quality, safe care for those participating in contact sports."
Members of the AAN specialize in treating disorders of the brain and nervous system. Some AAN members have extensive experience caring for athletes and are best qualified to develop and disseminate guidelines for managing athletes with sports concussion.
According to the new AAN position statement, no athlete should be allowed to participate in sports if he or she is still experiencing symptoms from a concussion, and a neurologist or physician with proper training should be consulted prior to clearing the athlete for return to participation.