Revised Concussion Education Launched

The headline updates to the guidance are:

• The concussion guidance is now the same for all ages.
• Participating in light physical activity has now been shown to have a positive effect on recovery after the initial 24–48 hour period of relative rest.
• All concussions should be managed individually, but there should be no return to competition before 21 days from the day of the injury.
• Anyone with symptoms after 28 days should seek medical advice from their GP.

It is estimated 50% of sports related concussions go unreported, with young people aged between 10 – 19 being most affected. Studies also show that female athletes may be more susceptible to concussions and may take longer to recover. Concussion education sessions play a crucial role in raising awareness of the serious issue of concussions and help build confidence in recognising and managing concussions in sport. Overall, this helps to ensure the safety and wellbeing of everyone involved.

To promote concussion education, the University of Edinburgh Sports Union has made the ConcussEd online education module freely available. This training provides essential guidance on recognising concussions, understanding their impact, and ensuring safe return to play and study. 

The development of this program was originally supported through a partnership between EUSU and The University of Edinburgh’s FASIC Sport and Exercise Medicine Clinic, and the ConcussEd research and knowledge exchange group. It is now widely used across universities and embedded within PE teacher training programmes across Scotland, ensuring that key knowledge about concussion identification and management is easily accessible, promoting safer sports environments for all.

Given the annual turnover of club memberships, offering this training regularly is crucial to maintain awareness and expertise within sports clubs. This ensures that everyone is aware of the ongoing risks of concussion, reinforcing the need for regular education on the issue. 

So far this year, over 80 students and coaches from 33 sports clubs have registered for the training.

The online module has allowed participants to:

• Understand what a concussion is and how to spot the various signs and symptoms in yourself and others
• Gain a better understanding of how concussions happen, the consequences that happen throughout the brain and body, and how this relates to daily functioning, performance and recovery
• Learn about the potential short- and long-term effects of concussions on our health and well-being
• Hear real-life concussion stories and practice hypothetical scenarios
• Understand how to appropriately respond to concussion and use the recommended steps for managing the injury on and off the field/classroom
• Consider their role in concussion, and learn about and develop practical strategies and resources for themselves and their sport

Participants who complete the training receive a certificate of achievement and gain the confidence to share their nee knowledge within their sports clubs, helping raise awareness and guiding athletes on the track to recovery. Highlights from previous participants include learning about the seriousness of concussions, the importance of reducing screen time to aid recovery, and discovering useful resources.

The sportscotland ‘If in doubt, sit them out’ campaign further increases concussion awareness within the student, staff and wider sporting community through the use of various campaign assets.