Open AccessPost-concussion return to boxing protocol
Author(s) -
Nabiea Parveen Sethi
Publication year - 2016
Publication title -
south african journal of sports medicine
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
eISSN - 2078-516X
pISSN - 1015-5163
DOI - 10.17159/2078-516x/2016/v28i2a1580
Subject(s) - concussion , football , medicine , league , protocol (science) , injury prevention , poison control , physical medicine and rehabilitation , physical therapy , medical emergency , alternative medicine , pathology , law , physics , astronomy , political science
Background: Concussion is a complex pathophysiological process affecting the brain, induced by traumatic biomechanical forces. Immediately following a concussion, an athlete is usually advised physical and cognitive rest until post-concussion symptoms abate. The athlete then enters a stepwise return-to-play protocol. Premature return to play risks a second concussion, second impact syndrome, exacerbation and persistence of post-concussive symptoms. Various sports governing organisations such as the National Football League have developed post-concussion return to play protocols.Discussion: Professional boxing is a popular contact sport in which concussions are common. Professional boxing currently lacks a standardised post-concussion return to boxing protocol. Professional boxers are arbitrarily suspended for periods ranging from 30 to 90 days after suffering a technical knockout (TKO) due to multiple head and body shots or after a knockout (KO). For some boxers a neurology clearance is requested prior to their return to boxing.Conclusion: Developing and implementing a post-concussion return to the boxing protocol will standardise a return to boxing decision-making process and help to protect a boxer’s health. This paper proposes a post-concussion return to boxing protocol with the recommendation that the proposed protocol be debated vigorously by the scientific community and evidence-based guidelines be developed by the medical community in conjunction with the professional boxing governing bodies.