Concussion in sport: AusCycling contributes to Senate inquiry

Concussions must be treated with caution but should not discourage people from riding a bike, AusCycling has reiterated after giving evidence to a Senate inquiry into concussion in sport.

The Senate Community Affairs Committee is conducting an inquiry into concussions and repeated head trauma in contact sports. The long-term impacts of concussions, the support available to participants, and the role of sports organisations are among the topics being examined.

Last week, Chief Medical Officer of the Australian Cycling Team, Dr Kevyn Hernandez, and Executive General Manager Sport, Kipp Kaufmann, were invited by the committee to speak in a public hearing.

They said AusCycling is working to raise awareness of the issue and provide the best available resources to riders who suffer a head knock.

"The risk of suffering a concussion or head injury is an unfortunate reality of riding a bike, and it was pleasing to have an opportunity to address the Senate inquiry into the management of concussions in Australia,” Dr Hernandez said after the hearing.

“Signs you might be concussed include headaches, nausea, and difficulty with vision and speech, and you can sustain a concussion without hitting your head. Out of an abundance of caution, anyone who suspects they have been concussed should immediately seek medical advice.

“There are also reliable resources available to any rider, such as the Concussion Recognition Tool, the AIS Concussion in Sport website, and the HeadCheck app.”

Participation

Dr Hernandez stressed that the risk of suffering a concussion while riding a bike is incredibly low. The danger of head injury is far outweighed by the importance of maintaining an active and healthy lifestyle.

“It is also important to remember the great majority of individuals who sustain a concussion make a full recovery and return to sport and activity if allowed to recover well. An initial period of cognitive and physical rest is an essential part of concussion recovery, followed by a cautious and staged return to sport,” Dr Hernandez said.

“The vast majority of riders – at all levels in the sport – will never suffer a concussion or head injury while riding their bike. Cycling remains one of the easiest, most effective, and affordable ways of maintaining good mental and physical health.”

AusCycling is currently reviewing its concussion policy to reflect the new AIS Concussion and Brain Health Position Statement released in February.

What you should know about concussions:

If in doubt, sit it out. If you may have suffered a concussion, don't risk making it worse. Get assessed by a medical professional.

If you have suffered a concussion, follow the AusCycling Concussion Policy and take a staged return to sport.

To help AusCycling better support our community, concussions can be reported to [email protected]. Any concussion data reported to AusCycling remains completely confidential.

Further resources are available here:

The inquiry is expected to report by June 21.