Trent Keep’s mission to destigmatise head injuries in sports
Concussion forced former cricketer Trent Keep into an early retirement. Read on to learn why he is backing reforms which takes head injury-related decision out of athletes’ hands >>>
Former Cairns cricketer Trent Keep is strongly advocating for stricter concussion protocols that remove decision-making from athletes’ hands, while also working to destigmatise discussions around head injuries.
The conversation around concussion is in the spotlight once again after Melbourne Demons premiership-winning player Angus Brayshaw announced his shock retirement on Thursday, meanwhile Brisbane Lions were fined $20,000 earlier this month for breaching concussion guidelines relating to the management of Sophie Conway in their AFLW grand final.
It follows on from the Australian Sports Commission (ASC) who earlier this month released new advice urging more stringent concussion guidelines including a stricter return-to-play framework.
Keep, a board member and support worker for Concussion Legacy Foundation said a players wellbeing is the biggest priority.
“The biggest thing for me now with the 21 day concussion protocol in local football is the conversation around checking in with the player and taking more decisions out their control with concussion tests and protocols,” he said.
“The neurological surgeons or brain bank doctors that I have spoken to are certainly alluding to the strong statistical awareness that the longer you wait to return to sport the better off you will be.
“A simplified example, if you pull your hamstring and the recommended time off is 14 days and you come back in eight days, then you are at a greater risk of pulling it again.
“I believe certainly from the people that I’m speaking to that the 21 day mark will be mandated across Australia I think it should be, particularly in developing early adolescent brains.”
A former Tassie batsman and Gold Coast Dolphin, Keep medically retired from all sport including his passion, cricket, at age 29 after a shock concussion injury left him hospitalised for days.
He later experienced repeated head trauma during and after rehabilitation processes.
Keep believes the perception around concussion has changed significantly since his injury.
He said when he had his first incident that it was still a taboo topic, as a result of the lack of information available.
“Giving players the confidence and safe space to share how they feel without fear of weakness or judgment is a place we need to get to,” Keep said.
“Whether it’s a professional or amateur level, there is a real bravery from athletes to speak about the signs, experiences and challenges for them and their families.
“Concussion is an invisible illness and has a real implication on mental health, you don’t know exactly how someone is feeling and it can be quite shameful.
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“The common misconception is that you just get a headache, it’s actually a traumatic brain injury no matter the severity.
“I think that if two people at a football club are talking about concussion or someone is sharing their message (it all helps raise awareness).”
Originally published as Trent Keep’s mission to destigmatise head injuries in sports
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