In this week's Medical Podcast, we are talking with Dr Andrew Jackson about his recent trip to Clive Woodward's international rugby camp in the French Alps, where he stayed as an on-site doctor. Dr Jackson was on-duty during pitch-side training and for the wider academy to provide initial minor illness assessments.
If you are a parent of a child, or you yourself are someone that engages in high-level sport, it may be good to understand what types of injuries could occur and how doctors should help you with correct initial diagnosis and then the treatment pathway.
What types of injuries occur at high level sport?
Dr Jackson mentions that those engaging in high-level sports, especially contact sports like rugby, can be prone to an array of musculoskeletal injuries. These include:
Ankle fractures
Ligament fractures
Shoulder injuries
Head injuries that could result in concussions
These injuries require careful and immediate support, which was made possible by Dr Jackson on this particular trip. Having recently completed his biannual course on pre-hospital immediate care in sport, he understands how critical it is to immediately treat injuries in sport and take precautions to protect players from further injury.
One of the injuries that requires immediate attention is a concussion, for which different types of symptoms can appear.
How do you know if someone has a concussion?
Head injuries are common in sport, and some can lead to concussions, which can be difficult to diagnose. However, in recent times there has been much progression in our ability to treat a concussion and protect sports players from further injury. As attendees of this rugby camp were under 19, the first step was to remove them immediately from the pitch so Dr Jackson could undertake a careful assessment.
Symptoms of concussions are split into Criteria One and Two. Criteria One involves serious symptoms such as:
Loss of consciousness
Suspected loss of consciousness
Imbalance
An individual being dazed
Convulsion or seizure activity
Criteria Two involves sets of symptoms and signs. These appear less seriously, and include:
Headache
Loss of memory (amnesia)
Confusion
Dr Jackson and sports-related injuries
Given his extensive training, Dr Jackson is able to provide diagnosis and treatment for concussions and other sports-related injuries.
Dr Andrew Jackson, whose expertise includes general health, sports and exercise medicine and minor surgery, joins us this week on our Medical Post.
Dr Andrew Jackson, whose expertise includes general health, sports and exercise medicine and minor surgery, joins us this week on our Medical Post.
You can listen to the full podcast with Dr Andrew Jackson, discussing contact sports and injuries like concussion, on the link below.
A musculoskeletal examination to discuss your joints and injuries can be booked online using the link below.
Please bring with you any recent results such as X-Rays, Scans or blood tests as this may allow a speedier diagnosis and treatment plan.
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