A new pilot paediatric concussion clinic is providing innovative treatment to kids from across Victoria.
The Murdoch Children’s Research Institute’s (MCRI) Concussion Essentials Clinic opened at The Royal Children’s Hospital (RCH) in November last year.
One in five children will experience a concussion before the age of 10, and children can take twice as long as adults to recover.
The clinic’s team of psychologists, physiotherapists, and exercise physiologists help tackle common but debilitating symptoms that, if left untreated, can prevent children from attending school, being active, and socialising.
“Unlike adults, the developing brain responds differently to concussion, so preventing the long-term effects requires child-specific diagnosis, acute management, and recovery protocols,” Murdoch Children’s Research Institute clinical sciences theme director Professor Vicki Anderson said.
“This pilot clinic will provide children with evidence-based early intervention and treatment, spanning psychoeducation, physiotherapy, and psychological support, and useful prevention techniques to speed recovery and a return to normal activities.”
A 2023 RCH study found that more than a third of parents had little knowledge about the signs of concussion in children – which include fatigue, irritability, and feeling anxious – and more than half were unaware of treatments available.
The clinic uses the Concussion Essentials (HeadCheck) App, developed by MCRI in collaboration with the RCH and AFL, to help parents identify concussion signs and manage recovery, and connect them to a concussion telehealth service.
With every patient treated, the clinic will develop a research base to help boost recognition and understanding of concussions in children, for parents, carers, and community members, including sports coaches and teachers.
