HIGHLY-RESPECTED sports medicine consultant Dr Martin McConaghy believes the GAA still isn’t getting its message across in relation to concussion and says more must be done by the Association to curb the increasing examples of chronic injuries within the 16 to 21-year-old bracket.
McConaghy was part of Armagh ’s backroom team for the last decade. He recently left his GP practice after 15 years to concentrate on his sports medicine consultancy.
Chairman of the Gaelic Games Doctors Association, the Lurgan native expressed his concern with how concussion is viewed and treated within the GAA.
“There are several topical medical issues within the GAA at present,” he said.
“Despite the media attention in recent years, concussion is one of these areas where a lot more work is required.
“The GAA has an ongoing education programme for its players and coaches on how to recognise and manage concussion but the message still isn’t getting through.
“I am seeing players every week in my clinic who either haven’t recognised the symptoms of concussion or have hidden the symptoms to allow them to play on.
“Worryingly,” he added, “some coaches are still allowing players with concussion to play on. The reason these players are coming to see me is that they have had repeated episodes of concussion or have persistent symptoms which have not resolved.
“They are potentially putting their lives at risk. We need players, coaches, teachers and parents to recognise the features of concussion, immediately remove the player from the game if there is any suspicion of concussion and arrange a medical assessment. The player should not return to training or games until assessed by a doctor trained in concussion management.”
Dr McConaghy was an invaluable member of Joe Kernan’s medical team during the 'Noughties' and while he will no longer be on the sideline for Armagh ’s matches he will still have Orchard players referred to him by close associate and current county boss Kieran McGeeney.
On the issue of chronic injuries among the younger playing membership of the GAA, Dr McConaghy was critical of the limited nature of the GAA’s injury scheme.
“In the past, physiotherapy assessment and treatment was funded through the GAA injury scheme,” he explained.
“A few years ago, due to the costs involved, the funding of pre-operative physiotherapy was removed from the scheme.
“The consequence of removing this funded treatment from the Injury Scheme has been that many clubs and schools cannot afford to send their injured players to see a chartered physiotherapist.
“The long Health Service waiting times mean players cannot access proper timely treatment.”
He added: “Many clubs are employing therapists, masseurs or first aiders as a cost-saving measure instead of using a chartered physiotherapist. A culture has developed in many clubs where players know of the financial constraints on the club and so hide injuries or play on with chronic injuries, are not stopping them playing but are limiting their performance, so as not to incur costs on their club.
“I have seen a big change in the injuries that I am now seeing in my sports medicine clinics as a result of this change.
“I am seeing players now with chronic long-term injuries because the initial injury wasn’t diagnosed accurately or treated properly.
"For example: I am seeing players with their third hamstring tear in a season because the others weren’t rehabilitated properly; players with chronic ankle sprains/ankle instability because of inappropriate rehab; players with chronic groin pain who are playing on but due to the pain are not performing at their optimal level; players who have had hip surgery who didn’t attempt rehab first and who could have avoided surgery, midfielders who are not having their injury treated but are being played at full-forward because their injury means they can’t cope with the rigours of midfield.”
Sport & Exercise Medicine is a branch of medicine that deals with issues around physical activity. Sports Medicine Doctors are Doctors who have qualified in Medicine, spent several years working in various hospital specialities and General Practice before having specialist training in Sport and Exercise Medicine.
Sport and Exercise Medicine focuses on areas such as injury management, injury prevention and exercise medicine.
McConaghy said: “A sports medicine doctor is the specialist who is best placed to use his/her general medical training, sports medicine training, surgical training and expertise to make an accurate diagnosis and plan treatment.”
Former Armagh player and Irish News GAA columnist Aaron Kernan heaped praise on the doctor’s contribution to the Orchard set-up.
“Dr Martin was a very valuable member of the Armagh medical team. He was extremely knowledge in his role but always helped the players gain a greater understanding of their injury, the causes and the treatment methods by having it explained at their level,” said Kernan.
“It was important for Dr Martin to firstly get my body fit and healthy and again, whilst in the most part maintaining my participation levels and secondly to do all in his power to ensure that I would have no further flare ups. "
Kernan added: “He had an excellent, positive influence within a team environment, someone who really cared about making your personal well-being his number one priority.”
Twitter: @MartinMcConaghy
