The Australian Sports Commission 2024 position statement on concussion recommends children and teenagers with concussion should be symptom-free for at least 21 days before returning to competition, according to new guidance with the tagline, “If in doubt, sit them out.”
It also suggests:
- Athletes resume light exercise after 24-48 hours of relative rest from cognitive and physical activities.
- Reviewing patients by day four post-concussion using the Sports Concussion Office Assessment Tool-6 (SCOAT6).
- The SCOAT6 includes a neurological exam, blood pressure measurements in the supine position and after standing, timed tandem gait and a cervical spine exam.
- Patients who have no symptoms for at least 14 days can then return to contact training, to ensure that they can demonstrate “clear capacity to perform all normal activities of daily living”.
- Only return to competition after 21 days of being symptom-free.
- Community sporting clubs and schools to introduce a “concussion officer”.
- Clinical review by physiotherapists is recommended for patients who fail to progress or have suspected vestibular and oculomotor impairments.