Management of brain injury in non-elite field hockey and Australian football – a qualitative study

Abstract

This study aimed to assess the current understanding of brain injury in sport and to identify existing management and return-to-play guidelines associated with mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI) in non-elite field hockey and Australian Rules football in Western Australia. In-depth interviews were conducted with key injury management personnel in non-elite field hockey and Australian football in Western Australia. None of the 20 clubs surveyed followed a standardised procedure for the management of head and brain injury in their team or sport. Findings from the study indicate that the management of head and brain injury was variable, subjective in nature, and that there were no evidence-based guidelines available for the management of mTBI to any of the respondents in this study.