Repeated Concussion

[racers and royals]

Excellent letter in today`s Speedway Star from Godfrey Spargo(Barncooseboy) about the danger for a riders long term health because of repeated small concussion injuries. Food for thought ?

[Tsunami]

Excellent letter in today`s Speedway Star from Godfrey Spargo(Barncooseboy) about the danger for a riders long term health because of repeated small concussion injuries. Food for thought ?

Known quite a few riders who continued to ride, although it was obvious things were not quite right. Usually had a stare or a glazed look which was quite worrying that they were still riding.

[Ghostwalker]

It kind speaks for itself that it isn't good. Anton Rosén is one rider that have had problems with multiple concussions the past couple of seasons.

http://avestatidning.com/sport/1.2635512-kandes-som-att-jag-fick-motorn-i-huvudet

http://norrteljetidning.se/sport/1.2718174-anton-rosen-tillbaka-i-rospiggarna

 

It is also not uncommon in other sports like icehockey.

http://www.totalprosports.com/2011/09/01/13-nhl-careers-cut-short-by-concussions/

 

Eric Lindros is the most well known case of a plater who had to retire from the sport prematurely due to head problems caused by concussions.

 

 

He played 33 games with the Toronto Maple Leafs in 2005-06 and 39 games with the New York Rangers in 2003-04.

The 6-foot-4, 240-pound center won the Hart Trophy as the NHL's most valuable player in 1994-95 and the Lester B. Pearson Award as

the most outstanding player in the league as voted by the players.But concussions took their toll on his career. He missed all of the 2000-01 season

recovering from head injuries after a check from New Jersey's Scott Stevens in Game 7 of the 2000 Eastern Conference finals gave Lindros his sixth career concussion.

 

http://sports.espn.go.com/nhl/news/story?id=3097077

http://www.macleans.ca/society/concussions-the-untold-story/

http://thehockeywriters.com/interview-with-eric-lindros-on-his-career-concussions-winter-classic-reunion-rumors-more/

 

Of the current players, Sidney Crosby has also had problems with concussions;

 

"A timeline of Sidney Crosby's concussion and recovery"

http://www.nhl.com/ice/news.htm?id=587898

 

http://news.nationalpost.com/tag/sidney-crosby-concussion/

http://espn.go.com/nhl/story/_/id/7459581/sidney-crosby-concussion

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/sports/hockey/crosby-discusses-lengthy-recovery-road-from-concussions-safety-of-the-game/article14118504/

 

Although riders recover from concussions, one more hit could give them life long problems with headaches and such,

Edited January 29, 2015 by Ghostwalker

[f-s-p]

I was still in ice hockey when Lindros was having his problems. His biggest was that he did not "keep his head up", which led to all the problems. A MAJOR factor, even if you dont agree.

 

Comparing to speedway, we have riders buying the cheapest available and approved helmets. You can ask Kalle Katajisto how they hold together? This keeping in mind his BRIEF! spell for the Devils.

 

I would like to think speedway is a bit safer than hockey??? Comparing g-forces, amount of impacts and available protection. I could be wrong though, but the problem is real.

Edited January 29, 2015 by f-s-p

[falkirkbandit]

Interesting letter to read. As a Bandits fan, obviously the Ricky Ashworth situation is a sad one. But i've often wondered if the two slide offs he had in April 2013 didn't help. I was at both meetings. One at Ashfield, and two weeks later the British Semi Final at Armadale. Both were pretty heavy falls into the fence.

 

When he had his accident at Scunthorpe later that season, i've just often wondered if it was one bang to the head too many for him in such a short timeframe.

[dontforgetthefueltapsbruv]

Known quite a few riders who continued to ride, although it was obvious things were not quite right. Usually had a stare or a glazed look which was quite worrying that they were still riding.

Without wishing to devalue a serious and important topic but that description fits one or two that havent had a bang to the head! w

[dontforgetthefueltapsbruv]

Known quite a few riders who continued to ride, although it was obvious things were not quite right. Usually had a stare or a glazed look which was quite worrying that they were still riding.

Without wishing to devalue a serious and important topic but that description fits one or two that havent had a bang to the head! w

[robert72]

I know 2 ex-riders who suffer with constant migraines, we were chatting about it a few seasons ago when we saw a rider clout the ground with his head and took no further part in the meeting but rode 2 days later, everyone who rides a bike knows the risks but if a rider has concussion should the bspa make the rider sit out the next 14 days as a precaution ?

[The White Knight]

I know 2 ex-riders who suffer with constant migraines, we were chatting about it a few seasons ago when we saw a rider clout the ground with his head and took no further part in the meeting but rode 2 days later, everyone who rides a bike knows the risks but if a rider has concussion should the bspa make the rider sit out the next 14 days as a precaution ?

I thought you could not ride for Seven Days following a Concussion. I thought that was the Regulation.

[robert72]

I thought you could not ride for Seven Days following a Concussion. I thought that was the Regulation.

