Making Sense of Head Injuries in Young Athletes
Making Sense of Head Injuries in Young Athletes
The level of medical support present at sporting events varies, depending on the level of play. In recreational or youth sports, the availability of medically qualified persons making RTP decisions is rare. These decisions commonly fall on the medically unqualified coaches and parents. In US high school athletic programs, athletes may or may not have access to athletic trainers, much less a health care provider who is aware of the team's RTP procedures.
Of the athletic trainers employed in 2010, 27% were employed by public and private colleges, universities, and professional schools and 9% were employed by state, local, and private elementary and secondary schools. The remainder were employed by physicians and spectator sport teams. It is essential that the possibility of concussive injury play a prominent role in the decision to return an injured athlete to play, particularly given the life-threatening nature of SIS if an additional head injury occurs soon after the primary injury.
Considerations in Organized Youth Sports
The level of medical support present at sporting events varies, depending on the level of play. In recreational or youth sports, the availability of medically qualified persons making RTP decisions is rare. These decisions commonly fall on the medically unqualified coaches and parents. In US high school athletic programs, athletes may or may not have access to athletic trainers, much less a health care provider who is aware of the team's RTP procedures.
Of the athletic trainers employed in 2010, 27% were employed by public and private colleges, universities, and professional schools and 9% were employed by state, local, and private elementary and secondary schools. The remainder were employed by physicians and spectator sport teams. It is essential that the possibility of concussive injury play a prominent role in the decision to return an injured athlete to play, particularly given the life-threatening nature of SIS if an additional head injury occurs soon after the primary injury.