Innovative concussion treatment comes to the west of Ireland
UPMC, an international not-for-profit healthcare company, has announced the launch of its comprehensive model of concussion care in Mayo and Galway following a nationwide tour of the country by UPMC’s concussion experts in early November.
Concussion is an increasingly prevalent concern in Irish sport, particularly for young people whose brains are still undergoing neurological development.
During the recent speaking tour for the UPMC Concussion Network, launched in June, local clinicians heard from UPMC clinical leads Drs. Niamh Lynch, Enda Devitt and Sean Moffatt on the latest research and best practices for treating concussions. This included discussion of innovative ImPACT testing, in which patients undergo a 20-minute baseline test to measure neurocognitive function, such as brain processing, reaction time, memory and visual motor skills.
UPMC concussion care and treatment will be provided through a growing national network of specially trained clinicians, including Dr. Moffatt at the Mayo Sports Clinic and Ballina Medical Centre, Dr. Devitt at the Whitehall Medical Centre, Galway, and at the Bon Secours Hospital Physiotherapy Department, Galway.
Dr. Moffatt, who is team doctor to Mayo GAA, said: “Concussion is the most common form of brain injury and there is increasing awareness of its serious long-term effects across Irish sport and society. The UPMC Concussion Network is enabling us to bring the most advanced assessment and treatment methods to Ireland, and it was great to be able to share this knowledge with clinicians in Galway and Mayo.”
Dr. Devitt, clinical lead of the UPMC Nationwide Concussion Network and team doctor to Galway GAA, said: “It was great to meet with clinicians from across the area to spread the word about how we can best treat and prevent concussion. We’re looking forward to rolling out this new form of testing across Mayo and Galway, and indeed across the whole country, and continuing to promote awareness of the signs and symptoms of concussion.”
Dr. Michael Collins, director of the UPMC Sports Medicine Concussion Program, added: “After talking to doctors, physiotherapists, school nurses and others across Ireland and here in Galway, it’s clear to us that Ireland is struggling to care for patients with the same kind of injuries that we see in the US.
“Concussion crosses sporting boundaries and is just as much a risk to GAA and soccer players as it is to rugby players. The large numbers of clinicians who turned out for our Galway workshop is testament to the need to continue promoting the use of baseline testing as a first step to providing the best concussion treatment possible.”
The concussion care offered by UPMC Concussion Network physicians includes a complete clinical history examination, VOMS assessment and neuro-cognitive ImPACT testing, allowing physicians to categorise concussion subtypes and tailor specific physiotherapy and rehabilitation programmes.