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HMRI to host free online seminar on sports concussion

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Parents, grandparents, coaches and athletes will be able to obtain the latest evidence on sports concussion via an online Hunter Medical Research Institute (HMRI) community seminar this week.

Local clinical neuropsychologist and researcher Associate Professor Andrew Gardner and former National Rugby League star Martin Lang will also provide practical information – on Thursday 16 September between 6pm and 7pm – to help people to better recognise the signs and symptoms associated with head knocks through to how and when to gradually return to play.

The ex-NRL star, who played 176 first grade matches as well as three State of Origin Series for Queensland, suffered multiple concussions during his nine-year career.

Associate Professor Gardner said there was an ongoing awareness and the need for continued education about sport-related concussion in professional athletes as well as kids playing organised sport on a weekend.

“While most concussions resolve without issue, complications can occur when concussion signs and symptoms are not recognised and managed appropriately,” he explained.

“The evidence shows it is really important to immediately remove an athlete from play following a suspected concussion and for a thorough medical follow-up and management process to occur.

“With sports concussion, we need to recognise, remove and refer.”

The community seminar is free to join via Zoom and Facebook Live.

People can register at https://hmri.org.au/events/recognise-remove-and-refer-protecting-players-and-managing-concussion-adult-and-children to receive links.

Associate Professor Gardner is a research fellow at the University of Newcastle and HMRI.

He’s also co-lead of the Hunter New England Sports Concussion Clinic, and executive committee member for the Priority Research Centre for Stroke and Brain Injury, a member of the World Rugby Concussion working group and a concussion consultant to Rugby Australia.

The recipient of the 2020 HMRI Early Career Research Award, he is the principal investigator on one of the world’s largest research programs examining the brain health of retired professional collision sport athletes.

People wishing to support HMRI’s clinical research can do so via www.hmri.org.au/donate-sports-concussion-research

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