MONTREAL - Not long ago, concussion victims received relatively little care or treatment.
That neglect, unfortunately, extended to schools.
“In the past, students would suffer from concussion and we would get a simple little note from the hospital saying ‘no sports for two weeks.’ Now, we get weekly updates, or daily updates,” said Jean-François Quirion Coordinator at John Rennie High School.
That new attention is partly due to an innovative program called React Canada launched by physiotherapist Ronny Varga.
The program monitors, assesses and tests students who suffered brain injury, a process which starts with baseline examinations taken while the student is in a state of health, whichs allow easier detection of concussions suffered later.
“I've seen my share of concussions, I have had my share of concussions and I have seen a lot of concussions that were not managed properly at all,” said Varga.
Varga educates student athletes, their parents, and coaches.
“We teach the kids to be independent with their concussion, which is their key to success. Basically we teach them their limitations and their goals to set for the week,” said Varga.
Dr. Scott Delaney of the MUHC also offers medical guidance to React Canada.
He says programs like this one give amateur athletes the kind of care they would receive at the professional level.
“I think it is a great addition to the concussion problem of introducing qualified professionals who can help diagnose, guide and return to play the student athlete, when it's very often difficult to see a physician for all three steps,” said Delaney.
