@article{ref1,
title="The nature and duration of acute concussive symptoms in Australian football",
journal="Clinical journal of sport medicine",
year="2000",
author="McCrory, P. R. and Ariens, T. and Berkovic, S. F.",
volume="10",
number="4",
pages="235-238",
abstract="OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this pilot study was to document the nature and temporal profile of the clinical symptoms of acute sport-related concussion. <br><br>DESIGN: Prospective cohort study PATIENT POPULATION: A total of 303 elite Australian football players participating in a national competition during a single season. OUTCOME MEASURES: Number and duration of symptoms, digit symbol substitution test (DSST) scores, time of return to play post injury. <br><br>RESULTS: A total of 23 concussions were recorded over the course of the 20-week football season. No catastrophic head injuries occurred. Headache was the most common symptom and the most persistent, with 40% of players reporting headache symptoms lasting more than 15 minutes. Ten of the players (43%) returned to sport on the day of the injury with the remainder resuming play within 2 weeks. A low likelihood of return to play on the day of injury was found where 3 or more symptoms were present or where the symptoms lasted more than 15 minutes. These findings were significantly correlated with poor DSST performance. <br><br>CONCLUSIONS: This pilot study suggests that both the number of postconcussive symptoms and their duration may be used as a measure of injury severity and a guide for return to play.<p /><p>Language: en</p>",
language="en",
issn="1050-642X",
doi="",
url="http://dx.doi.org/"
}