Affiliations: Performance Athletics Sportsmedicine Clinic, PO Box 20051, 10707 Giants Head Road, Summerland, BC V0H 1Z0, Canada. Tel.: +1 250 494 9625; Fax: +1 250 494 9696; E-mail: [email protected] | The State University of New York at Buffalo, Farber Hall, Main Street Campus, Buffalo, NY 14214-3079, USA
Abstract: Concussion is a potentially serious injury for athletes. Recent statistics suggest that approximately 300 000 sports-related traumatic brain injuries occur annually in the United States. Soccer, rugby, football, and ice hockey are all considered high-risk team sports for concussion. Hockey-related concussions are of particular concern in Canada, where over 500 000 players compete annually in ice hockey. The United States is now registering similar numbers of players. Return to play issues are one of the most difficult issues for physicians caring for concussed athletes. The advent of computerized neuropsychological testing adds another tool to assist in this process. It also appears to enhance the education process for players, coaches, and parents on the potential seriousness of concussion for these young athletes.
