EU: Do More to Protect Athletes from Brain Injuries
- by: Kristi Arnold
- recipient: EU Directorate-General Education and Culture, Androulla Vassiliou
A recent Swedish study out about brain injuries in athletes showing that there needs to be better monitoring of players who have received concussions.
European team owners need to have better equipment available to determine if players need ongoing medical attention.
Researchers devised a blood test that could better diagnose sports-related brain injuries and prevent football, rugby and hockey players returning to the field in danger.
The method can show just an hour after a head injury how severe the concussion is, whether there is a risk of long-term symptoms, and when the player can return to the sport. Scientists found that having raised levels of a nerve cell protein called tau in the blood was a marker of concussion.
European football teams in particular need to protect athletes from brain injuries. The EU should require clubs to have the capability of this test on hand during all sporting events.
Tell the EU Directorate-General of Education and Culture, who oversees the Sports Unit, that this testing capability needs to be required for EU sporting clubs.
Dear Madam,
We the undersigned ask that you require EU sporting clubs to provide access to concussion testing at all events.
A recent Swedish study out about brain injuries in athletes showing that there needs to be better monitoring of players who have received concussions.
European team owners need to have better equipment available to determine if players need ongoing medical attention.
Researchers devised a blood test that could better diagnose sports-related brain injuries and prevent football, rugby and hockey players returning to the field in danger.
The method can show just an hour after a head injury how severe the concussion is, whether there is a risk of long-term symptoms, and when the player can return to the sport. Scientists found that having raised levels of a nerve cell protein called tau in the blood was a marker of concussion.
European football teams in particular need to protect athletes from brain injuries. The EU should require clubs to have the capability of this test on hand during all sporting events.
This testing capability needs to be required for EU sporting clubs.
