Publications by authors named "Ruben Echemendia"
Background: Data obtained from the National Hockey League (NHL) have shown that a risk prediction model, including both visible signs and mechanisms of injury, improves the identification of possible concussion. However, only about half of concussions diagnosed by club medical staff in the NHL exhibit visible signs. At present, the NHL concussion spotter protocol does not include central league spotters' subjective judgments of the severity of forces associated with a direct hit to the head (perceived force severity [PFS]) or whether players brace before a hit (bracing).
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground: The identification of concussion risk factors, such as visible signs and mechanisms of injury, improves concussion identification. Exploring individual risk factors, such as concussion history, may help to improve existing concussion risk models and algorithms.
Objectives: The primary aim of the current study was to use machine learning techniques to develop a comprehensive, prospectively coded concussion risk model in professional hockey among players exhibiting visible signs.
Context: Understanding former professional football players engagement with health promoting behaviors (physical exercise, high quality diet, and good sleep hygiene) will be helpful for developing lifestyle interventions to improve their feelings of well-being, a relatively understudied facet of health among this population.
Objective: Examine associations among health-promoting behaviors and subjective outcomes related to well-being among former National Football League (NFL) players.
Design: Cross-sectional.
Previous studies on pain experiences in retired contract sport athletes have been cross-sectional, leaving gaps in our understanding of the evolution of pain interference (PI) and factors that influence trajectories decades after sport discontinuation. This study investigated the longitudinal course of PI in former male National Football League (NFL) players over a 19-year period following sport discontinuation and examined factors influencing overall levels and trajectories of PI. Former NFL players completed health surveys in 2001, 2010, and 2019, with PI ratings measured using the 36-Item Short Form Health Survey (2001 and 2010) and the Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System (2019).
View Article and Find Full Text PDFArticle Synopsis
- - The 6th International Consensus Conference on Concussion in Sport, held in Amsterdam in 2022, focused on updated evidence and recommendations for managing sport-related concussions (SRC) in children and adolescents, emphasizing prevention strategies like mouthguard use and policy changes in sports.
- - The conference highlighted the importance of the Sport Concussion Assessment Tools (SCAT) for diagnosing concussions within the first 72 hours, and the development of comprehensive evaluation tools for longer-term assessments, known as SCOAT6 for different age groups.
- - Recommendations include early light physical activity instead of strict rest for recovery, targeted rehabilitation for persistent symptoms, and the recognition of varying impacts of SRC across diverse populations, while pointing out the limited utility of
Importance: A rule prohibiting a direct hit to the lateral side of the head (ie, Rule 48-Illegal Check to the Head) was introduced in the National Hockey League (NHL) in the 2010-2011 season and refined in the 2011-2012 season to widen the application to include direct contact to all areas of the head.
Objective: To compare the incidence and proportion of concussions that occurred following hits to the head before and after the implementation of Rule 48.
Design, Setting, And Participants: This retrospective cohort study used a before and after design to evaluate concussions among NHL players in regular season games.
Objective: Investigate the relationships between concussion history and years of football participation (repetitive head impact proxy) with alcohol use across multiple decades in former professional football players.
Methods: Participants (n = 348; mean age = 49.0 ± 9.
Purpose: Investigate the association between self-reported subjective and performance-based cognition among older (50-70 years) former professional American football players, as well as the relationship of cognitive measures with concussion history and years of football participation, as a proxy for repetitive head impact exposure.
Methods: Among older former National Football League (NFL) players ( N = 172; mean age = 60.69 ± 5.
Purpose: To perform a Delphi consensus for return to sports (RTS) following sports-related concussion (SRC).
Methods: Open-ended questions in rounds 1 and 2 were answered. The results of the first 2 rounds were used to develop a Likert-style questionnaire for round 3.
Purpose: To perform a Delphi consensus for on-field and pitch-side assessment of sports-related concussion (SRC).
Methods: Open-ended questions in rounds 1 and 2 were answered. The results of the first 2 rounds were used to develop a Likert-style questionnaire for round 3.
Article Synopsis
- - The review aimed to assess and improve the Sport Concussion Assessment Tool (SCAT6) by analyzing literature on the acute evaluation of sport-related concussions (SRC) from 2001 to 2022, focusing on different cognitive and physical assessments.
- - Out of over 12,000 articles screened, 612 were selected for analysis, covering various domains such as cognition, balance, and the use of emerging technologies, with a notable gap in data for pediatric groups.
- - Key findings indicated that the SCAT is effective within 72 hours of an injury but less reliable after that period, suggesting the need for more challenging tests, especially for cognitive assessments, to enhance its effectiveness and validity.
Article Synopsis
- The 6th International Conference on Concussion in Sport took place in Amsterdam from October 27-30, 2022, leading to a new consensus statement and updates on concussion protocols.
- In preparation, author groups conducted extensive systematic reviews over 3½ years on key concussion-related topics, informing the conference discussions and outcomes.
- The conference introduced revised tools like CRT6 and SCAT6, emphasized the importance of the para athlete's perspective, and highlighted gaps in research concerning concussion prevention and long-term effects.
The purpose of this paper is to summarise the consensus methodology that was used to inform the International Consensus Statement on Concussion in Sport (Amsterdam 2022). Building on a Delphi process to inform the questions and outcomes from the 5th International Conference on Concussion in Sport, the Scientific Committee identified key questions, the answers to which would help encapsulate the current science in sport-related concussion and help guide clinical practice. Over 3½ years, delayed by 2 years due to the pandemic, author groups conducted systematic reviews on each selected topic.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBeyond acute concussion assessment to office management: a systematic review informing the development of a Sport Concussion Office Assessment Tool (SCOAT6) for adults and children.
Br J Sports Med
June 2023
Article Synopsis
- The review aims to analyze existing research on assessing sport-related concussions (SRC) during the subacute phase (3-30 days) and to create a recommended tool called the Sport Concussion Office Assessment Tool (SCOAT6).
- The researchers reviewed 9,913 studies, finding 127 relevant studies that focused on various assessment techniques for SRC, emphasizing the importance of autonomic function, balance, and mental health evaluations.
- The conclusion suggests that current SRC assessments lack effectiveness beyond 72 hours, recommending a new multimodal assessment approach that includes physical, cognitive, and emotional evaluations, along with further studies to test their effectiveness.
Objective: Concern exists about possible problems with later-in-life brain health, such as cognitive impairment, mental health problems and neurological diseases, in former athletes. We examined the future risk for adverse health effects associated with sport-related concussion, or exposure to repetitive head impacts, in former athletes.
Design: Systematic review.