Concussions are a type of traumatic brain injury that can occur from a direct impact to the head or indirectly from an impact to the body that causes a jarring of the head. Such impacts can cause the brain to move and hit within the skull. The injury to the brain because of its collision with the skull can produce a range of symptoms including headache, nausea, confusion, memory loss, vision problems, irritability and depression. While a concussion can involve unconsciousness, not all do. Under proper supervision, most people recover within a few weeks. However, about 20% of people will suffer persistent concussion symptoms and require specialized care.

While concussions can happen to anyone at any time due to a fall or other accident, the risk of concussion is higher during sports. The risk is highest during high impact sports.

On 4 October 2018, the House of Commons Standing Committee on Health voted to establish the Subcommittee on Sports-related Concussions in Canada to study the issue of concussion in sport. The Subcommittee held 13 meetings between 31 October 2018 and 15 May 2019, heard from 42 witnesses and accepted 17 written submissions. Testimony provided the perspectives of athletes and their families, sports organizations, health care providers, researchers, injury prevention specialists and government.

The Subcommittee heard about efforts to increase awareness and training across Canada. It heard about the implementation of concussion protocols by many sports organizations. And, it heard of leading edge research occurring in universities across the country. However, the Subcommittee also heard that there is no definitive medical test to diagnose concussion and that, if not properly managed, a concussion can produce severe long-term consequences including both physical and mental health problems. Further, witnesses said that access to concussion care is inconsistent across Canada.

The Subcommittee learned that the federal government has supported several ongoing efforts to increase awareness and to develop, promote and disseminate best practices related to concussion in sport. The injury prevention organization Parachute and the Federal-Provincial/Territorial Working Group on Concussion in Sport have been central in these efforts. The Subcommittee applauds the efforts of all stakeholders and makes 13 recommendations that focus on:

• legislation to establish a Concussion Awareness Week;
• continued support for the Federal-Provincial/Territorial Working Group on Concussion in Sport and organizations working on the issue;
• creating a Concussion Research Expert Advisory Board and increasing funding for concussion research; and
• enhancing collaboration with the provinces and territories to ensure a pan-Canadian approach to sports-related concussion.