Wichita State Athletics

 

WSU-ICAA CONCUSSION MANAGEMENT PLAN

 

1. All WSU-ICAA student-athletes will have pre-participation concussion baseline testing for each sport in which they participate prior to participating in practice or competition. This pre-participation testing may include, but is not limited to: (1) History of concussion or brain injury, neurological disorder, and mental health symptoms and disorders, (2) Symptom evaluation via Symptom Score Card, (3) Physical, Neurological, Cognitive, and Balance assessment via the Modified SCAT 5 baseline instrument. A Team Physician with concussion experience will determine final clearance based on medical history and physical examination. This information is utilized for comparison should a student-athlete sustain a concussion. 
2. For initial suspected concussion evaluation, the student-athlete will be safely removed and promptly evaluated by the WSU-ICAA Sports Medicine Staff with concussion management experience. Initial assessments will include a physical, neurological, and cognitive assessment. A Modified SCAT 5 Assessment will also be performed to identify potential signs of concussion and given to Team Physician for further evaluation.
3. Following initial evaluation, WSU-ICAA Sports Medicine Staff with concussion management experience will determine the course of treatment and whether further immediate referral is needed. If suspected concussion is confirmed, the student-athlete will not return to athletic activities (practice, competition, weight-lifting and conditioning) for the remainder of the calendar day. A student-athlete may only return to play the same day if a Team Physician determines that there is no diagnosis of concussion or that concussion is no longer suspected.
4. The student-athlete will be educated regarding concussion plan of care and will be held out of all athletic activities (practice, competition, weight lifting and conditioning) until cleared by a Team Physician.
5. Should the student-athlete need academic modifications due to injury, the WSU-ICAA Sports Medicine Staff will notify an academic student services representative and a return-to-learn form outlining necessary modifications will be issued. The return-to-learn concept follows an individualized step-wise process overseen by a Team Physician in conjunction with a multidisciplinary team.
6. Clearance for return-to-play resides solely with the Team Physician. The student-athlete is taken through the Symptom Score Card daily until they return to baseline level of symptoms, at which that time they are reassessed utilizing the Modified SCAT 5 assessment instrument.
7. Once determined that the student-athlete has returned to baseline level of symptoms, cognitive function, and balance, and has been medically cleared by a Team Physician, a supervised, graduated return-to-play protocol will be determined by the WSU-ICAA Sports Medicine Staff and Team Physician and will be followed as referenced in the Consensus Statement on Concussion in Sport, Berlin, 2016.

NCAA Sport-Related Concussion Guideline

Fact Sheet for the Student-Athlete

Fact Sheet for the Coach

Concussion Awareness - Informational Video