Ash Bolt
Losing a friend to symptoms associated with chronic traumatic encephalopathy has pushed a Geelong business owner to host on symposium on concussions in sport.
Geelong Sports Medicine Centre will host the symposium on May 11, to discuss the most recent evidence-based information on sports concussion, its management and long-term consequences such as brain injury chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE) from leading medical experts.
The idea was the brainchild of GSMC director and physiotherapist Nick Jarman, who after losing a friend last year reached out to the Australian Sports Brain Bank.
Mr Jarman’s friend was local footballer for more than 30 years and had pledged to donate his brain to the Australian Sports Brain Bank before he died.
He was diagnosed with stage 1-2 CTE after his death.
“Concussion can affect athletes at all levels of sport. While there is a lot in the news about concussions at the elite level, more needs to be done at the local community sports around understanding proper management and return-to-play guidelines,” Mr Jarman said.
“Through GSMC, we have the ability to support this cause and drive awareness and change at the local sports level in Geelong.”
Mr Jarman said he hoped to raise awareness for the brain bank and reduce the incidence of CTE, a brain degeneration likely caused by repeated head traumas, by educating the community on concussion management.
“The GSMC campaign is not about creating fear of concussion, but rather will focus on awareness and the correct management, which is vaguely understood,” he said.
Mr Jarman said the symposium would include a line-up of leading experts including Neuro Sports Labs’ Professor Alan Pearce and Australian Sports Brain bank’s Professor Michael Buckland, as well as a panel discussion from local experts Dr Sachin Khullar and Megan Hamilton, who will discuss management and return-to-play guidelines.
Renee Tuck, the sister of former AFL star Shane Tuck who was diagnosed with CTE after his death, will also provide a lived experience.
Along with the symposium GSMC has been undertaking SCAT5 preseason baseline concussion testing and has currently tested over 200 local level footballers at Geelong Amateurs, Newtown Chilwell, and Anakie Football club.
SCAT5 is a standardised tool used for evaluating suspected concussion post injury.
“This has been a movement driven by these clubs, who are now starting to see a need to provide a duty of care around concussion, and it’s been really pleasing to see action from the grassroots level,” Mr Jarman said.
Details: gsmc.net.au
