Pennsylvania Athletic Trainers’ Society member Jack Foley, LAT, ATC has spearheaded efforts at Lehigh University to assist student-athletes with sport-related concussions from an academic standpoint. These guidelines are intended to increase awareness by educating university administrators and professors how cognitive management following a concussion translates into academic management for student-athletes.
We have learned that physical rest alone fails to address another key component of brain function in young or college age athletes.
Despite a growing body of evidence-based research over the past decade regarding the management of sport-related concussions, the question often raised by many healthcare professionals in the clinical field pertains to return to participation procedures. Science has continued to evolve and multiple evaluation tools are now available, yet return to participation decisions remain largely in the realm of clinical judgment. Therefore, protocols for returning athletes to activity following a concussion can vary from setting to setting.
Although the concept of cognitive rest has been utilized by the Sports Medicine staff at Lehigh University for years, it was not until the recently a formal academic support protocol was adopted at the Bethlehem, Pennsylvania campus. Following a presentation he gave to the Patriot League Council of Presidents and Athletic Directors last December entitled “Concussion Management Plan: The Role of the Athletic Trainer”, Jack Foley was formally asked to establish Best Practice Guidelines for Cognitive Rest for students - athlete or not – to be utilized by each league institution. After much discussion and research, the idea was later expanded to include a second educational guide pertaining to Concussion Implications for the Classroom.
The process of addressing cognitive rest for student-athletes with a concussion requires synchronized communication between the Athletic Trainer and those responsible for providing academic support services. “These two documents have helped to streamline communication between athletics, academic support, and faculty through the use of consistent information,” indicates Katherine Lavinder, Associate Dean of Student at Lehigh University. “Through the development of this protocol, our response to academic concerns stemming from concussions has become more timely, appropriate, and generally beneficial to students."
Cheryl Ashcroft, Assistant Dean of Students for Academic Support Services, adds, "The protocol for student athletes with concussions has been a valuable tool for our office. Providing the symptoms in writing and a clear model on the concussion management process has given us the guidelines to assist our student-athletes. It is a highly cooperative process that is working well."
For more information regarding this topic or to schedule an interview with PATS President Yvette Ingram, PhD, LAT, ATC, please contact Tim Doane, MA, LAT, ATC at publicrelations@gopats.org.