Conversations around concussions are more frequent than ever.
It’s a health and social movement that’s breaking down previous stigma in sport.
“If you got hit in a hockey game 10 or 15 years ago, you’d get right back onto the ice because it was a sign of toughness,” said Darren Cossar, the executive director for Hockey Nova Scotia.
Physical impact is a reality of many sports and it takes a toll on athletes’ bodies and sometimes their mental state.
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That’s why more and more governing bodies of individual sports, like rugby, are expanding their access to concussion information.
Rugby Canada now has an online program called PlaySmart that’s dedicated to educating anyone connected to the game.
“Instead of hiding away from the seriousness of the issue, it’s being put to the forefront. This website offers guidelines for all stakeholders, players, parents, referees, coaches,” said Jack Hanratty, provincial coach of Rugby Nova Scotia.
It’s not the only organization, however, providing online information on this type of brain injury to all Nova Scotians.
Through the help of medical professionals in the neuroscience community, Concussion Nova Scotia has launched a new website aimed at connecting people to valuable information.
“The big issue now is the number of people out there with concussions. Some people I’ve spoken with have called this an epidemic,” said Dr. Kevin Gordon, a pediatric neurologist at the IWK Health Centre.
He said the goal of the site is to have a central location where people can go for frequently asked questions and information on recovery.
“The bottom line is if you suspect you’ve had a concussion, stop playing and go get assessed,” he said. “There’s still some argument around how much exercise and rest you should have, my message is simple, if your headache worsens because of what you’re doing, you’re doing too much.”
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