Those who experience concussion are often left with headaches, neck pain and blurred vision, and they are left struggling to concentrate, feeling sleepy, irritable and they have decreased academic performance.
Recovering from concussion involves mental and physical rest, which can be at odds with the academic demands of secondary school students.
Concern about the lifelong impacts of concussions on teenagers has led a group of researchers from the University of Otago School of Physiotherapy, the Auckland University of Technology Sports Performance Research Institute and New Zealand Rugby to develop a framework for concussion management, to support secondary schools and help students return to learning and exercise.
Project co-leader and Otago School of Physiotherapy researcher Prof Gisela Sole said mild head injuries were of increasing concern, and youth in New Zealand had a particularly high incidence rate of concussion.
"In 2022, teenagers made up 37% of all ACC concussion claims.
"While 70% of people who have sustained a concussion recover within 10-14 days, 30% develop long-term symptoms that can impact learning, emotions and even future work employability."
"Children and adolescents generally take longer to recover than adults, and New Zealand Rugby research has shown players with concussion were often ‘lost’ at secondary school, with little support provided for their return to learning.
"By developing a framework with schools to support their students in their recovery, we can hopefully mitigate the risk of long-term symptoms developing."
In the latest phase of the project, the researchers worked with 82 students with concussion at 12 schools in Auckland, Hawke’s Bay and Otago in 2022 and 2023, and 11 of the schools said they found the framework useful and would continue to use it.
In general, Prof Sole also believed there needed to be greater awareness about the risks of concussion, particularly repeated incidents, and greater encouragement to report them.
The researchers hoped the Ministry of Education and ACC would encourage other schools to implement the framework, to enhance concussion management across the country.
A Health Research Council of New Zealand-funded concussion website is due to be launched in September, providing information for schools about concussion and guidelines for supporting affected pupils.
