Concussion information for Health Care Professionals

DIAGNOSIS AND MANAGEMENT OF CONCUSSION AT FEI EVENTS

Dear Colleague,
Welcome and thank you for visiting this page on concussion diagnosis and management at FEI events.
Concussion recognition and diagnosis can be a clinical challenge and it's essential that every healthcare professional involved in equestrian sport is familiar with the guidelines which form the basis of concussion care for every international and professional sport throughout the world. These guidelines are issued by the International Consensus Conference on Concussion in Sport, which takes place every four years. The latest edition of the Conference (6^th International Consensus Conference on Concussion in Sport) was held in Amsterdam on 27-28 October 2022. The organising federation for this conference was the International Olympic Committee (IOC). The sponsoring federations are the FEI, IOC, Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA), World Rugby (WR), International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF) and Fédération Internationale de l’Automobile (FIA), with a separate Scientific Committee coordinating the programme.
The purpose of this 6th edition of the Conference is twofold:
1. Present a summary of new evidence-based summaries that span the spectrum of concussion, from definition to initial management, investigations, treatment, return to play protocols, and prevention. An expert panel group reviewed the existing research and developed a consensus from the information presented at the meeting.
2. Reach an agreement amongst the expert panel on developing a Consensus Statement on Concussion in Sport. This document will then be used by physicians and healthcare professionals involved in the care of injured athletes at the recreational, elite or professional level.
The Consensus Statement from the 6th International Conference on Concussion in Sport will be released in the British Journal of Sport Medecine (BJSM) on 14 June 2023.

Since its inception in 2001, the Conference has become the main forum for concussion awareness and prevention in sport. It led to the publication of the first Sport Concussion Assessment Tool (SCAT) in 2005, which is in use by many sports leagues and federations today its current form, the SCAT5. The Consensus and the SCAT have formed the foundation based on which the majority of sports organisations have developed protocols with respect to concussion. The SCAT ranks as one of the most significant efforts by the sports medicine field to address concussion treatment and prevention.
The current SCAT (SCAT5) and related tools were published after 5^th International Consensus Conference on Concussion in Sport (Berlin, 2016) based on the conference Concussion Consensus Statement:

• SCAT 5 (Sport Concussion Assessment Tool), a tool designed to aid medical professionals determine whether an athlete is concussed. The Child SCAT 5 should be used for children aged between 5 and 12 years.
• CRT 5 (Concussion Recognition Tool), a tool designed to help lay persons recognize the signs and symptoms of concussion in order to take appropriate action

We strongly recommend that these vital tools are used when assessing athletes where concussion is suspected. For concussion management at FEI events please refer to the FEI Concussion Policy, which includes: 

• A protocol for Concussion Recognition and Management at FEI events
• Concussion Recognition Tool 5 (CRT5)
• Sport Concussion Assessment Tool 5 (SCAT5)
• Child SCAT5
• FEI Concussion Return To Play Form.

We also ask that medical colleagues recommend the CRT5 to non-medical professionals such as athletes, coaches and other officials. Please stress the importance of recognising concussion or suspected concussion so that correct medical advice is sought.
If you have any questions you are most welcome to contact us.

Best regards,
The FEI Medical Committee