E. Jane Watkinson

Incidence of concussion in contact sports: a systematic review of the evidence

Primary objective: To estimate incidence of concussion in contact sports. Research design: Systematic review of the literature on concussion in contact sports. Methods and procedures: MEDLINE was searched from 1985–2000. Older articles cited in retrieved articles were also reviewed. Articles meeting the inclusion/exclusion criteria were critically appraised for methodologic quality. The incidence of concussion was recalculated in some cases. Results: Twenty-three out of 63 identified articles were accepted to estimate the risk of concussion. Overall, ice hockey and rugby have the highest incidence of concussion and soccer has the lowest. Male boxers and female taekwondo participants have the highest frequency of concussion at the recreational level. Conclusions: There are few good studies on the incidence of concussion and limited information on the risk of concussion for females in contact sports. Some common methodological problems were also identified in this literature with the hope of improving future studies.

Video analysis of head blows leading to concussion in competition Taekwondo

Primary objectives: To analyse the situational and contextual factors surrounding concussions and head blows in Taekwondo. Methods and procedures: Prospective design. Direct observation, subject interview and videotape recording used. A total of 2328 competitors participated in the 2001 tournament, South Korea. All matches were recorded on videotape. All recipients of head blows were interviewed by athletic therapists and the researcher immediately after the match. The videotapes of concussions and head blows were analysed. Results: A total of 1009 head blows including concussions were analysed. Head blows and concussions were most evident when the attacker was situated in a closed stance and received a single roundhouse kick. The most frequent anatomical site of the head impact was the temporal region. Conclusions: The frequency of head blows and concussions is high in Taekwondo. Development of blocking skills, safety education, rigorous enforcement of the competition rules and improvement of head-gear are recommended.

The Medallion Program: Using the Generic Sport Model to Train Athletes with Mental Disabilities

Abstract Through this program, Special Olympians are provided the opportunity to engage in sport-specific training at the level required to improve athletic performance. Through this program, Special Olympians are provided the opportunity to engage in sport-specific training at the level required to improve athletic performance.