Concussions in fights are inevitable. Concussions in training are preventable. That is the sensible premise of a recent article published in the Journal of Combat Sports Medicine calling for reform in the prevalence of head trauma combat sports athletes expose themselves to when training for competition.
Ringside doctors make suggestions on avoiding brain injury in sparring
In the recent article, titled Safe Sparring Protocol: Reducing Head Impact Exposures During Training in Combat Sport, the physician authors note that it is widely believed that the vast majority of concussive and sub-concussive blows combat sports athletes are exposed to occur in training. They call on all stakeholders in the industry to adopt reforms to reduce if not all but eliminate brain trauma from training for the good of the long-term health of athletes.
Among the recommendations made are things as simple as education for all involved about the realities of brain trauma with the author noting as follows:
It is recommended that all members of the training camp be educated about concussion identification and management. This especially includes the combatant. It is also recommended that the head trainer and coach take a formal training course in concussion recognition and management such as the Heads-Up Online Concussion Training Certification Course for Coaches, developed by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Symptoms of mild concussion are predominantly subjective with little to no objective signs. Headache, blurred vision, light and sound sensitivity, nausea, brain fog, attention or concentration difficulty, unsteadiness on feet after a HIE are all signs of concussion. Such a combatant should not be allowed to proceed with training and should be evaluated by a medical professional. If a concussion is documented, a period of cognitive and physical rest is advised. Once the acute post-concussion symptoms have abated, a return-to-fighting protocol is initiated.3 Sparring can resume after medical clearance by the physician.
In addition to education, the authors publish proposed guidelines based on their collective observations but call on all stakeholders to review them and help create evidence-based standardized guidelines finding a balance between proper fight preparation while minimizing brain harm to athletes.
