FEI welcomes new consensus statement on Concussion in Sport

The highly anticipated Consensus Statement on Concussion in Sport has been released, following the successful conclusion of the 6^th International Consensus Conference on Concussion in Sport held in Amsterdam (NED) in October 2022.

Published in the British Journal of Sports Medicine (BJSM), the statement is informed by 10 systematic reviews and methodology outlining the new consensus process. This work was carried out by a group of more than 100 expert researchers and clinicians from around the world, who reviewed and synthesised new scientific evidence and updated existing recommendations with the aim of optimising the care of athletes at all levels of participation who have, or who are at risk of, concussion.

The statement includes a series of new (SCOAT6, Child SCOAT6) and updated (CRT6, SCAT6, Child SCAT6) age-appropriate tools for clinicians and sports organisations to help them better identify and manage sports related concussion in the short and longer term. It also features new evidence-based strategies for returning to active sport and education after concussion, early exercise and treatment recommendations, approaches to prevention, targeted rehabilitation, and a call for a working group to be set up to guide further research on the potential long-term effects of concussion on health. 

• Consensus statement on concussion in sport: the 6th International Conference on Concussion in Sport–Amsterdam, October 2022
• BMJ Press release: International expert panel revises management of concussion in sport

The FEI is a member of the Organising Committee for the 6^th International Consensus on Concussion in Sport, alongside the International Olympic Committee (IOC), Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA), International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF), World Rugby and Fédération Internationale d’Automobile (FIA). The role of the sports organisations is limited to funding, logistics and administration.

In light of the new recommendations, the FEI will conduct a comprehensive review of its existing protocols and policies, implement necessary changes to align with the latest scientific consensus, and ensure dissemination of this information to its stakeholders.