Industry-supported healthcare programme for concussion management in junior community Australian football

Junior Australian football players with sport-related concussion (SRC) often do not access optimal healthcare. We aimed to evaluate the feasibility of an industry-supported healthcare programme that removed financial and logistical barriers to accessing care for SRC and adherence to the Australian Football League's (AFL) SRC management guidelines.

Junior Australian football players (from a Melbourne-based league of 9852; under 8-18 competitions) who sustained a suspected or diagnosed SRC during the 2023 season were recruited. Players underwent assessment and management for SRC by a sport and exercise medicine registrar, including return to school and play planning in accordance with the AFL guidelines. Outcomes included programme demand, implementation, acceptability and adherence to the AFL's guidelines (median, (range) days for return to school, training and play).

From 154 eligible players, 58 (37.7%) participated, resulting in a weekly demand of 4.1 players (95% CI 3.1 to 5.2). 49 players were diagnosed with an SRC, and 9 players were cleared for SRC at their initial appointment. 44 players with SRC (89.8%) adhered to all medical advice and returned to play after receiving a medical clearance. All players returned to school (1 (0-10) days), unrestricted training (16 (2-53) days) and play (21 (7-63) days).

The low programme demand indicates financial constraints and/or access to medical practitioners are not the main barriers for players with suspected SRC to formally seek healthcare in a metropolitan context. Those who did participate demonstrated high levels of appointment attendance, acceptability and adherence to AFL guidelines.