NBA institutes new concussion policy
NBA officials announced on Monday the start of a concussion management program aimed at safeguarding players who might suffer blows to the head.
The program, which features baseline tests and standardized return-to-play protocols, also includes an educational component for players, coaches and team medical doctors and trainers. It began with the start of team training camps.
Dr. Jeffrey Kutcher, associate professor of neurology at the University of Michigan, was hired as director of the NBA Concussion Program. He chairs a sports neurology section for the American Academy of Neurology.
Annual concussion management education and training programs will be given to all players, coaches, trainers and team physicians.
Players will be tested annually to form baseline details to work from for comparison later, both in cognitive assessment and neurological exams.
To create a consistency of care across the NBA, all discussions regarding players returning to a team’s lineup must go through Kutcher before a player can return to the lineup.