{"id":6602,"date":"2015-12-30T05:54:19","date_gmt":"2015-12-30T04:54:19","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blogs.bmj.com\/bjsm\/?p=6602"},"modified":"2015-12-30T05:54:19","modified_gmt":"2015-12-30T04:54:19","slug":"undergrad-intro-to-sports-medicine-in-ireland-semsep-by-fsem_irl-concussion-seminar-highlights-and-upcoming-courses","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.bmj.com\/bjsm\/2015\/12\/30\/undergrad-intro-to-sports-medicine-in-ireland-semsep-by-fsem_irl-concussion-seminar-highlights-and-upcoming-courses\/","title":{"rendered":"Undergrad intro to Sports Medicine in Ireland, #SEMSEP by @FSEM_IRL: Concussion seminar highlights, and upcoming courses"},"content":{"rendered":"

Undergraduate perspective on Sports & Exercise Medicine<\/span> \u2013<\/span><\/em><\/strong>\u00a0a BJSM blog series<\/em><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Fiachra Maguire\u00a0<\/em><\/strong>@Fiachra_Maguire<\/a><\/p>\n

The Faculty of Sports and Exercise Medicine in Ireland (@FSEM_IRL<\/a>) began their 3rd successive Structured Educational Programme (#SEMSEP<\/a>) this past November. The #SEMSEP<\/a> is comprised of 4 half-day seminars on current topics. Two seminars took place in 2015 (the first on Concussions and the second on Cardiology in Sport).<\/p>\n

\"concussionsWhat can you expect from this education? As one example, we summarize the highlights from the 2015 session on concussions<\/strong><\/p>\n

Concussions have recently been a top focus for sports physicians and the general public alike. Following the rugby world cup, but prior to an upcoming Hollywood film, and an international consensus conference on concussion, @FSEM_IRL<\/a> began their educational programme on this topic.<\/p>\n

Dr. John Ryan<\/em><\/strong> (@ryanjtw<\/a>), Associate Professor in Emergency Medicine and Leinster Rugby team doctor, began the morning by describing his experience running a concussion clinic and return-to-play for athletes. Professor Michael Molloy<\/em> spoke from personal and clinical perspective in rugby, highlighting the change in the biomechanics at the ruck and greater transfer of force. He also echoed calls for weight\/size based stratification of players versus age based approach and the potential for jersey design where a delineation exists between the area considered a high tackle, in order to minimise the risk of head injury.<\/p>\n

Dr. Adrian McGoldrick<\/em><\/strong>, CMO of the Irish Turf Club, spoke from his extensive experience in horse racing. He described atypical head injuries resulting from a torsional (twisting) force being exerted using the case of an ejected jockey. Commenting on the potential relationship with regards Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy (CTE), he noted the absence of a large group of former jockeys presenting with characteristic symptoms despite the highest reported incidence in the literature.<\/p>\n

A short discussion followed where Medical Director of the IRFU, Dr. Rod McLoughlin<\/em>, addressed a common misunderstanding of the Head Injury Assessment protocol. He described the \u2018sports issue\u2019 of recognizing a suspected head injury and removing the player from play. Whilst SCAT3, mobile applications and potential pitch side biomarkers can be useful in acquiring that suspicion, they should not be used to justify a return to play or out-rule an existing suspicion. The \u2018medical issue\u2019 of diagnosis and management of a player who has suffered a head injury can proceed later.<\/p>\n

The post coffee-break session began with Dr. Colin Doherty <\/em>(@gastaut<\/a>) introducing a new Dublin based Concussion Research Interest Group. Dr. Eugene Wallace<\/em> provided a description of the neuro-metabolic cascade following concussion and the concerns over \u2018test-retest reliability\u2019 in existing biomarkers. He reminded the audience of the many confounding factors within the former NFL players as a study cohort, not least common opioid use and rates of depression\/poor literacy. Dr. Niall Pender<\/em>, touched on the potential psychosocial factors in concussion and suggested a changed in vernacular. The use of the term \u2018mild Traumatic Brain Injury\u2019 in place of concussion has it\u2019s advantages, not least, a previously established relationship with dementia. Dr. Matthew Campbell <\/em>(@mattcampbelltcd<\/a>) revisited the fundamental physiology, considering the delicate relationship between vascular supply to the brain, the blood brain barrier and the potential role of claudin-5 protein. Professor Jim Meaney<\/em> concluded the afternoon with a review of the medical imaging technologies with a potential to be utilised in concussion.<\/p>\n

The session was a fantastic educational tool for all levels of healthcare professional and students. In providing clear, up-to-date, expert led information; @FSEM_IRL<\/a> is pre-eminently working towards some of the recommendations set out by Mrazik et al.\u2019<\/em>s recent review of concussion education<\/a> in the fresh edition of the BJSM.<\/p>\n

Looking forward to the 2016 Educational Programme<\/strong><\/p>\n

The\u00a0high caliber of instruction and discussion will continue into\u00a0the seminars we have lined up for 2016:<\/p>\n