Doha, Qatar (May 04, 2013) – Specialists from Aspetar’s innovative National Sports Medicine Programme (NSMP) are in the process of rolling out updated “Concussion in Sport” guidelines for clubs, sports organisations, and federations across Qatar. Amongst the first in the world to do so, the guidelines, which were agreed upon at the 4th International Conference on Concussion in Sport, held in Zurich in November of 2012, feature an array of ground-breaking new findings designed to protect athletes. During the conference in Zurich, Aspetar experts played an active role in the decision making process together with 32 specialists from around the world. Consequently, after the new guidelines were announced, the rules were implemented across Qatar via the NSMP. The National Sports Medicine Programme (NSMP) is a pioneer programme in Qatar and the region. The first-of-its-kind initiative by Aspetar to guarantee international standards for medical care, treatment, and rehabilitation to sports clubs, federations, and athletes, the NSMP is also considered a class leading programme on an international level. To continue the momentum from November, Dr Paul McCrory, one of the editors of the consensus statement of the guidelines visited Aspetar in early March 2013 to host the first international presentation on the Concussion Guidelines. Described by some as the most significant sports medicine implementation issue of the decade, Dr McCrory discussed the new elements of concussions and their implications for athletes in Qatar, the GCC and internationally. Concussions are common brain injuries which have the potential to cause long term neurological damage if not dealt with appropriately. Important amendments to the guidelines include not allowing a player to return-to-play (RTP) should they have a concussion, or suspected concussion, and the need to be more cautious with children under the age of 15 , as their recuperation time is longer than adults. During official matches there are physicians that would take the decision regarding a suspected concussion. But it is crucial that other individuals can identify a concussion, should they be required. Sports Medicine specialists from Aspetar’s NSMP have been educating coaches, trainers, staff members, athletes, and referees and providing them with the specific know-how and resources to recognise the symptoms. One of the resources that can be used for side-line assessment diagnosis is the Sports Concussion Assessment Tool Version 3 (SCAT3), which incorporates the Standardised Assessment of Concussion, and is for physicians specifically. In addition, the Concussion Recognition Tool (CRT) is currently being developed for the general public, which, once completed, will be disseminated within the community. The guideline is the fourth revision of recommendations first developed in 2001 in Vienna, in a bid to recognise the importance of concussion and offer some guidance to healthcare professionals on the most important aspect of treating the condition—the timing of return-to-play. The next review will be held in 2015. The consensus statement was published in the February 2013 in the ‘Injury Prevention and Health Protection’ issue of the British Journal of Sports Medicine, whose editor-in-chief, Prof Karim Khan, is also the Director of the Research and Education Centre at Aspetar. According to Prof Khan,

“Aspetar is an active contributor to the world of sport medicine and sport medicine research and not merely a customer”.

“Having doctors from Aspetar present in Zurich, puts Qatar at an advantage where we not only have front line exposure to valuable information, but we also have the ability to distribute this information before most clubs in the world,” said Prof Khan. The new guidelines are endorsed by internationally-recognised sport groups such as Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA), International Olympic Commission (IOC), and the International Ice Hockey Federation.