The UnitedHealthcare Cycling Team (UHC) is testing athletes for concussions mid-race to prevent severe brain injury.
According to Cycling Weekly, cyclists weren’t monitored for head injuries while racing. Instead, most doctors looked for strained muscles, broken bones and pulled tendons after the race.
The UHC healthcare team created a set of quick tests to avoid cyclist head injuries. “In professional cycling, if you can’t make a decision in under five minutes, your day is over,” UHC team doctor Michael Roshon told Outside Online.
Prior to the race season, doctors establish baseline health data by recording balance and memory data. Information is obtained by asking the cyclist to maintain various poses and to recall previously given data.
On race day, cyclists displaying distress are immediately examined. First, cyclists recall personal facts. One wrong answer and the cyclist goes home. Next, cyclists undergo concussion tests, and then they take the initial baseline tests. The cyclist must leave the race if performance declines in any way.
For more information:
- Could roadside concussion tests be commonplace in cycling?, Cycling Weekly
- The New Brain Injury Test for Cyclists, Outside Online
