Sport Concussion Assessment Tool 5 (SCAT5)
Original Editor -Mathius Kassagga
Top Contributors - Rasha Moghanam, Mathius Kassagga, Carina Therese Magtibay, Kim Jackson, Shaimaa Eldib, Wanda van Niekerk and Nupur Smit Shah
Objective[edit | edit source]
Developed by the concussion in sports group, SCAT5 is a standardized tool used by Medical professionals and qualified health care professionals to aid in evaluation of athletes suspected of having sustained a assessment and management of concussion[1]. SCAT 5 can also be used to obtain baseline data among health athletes for future reference. It's also noted that understanding of sport related concussion mechanism can help the recovery of the injury among the youth athletes[2].
Intended Population[edit | edit source]
Athletes 13 years and over[1]
Description[edit | edit source]
SCAT5 has 2 major components; An immediate/on-field assessment tool and an off-field assessment tool.
Immediate/on-field assessment comprises of;[3]
- Taking note of red flags
- Neck pain or tiredness
- Double vision
- Weakness or tingling/burning in arms or legs
- Severe or increasing headache
- Seizure or convulsion
- Loss of consciousness
- Deteriorating conscious state
- Vomiting
- Increasingly restless, agitated or combative
- Checking for observable signs of concussion.
- Lying motionless on the playing surface
- Balance and/or gait difficulties
- motor incoordination: stumbling, slow laboured movements
- Disorientation or confusion, or inability to respond appropriately to questions
- Blank or vacant look
- Facial injury after head trauma
- Memory assessment using Maddock's questionnaire
- Examining the level of consciousness using the Glasgow Coma Scale.
- Cervical spine assessment.
The off-field assessment is preferably carried out in a clinical setting and it involves:[3]
- Taking a comprehensive history of the players condition
- Symptom evaluation
- A cognitive screen, which is a measure of orientation and immediate memory.
- A measure of concentration
- A neurological screen
- Delayed recall
The results of the assessment are compared to a previously conducted baseline assessment or to normative score and are used to confirm a concussion.
Method of use[edit | edit source]
An athlete displaying obvious signs of concussion on pitch are immediately withdrawn from play and an immediate./on-field assessment is carried out[4]. In this case completing an off-field assessment is not required.
An athlete who gets involved in an event with potential to cause a concussion, but without obvious signs and symptoms of concussion may be allowed to continue playing while being monitored[1]. An off field assessment tool should then be completed after play.
Once SCAT5 is completed, results of each component are compared against the baseline. Any deviation from the baseline should lead to high level of suspicion for concussion.
Concussion management[edit | edit source]
Concussion treatment includes various strategies like occupational therapy[5]. This is evident by the model framed by occupational therapist experts on the process that links the evaluation and intervention of OT to enable adult people to return to every day activities after concussions[5]
Links[edit | edit source]
Consensus statement on concussion in sport
References[edit | edit source]
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 McCrory P, Meeuwisse WH, Dvorak J, et al. Consensus statement on concussion in sport: The 5th international conference on concussion in sport, Berlin, October 2016. Bri J Sport Med. 2017;51:838-847
- ↑ McLeod TC, Wagner A. J., & Bacon, CEW (2017). Lived Experiences of Adolescent Athletes Following Sport-Related Concussion. Orthopedic journal of sports medicine.;5:12.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 British Journal of Sports Medicine. Sport concussion assessment tool. bjsm.bmj.com/content/bjsports/early/2017/04/26/bjsports-2017-097506SCAT5.full.pdf
- ↑ Brukner, Peter. Brukner and Khan's Clinical Sports Medicine, 4th Edition; Chapter 17. Australia: McGraw-Hill 2012
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 Roelke MB, Jewell VD, Radomski MV. Return-to-activity: Exploration of occupational therapy in outpatient adult concussion rehabilitation. OTJR: Occupation, Participation and Health. 2022 Oct;42(4):333-43.