 

how many riders have had concussion but still rode a day or two after ?

[E I Addio]

All track medical officers are given an aide memoirs (also downloadable from the SCB website) which includes guidance on how to deal with concussion. This includes standard guidance applicable sports in general, not just speedway. Clearly there are varying degrees of concussion ranging from trivial to very serious.

 

If a rider suffers a head injury (or any other injury for that matter) the MO hast send an injured rider form to the ref and the meeting cannot continue until this is done. In the case of a head injury the form should include an assessment of the injury.

 

The point to bear in mind is that the track doctor is not responsible for the riders medical care apart from emergency treatment and first aid. That responsibility falls to the riders GP or hospital. When a rider signs on for a meeting he certifies he is fit to ride and one presumes that he has been cleared by those treating him, although the MO does have power to make him undergo an examination if he clearly seems unfit. The trouble is some riders are clearly casual about health matters but they are adults and you can't be behind them all the time.

[The White Knight]

 

how many riders have had concussion but still rode a day or two after ?

I don't know which is why I Posted my thoughts on the matter.

 

All track medical officers are given an aide memoirs (also downloadable from the SCB website) which includes guidance on how to deal with concussion. This includes standard guidance applicable sports in general, not just speedway. Clearly there are varying degrees of concussion ranging from trivial to very serious.

 

If a rider suffers a head injury (or any other injury for that matter) the MO hast send an injured rider form to the ref and the meeting cannot continue until this is done. In the case of a head injury the form should include an assessment of the injury.

 

The point to bear in mind is that the track doctor is not responsible for the riders medical care apart from emergency treatment and first aid. That responsibility falls to the riders GP or hospital. When a rider signs on for a meeting he certifies he is fit to ride and one presumes that he has been cleared by those treating him, although the MO does have power to make him undergo an examination if he clearly seems unfit. The trouble is some riders are clearly casual about health matters but they are adults and you can't be behind them all the time.

Thank you for that E I Addio - at least I know the position now.

[MrMungo]

 

how many riders have had concussion but still rode a day or two after ?

There are riders who have been concussed but still finished the meeting!

[Fourentee]

There are riders who have been concussed but still finished the meeting!

 

Absolutely. I know of one who deliberately concealed from the track doctor the fact that he had been briefly unconscious in a crash so that he would be allowed in the rerun.

[Mark]

I think licensed boxers have to have a brain scan each year to see if there has been any damage caused over the earlier 12 months. Prevention is better than cure.

[Vince]

I think this is something that a lot of people haven't taken seriously enough over the years, including myself.

 

Have seen concussed riders still racing many times and shrugged it off as being something that happens in motorcycle racing. With the benefit of hindsight it's something I now believe I got very wrong. Most times I am all for letting riders decide whether injuries are OK to ride with but anybody who is concussed isn't fit to make that decision and I now think those around them should be stopping them. I would also be in favour of a mandatory 14 day rest after any concussion and perhaps a longer spell if a rider is concussed twice within 30 days or something along those lines.

 

There was a radio programme about it on Tuesday that I've not had chance to listen to yet but it's available here http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b05102tf

[barncooseboy]

Thanks for the link to the Radio 4 programme. I think probably the most relevant phrase is the one where it is said that irrespective of which sport is involved a oncussion is a concussion and the item about footballer Geoff Astle who played in the days of often soaked and even frozen leather balls is both frightening and eye opening. A coroners ruling many years down the road that a death is related to someones empolyment as a speedway rider could have immense impact on the sport and measures should be put in place now to monitor both the short and long term effects of concussion in motorcycle sport.

[Red Panda]

Concussion is not the most pleasant thing I have experienced..............I got told afterwards I should have been signed off for a week and not gone back to my desk job after 3 days..............(bear in mind I had only been back at work for two weeks following shoulder surgery when it happened) this happened two months ago (I was getting into our van when I keeled over backwards and hit my head on the pavement............cut the back of my head and got carted off to hospital and kept in til 4.30 the following day as had to have a brain scan) and I still have light headed moments and dizziness now.............my GP went mad when he found out what happened............especially as there are other health issues in the background which could have been affected by it.............

 

Based on the fact I got told that for doing a desk job surely speedway riders should be given longer off a bike.............

 

RP

[Arson fire]

7 days is not long enough for someone with a minor head injury and probable post concussion syndrome to recover, riders should be checked ( and tested) by a qualified proff before given the all clear to start riding again, not just envoking a 7 day period of rest.... Its very dodgy ground.

[Triple.H.]

Didn't Tomas Topinka have 3 in around 18 months approx the difference was noticeable in his performances where he went from potential WC to a EL/PL standard rider though still bloody excellent on his day though they didn't come around as often as before. Remember David Tapp saying when he was riding in his Australian series how good and exciting he was. I would agree any rider who suffers a concussion needs clearance by a specialist before they can race again in any league in any country also including World Championship events.

Edited February 9, 2015 by Triple.H.