Important Information on Athletics and Medical Protocol

As you might be aware, concussions recently have been a “hot” topic in the mainstream media. High-profile National Football League and college players such as Ben Roethlisberger, Tim Tebow, and Kurt Warner have missed important games due to concussions, while others have been speaking out about the debilitating effects of their concussions.

In response to the concern about concussions at all levels, the Hawai‘i Athletic Trainers Association, the Far West Athletic Trainers Association, and the National Athletic Trainers Association recently held several high-profile concussion conferences. The resulting recommendations will completely change concussion management, with the general consensus being to use multiple objective tests in conjunction with current subjective/functional return to play protocols to create a more comprehensive picture of concussion.

While student athletes at Hawai‘i Preparatory Academy suffer far fewer and less serious concussions, the school remains vigilant in protecting our students’ health and safety.

Prior to the start of this fall’s sports season, the Athletic Department at Hawai‘i Preparatory Academy will use ImPACT (impacttest.com) to baseline all students playing football. After the school year begins, we will establish and announce a baseline testing schedule for winter and spring contact sports.

ImPACT provides computerized neurocognitive assessment tools and services that are used by coaches, athletic trainers, doctors, and other health professionals to assist them in determining an athlete's fitness to return to play after suffering a concussion. ImPACT currently is used by the NFL, NHL, MLB, NBA, MLS, U.S. Olympic Training Center, and many more leagues and teams. At HPA, we also will use ImPACT for post-concussion management.

In addition to baseline testing, effective immediately, the Athletic Department at Hawai‘i Preparatory Academy is adopting the following concussion management protocol. All HPA faculty members and coaches will follow this protocol:

Acute Management:

   When an athlete shows any signs or symptoms of a concussion:

1. The athlete will not be allowed to return to play in the current practice or game.
2. The athlete will not be left alone and regular monitoring (by the school’s athletic trainer) for deterioration is essential.
3. The athlete will be medically evaluated by a physician following the injury.
4. Return to play criteria will follow a medically-supervised, stepwise process.

Return to Play Criteria:

1. No activity, compete rest. Once asymptomatic, proceed to the next step.
2. One or more of these objective exams will be used on a case-by-case basis: ImPACT, Graded Symptom Checklist (GSC), Standardized Assessment of Concussion (SAC), Balance Error Scoring System (BESS), Sport Concussion Assessment Tool 2 (SCAT2).
3. Light aerobic exercise, such as walking or stationary biking.
4. Sports-specific training (e.g., jogging, running).
5. Non-contact position specific drills.
6. Full contact after medically cleared by physician AND HPA’s athletic trainer using all available data.
7. Return to full contact with no restrictions.

This protocol reflects the most current information we have available; this new standard of care is similar to what will be required of elite and professional athletes. Essentially, there will be NO same-day return to play following a concussion. Post-concussion management will follow a step-by-step return to play criteria where ALL steps must be followed.

If you have any questions, or would like more information, please contact HPA Athletic Trainer Scott Oshiro at 808-881-4061 (e-mail: soshiro@hpa.edu). For additional information about concussions and the new standard of care, visit: www.cdc.gov/concussion/HeadsUp/youth.html