Returning to play would aggravate things.....................not make them better.....
Concussion in professional football: players returning to the same game--part 7.
Abstract
OBJECTIVE:
A
6-year study was conducted to determine the signs, symptoms, and
outcome of players who were concussed and either returned immediately or
were rested and returned to the same game in the National Football
League (NFL).
METHODS:
From 1996 to 2001, concussions
were recorded by NFL teams by use of a special standardized reporting
form filled out by team physicians. Signs and symptoms were grouped by
general symptoms, somatic complaints, cranial nerve effects, cognition
problems, memory problems, and unconsciousness. Action taken after
concussion was recorded for 887 patients.
RESULTS:
There
were 135 players (15.2%) who returned immediately and 304 (34.3%) who
rested and returned to the same game after concussion. There were few
differences by player position or team activity about the injury or
action taken. However, the mean number of signs and symptoms
progressively increased from those who returned immediately (1.52),
rested and returned to play (2.07), were removed from play (3.51), or
were hospitalized (6.55). Immediate recall problems (odds ratio [OR],
1.93; confidence interval [CI], 1.26-2.94), memory problems (OR, 1.52;
CI, 1.06-2.19), and the number of signs and symptoms (OR, 1.39; CI,
1.25-1.55) were predictive of removal from play or hospitalization.
There was no statistical association between return to play in the same
game and a subsequent concussion or a more serious concussion involving
7+ days out.
CONCLUSION:
Players who are concussed and
return to the same game have fewer initial signs and symptoms than those
removed from play. Return to play does not involve a significant risk
of a second injury either in the same game or during the season. The
current decision-making of NFL team physicians seems appropriate for
return to the game after a concussion, when the player has become
asymptomatic and does not have memory or cognitive problems.
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