Ringside Physicians propose stopping fights after signs of a concussion

[Threetrees]

https://www.bloodyelbow.com/2018/8/...-release-new-guidelines-cte-brain-health-news

Association of Ringside Physicians release new guidelines for concussion care in MMA and boxing


On July 26th the Association of Ringside Physicians (ARP), a non-profit and non-government organization of primarily fight doctors, released a consensus statement titled Concussion management in combat sports through the British Journal of Sports Medicine. The statement includes definitions and clarifications over what constitutes a concussion, an assessment of current medical suspensions and return to sport (RTS) protocols in combat sports, and a new set of guidelines that the ARP would like to see instituted to create, what the organization believes, would be a safer environment for combat athletes.



To have fights end after signs of concussion (i.e. after a fighter is ‘rocked’ in a round and then tells a doctor in the corner that he can’t remember what happened or what day it is) instead of when a fighter is unconscious or unable to defend themselves, would demand everyone involved in combat sports to adjust their expectations and redefine their understanding of how a fight is won or lost.

“A culture shift is probably one of the hardest things to do and that’s why we need exposure and education,” said Neidecker. “We’re seeing things slowly take a turn in other sports. The NFL is a prime example of this, but they’re still having their struggles and having their hard times. But things have definitely gotten better. I can say that for sure. So again it’s just more education. It’s more exposure, it’s just kind of getting the word out there. It will take some time, but I think as we learn more and more about this injury, and we are still learning a lot more about it, the culture will follow.”

• 30/60/90 day suspensions for TKO and KOs should be expanded to not only bar a fighter from competition, but also from sparring.
• All fighters, including the winners of a bout, should receive an in-ring/cage examination and a backstage examination by ringside physicians to look for signs of concussion.
• Fighters should return to non-contact and conditioning training one week after TKO or KO losses and then adopt a return to fighting protocol that includes a gradual progression of intensity.
• Zero sparring or competition if an athlete is experiencing any signs and symptoms of concussion.
• If a fighter is exhibiting signs of concussion during a bout, the fight should be stopped. These signs include, but are not limited to headache, confusion, blurred/double vision, nausea/vomiting and balance/gait issues.

 

[xXxGhost89xXx]

I like the idea.
The safer the fighters, the better it is for their career in the log run.

 

[MonkeyPickAss]

Um no.

 

[Threetrees]

Um no.

deep and insightful

 

[Only Here for Attachments]

I like the idea.
The safer the fighters, the better it is for their career in the log run.

Good for the guys but horrible for the fans. Besides Jimmy Smith, who gets off on safe fighting?! That's not what we're here to see. This would be a sport-killer

 

[MonkeyPickAss]

deep and insightful

Straight and to the point. Just NO.

 

[LouisBolanos]

the better it is for their career in the log run.

This is ridiculous, next thing you know they'll stop fights the second someone takes damage.

 

[Gilday]

• 30/60/90 day suspensions for TKO and KOs should be expanded to not only bar a fighter from competition, but also from sparring.
• All fighters, including the winners of a bout, should receive an in-ring/cage examination and a backstage examination by ringside physicians to look for signs of concussion.
• Fighters should return to non-contact and conditioning training one week after TKO or KO losses and then adopt a return to fighting protocol that includes a gradual progression of intensity.
• Zero sparring or competition if an athlete is experiencing any signs and symptoms of concussion.
• If a fighter is exhibiting signs of concussion during a bout, the fight should be stopped. These signs include, but are not limited to headache, confusion, blurred/double vision, nausea/vomiting and balance/gait issues.

I have no issue with the ones highlighted and think it'd be far safer for the fighters.

However when you're competing in a sport where you're getting hit and kicked in the head, let's not start stopping fights because of a headache..

 

[Threetrees]

I have no issue with the ones highlighted and think it'd be far safer for the fighters.

However when you're competing in a sport where you're getting hit and kicked in the head, let's not start stopping fights because of a headache..

It's self report
if a fighter complains in the corner to a doctor about a headache in an MMA fight they're essentially quitting anyway

 

[JosephTessaro]

Um no.

Yeah...let them continue, ruin their lives and end up in a crazy house.

Brilliant.

 

[Thesnake101]

Frankie Edgar hates this proposition.

 

[Thesnake101]

This is ridiculous, next thing you know they'll stop fights the second someone takes damage.

Exactly my thoughts. It sucks to have guys go the way of Gary Goodridge, but they're the ones choosing to go in there and put their well being on the line.

Stopping fights after the first sign of a concussion will pretty much just turn them into a 'who gets hurt first?' contest. As soon as someone gets rocked, they obviously won't know where the fuck they are. This will be the epitome of an early stoppage.

 

[ANIM4L]

oh man... ufc is going to die. adrenaline can mess with fighters perception. getting hit in the eye can lead to blurryness. being exhausted can lead to balance/gait issues.

 

[Diunx]

Gayyy.

 

[dildos]

Interesting take.

In rugby league, if a player takes a hard knock and dazed/showing concussion signs he is taken off and had a HIA test done to see if there are signs of a concussion or if the player is concussed. If so, the player can’t continue the game.

It’s good for safety, but I think signs may appear without actually having a concussion.

And I mean in a fight, will they just stop the fight when someone does the chicken dance? A out of prime shogun was still able to eat 3 h-bombs and rally back and have a lot of people question the result of the fight.

So it will be hard to really gauge how effective this will be and how many fights would just get called off if a person gets wobbly legs.

 

[INTERL0PER]

I'm torn on this issue.

I absolutely think fighters and the audience are far too casual about brain injuries. Shit is real and it happens far more easily than most of us would like to admit. A bad KO can permanently change a fighter and cause serious repercussions later in life.

But on the other hand... The high stakes of very real physical damage is what makes the fights so compelling.

I think more time off after a KO is a no brainer (excuse the pun), but stopping a fight as soon as any concussion symptoms are seen is a bit too far for a combat sport, IMO. However, I think there are plenty of fights that can be stopped earlier by refs, doctors, and most importantly, corners and coaches. We need to get used to the idea of mma fighters taking a loss to avoid career altering damage.

More education is definitely key, as many fighters get in to this when they're very young and not really thinking about their future and may even be entirely ignorant to the threats brain damage poses.

 

[Threetrees]

Exactly my thoughts. It sucks to have guys go the way of Gary Goodridge, but they're the ones choosing to go in there and put their well being on the line.

Stopping fights after the first sign of a concussion will pretty much just turn them into a 'who gets hurt first?' contest. As soon as someone gets rocked, they obviously won't know where the fuck they are. This will be the epitome of an early stoppage.

I'm not sure you guys read the article, I tried to pullout the important bits, but I may have needed to pull out more.
The proposition is to have fighters evaluated between rounds, not during rounds.

 

[ImNotSurpisedDonks!]

As soon as a fighter gets rocked the fights over? Great. Robbie Rory would have been stopped in round one.

 

[MonkeyPickAss]

Yeah...let them continue, ruin their lives and end up in a crazy house.

Brilliant.

Glory>Health. Find me one all time great who has after effects from whatever sport he was involved in that would go back and do it differently. Greatness lives forever. If you are trash and keep getting ktfo then that's just shitty people around you who allow that to continue.

 

[Thesnake101]

I'm not sure you guys read the article, I tried to pullout the important bits, but I may have needed to pull out more.
The proposition is to have fighters evaluated between rounds, not during rounds.

Frankie would have absolutely not gotten the chance of coming out for a second round in Maynard 2 and 3, and that's my main gripe.

Shit, TJ might have also not gotten cleared to come out for a second round against Cody. Imagine that.