Student Blog 07: TREAT Sports-Related Concussion conference, by Laura Power.

My Background: I completed my BSc. Athletic Therapy and Training in Dublin City University, graduating in 2020. I went on to complete a PgDip. In Clinical Nutrition at the University of Aberdeen (Sept 2020-May 2022), while working both pitch-side and clinically in my own injury clinic in Kildare. I started my PhD at the University of Limerick in January 2024, researching Concussion in Rugby, in collaboration with the University of Pittsburgh Medical Centre (UPMC Ireland). My research will focus on amateur rugby in Ireland; the qualitative symptoms of concussion, recovery time duration and current treatments.

Laura Power attending the UPMC TREAT Sports-Related Concussion Converence in Pittsburgh, USA.

I recently attended the UPMC TREAT Sports-Related Concussion conference in Pittsburgh, USA. It was an enlightening weekend with a range of speakers; the focus being on concussion treatment and rehabilitation. The speakers discussed varied topics from identifying concussion clinical profiles (different categories of concussion based on what system has been affected), exertion therapy/return-to-play rehabilitation, emerging blood biomarkers and athlete clinical case studies. It was great to hear the blend of concussion research progress to-date, recently published literature, and ongoing projects which will undoubtedly advance the field in terms of proper injury management. What particularly stuck with me was the repetitive emphasis of treatment on concussion and returning to full health post-injury; it highlighted hope within what can sometimes seem like a dark area. Many of the clinicians promoted returning to everyday life as soon as possible following a sports-related concussion, instead of the traditional approach of cocooning and social isolation.

As part of the Irish Rugby Injury Surveillance (IRIS group) from the University of Limerick, I presented a poster titled ‘’Whole Body Injury and Time-Loss Following Sports Related Concussion in Irish Amateur Rugby Players Over A Competitive Season’’. It was brilliant to discuss the wonderful research IRIS has been doing over the past few years with the conference attendees and speakers alike. Contrary to other publications, we found no increased frequency of whole-body injury following concussion versus non-concussed athletes. However, the study highlighted increased recovery time following subsequent whole-body injury versus those who never sustained a concussion. For example. there was an average of 85 days lost for previously concussed athletes who later suffered a sprain injury, versus an average of 38 days lost for sprain injuries for those never concussed. This finding highlights the potential importance of proper concussion treatment and recovery, to help minimise future injury burden.

A key take-home for me is the progress in the quality of patient care, as a result of Sports-related Concussion research.
“Rest is best” following a concussive injury is a hard protocol to break, but it seems that complete rest is not best and may actually be hindering recovery.

Although the conference highlighted the progress in Sports-related Concussion research, it also highlighted the limitations, such as most of the research being conducted in North America. It has really motivated me to add to the body of literature from a different perspective (different country, different sport, different resources) and hopefully do my own part to progress athlete welfare forward in Ireland or other widely rugby-playing countries. I look forward to many more conferences in the future to learn even more about the field.

Poster Titles at Conference:

Power, L.C., Kenny, I.C., Mulvihill, J.J.E., Collins, M.W., Kontos, A.P. and Comyns, T.M. (2024) Whole body injury and time-loss following sports related concussion in Irish amateur Rugby players over a competitive season. Proceedings of the TREAT sport-related concussion Conference, 20-21 April 2024, Pittsburgh, USA.

Kenny, I.C., Power, L.C., Mulvihill, J.J.E., Collins, M.W., Kontos, A.P. and Comyns, T.M. (2024) Concussion Time-Loss Severity in Amateur Rugby Union. Proceedings of the TREAT sport-related concussion Conference, 20-21 April 2024, Pittsburgh, USA.

Laura Power – PhD student in Concussion in Rugby in the University of Limerick, in collaboration with UPMC. 

X - @LauraCPower1

LinkedIN - LauraCPower1