Concussion In Elite Sport: Do Teams Really Put Player Welfare First?

In this episode we look at two examples of head injuries from elite sport. The first was taken from Ajax v Arsenal Womens Champions League match. There was a head to head contact between Beth Mead and an Ajax defender. Beth Mead was knocked to the floor and was attended quickly by the members of the Arsenal medical team. Time was taken to assess her on the pitch before removing her from the field of play and escorting her to the dressing room. Here I assume she was taken through a full concussion assessment.  The Arsenal head coach asked to make a concussion substitution, even though they had already used all of their substitutions, as is regulation in the English Womens Super League. This request was denied as this is not a rule in European club competitions. How can you potentially put pressure on a player to return to the field of play with a potential traumatic brain injury? Surely if we know this is a good idea in one major league, it should be made available to all levels of competition? In my opinion Arsenal dealt with this case in an exemplary fashion.  The second example involved star quarterback Tua Tagovailoa playing for the Miami Dolphins. In his week 3 match up with the Buffalo Bills he hit his head on the turf in a fairly inoccuous looking fall, however, he appeared unsteady on his feet before almost collapsing after a few steps. He was removed from the field by medical staff and taken to the dressing room for concussion assessment. Surprisingly he was given the all clear by medical staff to return to the field for the 2nd half and played the rest of the game which they won.  All of the following week he didn't practice due to a 'back injury' prior to the Thursday night game against the Cincinatti Bengals. A period of time that would have made it impossible to clear concussion protocols IF an injury designation of concussion had been made.  Tua played and in one play was slammed down onto the playing surface resulting in immediate spasm of his fingers and hands - an observable sign that a traumatic brain injury (concussion) may have taken place. He lay on the field for a long time before being carted off on a spinal board with his neck securely strapped.  It was horrific to see, and it started a cascade of people joining the dots as to whether steps had been missed in order to get Tua back out on the field before he was ready to do so.  The decision should be made by the medical staff, not the player or coaching staff. Tua has run the risk of having second impact syndrome - a potentially fatal condition that can occur if a second concussive impact is sustained before they have fully recovered from the first.    Enjoy! See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.