FINALS season is a good time to reflect on how sports-related concussions and the associated long-term disability can be prevented so more people keep playing, Australia's peak body for public health stated.
Reducing damage to the brains of current and future generations of aspiring sporting stars will help families encourage children to play healthy, active sports for longer, the Public Health Association of Australia (PHAA) said, following the tabling last week of a Senate inquiry into concussions and repeated head trauma in contact sports.
"While the focus might be on the impact on high profile contact sport heroes under pressure to stay on the field for their team's glory, those cases are the tip of the iceberg," said PHAA CEO, Adj/Prof Terry Slevin.
"Changing how professional sport is played and managed, with a focus on preventing concussion, will flow down to the grassroots.
"With over 500k registered AFL players, 276k rugby league players and 230k rugby union players, and more women playing such codes, contact sport is on the rise.
"So too may be the prospect of greater long-term damage due to concussion," Slevin said.
"Therefore it's imperative to ensure the best preventive interventions are in place to ensure fewer people get hurt."
The above article was sent to subscribers in Pharmacy Daily's issue from 11 Sep 23
To see the full newsletter, see the embedded issue below or CLICK HERE to download Pharmacy Daily from 11 Sep 23
