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Sport Medicine Council of Alberta

Who We Are


Alberta Concussion Alliance (ACA) is a group of professionals in Alberta who have come together to provide strategic direction in our community, about the prevention of and safe recovery from sport and recreation-related concussions.




Vision

 Prevention and safe recovery of all concussions.


Mission

Alberta Concussion Alliance (ACA) will provide Albertans with easily accessible research driven concussion prevention and management practices that are simple and safe to use.


Audience

Community members, educators, employers, coaches, team staff, caregivers, and healthcare providers for Albertans 13 years and older who participate in or are involved in recreation and sporting activities.

 


Useful Websites:

  

Concussion Awareness Training Tool

The Concussion Awareness Training Tool (CATT) is a series of online educational modules and resources with the goal of standardizing concussion recognition, diagnosis, treatment, and management. 


Learn More



Parachute

Parachute is a national, charitable organization dedicated to preventing injuries and saving lives.


Learn More



Play Safe Initiative

Play safe supports the safe delivery of physical activity for both performance and health across the lifespan.


Learn More



Concussion Recommendation Strategy

Definition of a Concussion

ACA supports the definition of concussion from the 2016 Berlin Consensus Concussion statement on concussion in sport:


Sport related concussion [SRC] is a traumatic brain injury induced by biomechanical forces.  Several common features that may be utilized in clinically defining the nature of a concussive head injury include:1.


The Consensus Statement, 2016 describes the following four main features of concussion:


  1. SRC may be caused either by a direct blow to the head, face, neck or elsewhere on the body with an impulsive force transmitted to the head.

  2. SRC typically results in the rapid onset of short-lived impairment of neurological function that resolves spontaneously.  However, in some cases, signs and symptoms evolve over a number of minutes to hours.

  3. SRC may result in neuropathological changes, but the acute clinical signs and symptoms largely reflect a functional disturbance rather than a structural neuroimaging studies.

  4. SRC results in a range of clinical signs and symptoms that may or may not involve loss of consciousness.  Resolution of the clinical and cognitive features typically follows a sequential course.  However, in some cases symptoms may be prolonged

Return to School

Concussion Awareness Training Tool


Centre for Childhood Disability Research

Online Courses

Parachute
Coach.ca



Videos:
Dr. Mike Evans
Concussion Management and Return to Learn

Dr. Mike Evans

Concussion 101





References:
  1. 1McCrory P, Meeuwisse W, Dvorak J, et al. Br J Sports Med Published Online First: April 28, 2017 as 10.1136/bjsports-2017-097699
  2. Parachute, Return to Play Guidelines. Retrieved from http://www.parachutecanada.org/downloads/resources/Returntoplayguidelines.pdf
  3. Concussion Awareness Training Tool (CATT), Return to Play Communication Tool. Retrieved from http://ppc.cattonline.com/resources/files/return-to-play.pdf
  4. Canadian Ethics in Sport, A. A., & Author, B. B. (Date of publication). An Active and Safe Program Resource. Retrieved from http://www.cces.ca/files/pdfs/CCES-Active&Safe-Pledge-E.pdf
  5. Harmon KG, Drezner JA, Gammons M, et al. American Medical Society for Sports Medicine Position Statement: Concussion in Sport. The British Journal of Sports Medicine, 2013 Jan;47(1):15-26. doi: 10.1136/bjsports-2012-091941.
  6. Purcell LK. (March 3, 2014)). Sport-related concussion: Evaluation and management. Canadian Paediatric Society Healthy Active Living and Sports Medicine Committee Paediatric Child Health 2014;19(3);153-8
  7. Dr. Garnet Cummings (2012), Brain Care Centre, Concussion Position Statement.
  8. ISO/DIS 31000 (2009). Risk management — Principles and guidelines on implementation. International Organization for Standardization.
  9. St. Luke’s Sport Medicine (2013). Idaho Concussion Management Plan. Retrieved from http://www.stlukesonline.org/sports/documents/IdahoConcussionManagementPlan.pdf
  10. Beaglehole, Bonita & Kjellstrom(2006), Basic Epidemiology. Retrieved from http://whqlibdoc.who.int/publications/2006/9241547073_eng.pdf
  11. Play Safe Initiative.ca, Play Safe Resources: Developing a Concussion Policy. Retrieved from http://www.playsafeinitiative.ca/uploads/3/0/6/4/3064403/play_safe_concussion_policy_guide_1014.pdf