Article: new guides aimed at treating concussions in adolescents
 

"Two new guides that medical, educational and sport officials hope will bring about a better understanding toward the cause and treatment of concussions among adolescents were released Thursday morning during joint news conferences in Toronto and Halifax."

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/sport...rticle2421463/

Here is a link to the PDF of the new guide.

http://www.teenmentalhealth.org/imag...bi_guide_x.pdf

I have looked through this guide. It has very little new information. In fact, it has no new information. Its strength is that it has compiled most of the most accurate information into one slow to scroll color guide. It still is weak in Return To Play standards and prevention strategies.

The puzzle on Wheel of Fortune was a 'before and after' puzzle: CRUSHED ICE HOCKEY. Sounds like an appropriate term for hockey. Play hockey and your brain gets crushed.

Back to the guide. It is authored by a psychiatrist with a review by all of the medical and psychological disciplines.

It is a great start but seriously needs better Return To Play information and prevention strategies. The article mentioned in the lead post shows a soccer player heading the ball with a caption about heading the ball causing concussions. No mention of this information is included in the guide. It has an over-emphasis in use of equipment to prevent concussions. Most helmets will reduce skull fracture but only minimally reduce concussions.

It is a long read for the little bit of important and useful information presented.

I think it's good that some MDs are getting the conversation started on this and other concussion-related topics. The more (and more rigorous) research, the more discussion, the more scrutiny, the better.