See the Line – Sport Concussion Research comes front and centre

Concussion - some fear the idea of suffering from one, others disregard the risks and too many simply don't understand the crippling impact of this injury. Today we use words such as "stunning, damaging, or shattering effects of a hard blow" when talking about the impact of concussion.

According to the Sport Information Resource Centre, it is estimated that there are 110 sport related concussions per 100,000 Canadians and when you consider children and adolescents that jumps up to 200 per 100,000 Canadians. In the past year, the internationally renowned Fowler Kennedy Sport Medicine Clinic in London reported nearly 1,000 new sport related concussion cases and provided primary follow-up care to nearly 1,100 cases. Physiotherapy was provided to an additional 1,850 people. And nearly 70 per cent of their primary care concussion patients are under the age of 18.

Concussion research and clinical experts from the Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry, Western University, the Fowler Kennedy Sport Medicine Clinic, London's hospitals and research institutes are bringing together their expertise to find new ways to provide a patient-focused approach to sport concussion including health screening, risk analysis, concussion predication and prevention.

Their collaboration will integrate knowledge of front line patient caregivers with the research community, then translate the collective knowledge back into improved patient care. With this effort, London is positioned to become the national hub for concussion research, care and awareness.

In doing so, they will be launching a new initiative called - See the Line on August 14 and 15. A two day series of information and fundraising events will unfold in three parts: an education and community information symposium, a gala event and golf tournament.

Dr. Anne McKee, one of the world's leading experts in concussion research will serve as keynote speaker at the education and community information symposium being hosted by Western University. Dr. McKee, who is just as passionate about sports as she about her research, is the chief neuropathologist for the VA, Boston University's Alzheimer's Disease Center, the Framingham Heart Study, the New England Centenarian Study, and the Center for the Study of Traumatic Encephalopathy. The latter of which was created in 2008 to examine the impact of sport concussion.

The symposium will be moderated by Dr. Michael J. Strong, Dean, Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry and Dr. Robert Litchfield, associate professor, Department of Surgery and Medical Director, Fowler Kennedy Sport Medicine Clinic. Other speakers for the event include Dr. Arthur Brown, Dr. Doug Fraser and Dr. Arjang Yadzani.

The Symposium is free and will be of interest to researchers, parents, coaches and athletes.

To learn more and register for the Symposium and other events, please visit www.seetheline.ca.