Abstract

It is estimated that 1.6–3.8 million sports-related concussions occur annually in the United States. In professional American football, approximately 100–200 concussions occur each year during the regular season. A concussion is defined as a “complex pathophysiological process affecting the brain, induced by traumatic biomechanical forces.” To improve in the diagnosis and subsequent management of concussion in athletes in the National Football League (NFL), the NFL’s Head, Neck, and Spine Committee has developed standardized evidenced-based protocols. In addition, the NFL has implemented new rule changes directed at reducing the incidence of concussion, improving identification of concussion, and developing a safe return to play (RTP) procedure for concussed players. The NFL concussion guidelines outline requirements for preseason baseline testing, on-field identification and diagnosis of concussion, management of concussion, and RTP criteria.

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