SHANE Rattenbury has joined Sports Medicine Australia ACT Branch (SMA-ACT), to launch new software designed to record and collate data about injuries, as well as monitoring concussion rates across the Territory.

“The new software builds on the InjurEdata Project that was rolled out across the Territory in 2012 and has been supported by funding of $29,200 through the Sport and Recreation Grants Program,” Shane said.

“The latest version of the software features a concussion counter which provides the ability to monitor concussions, and is combined with an Australian Institute of Sport PhD student providing free balance assessments and advice to participants on the appropriate time to return to training and playing.

“The electronic data collection and referral process will improve the ability to detect balance problems in athletes who are concussed, resulting in improved care for these athletes, and preventing potentially catastrophic side effects of returning a concussed athlete to training or competition too early.

“As well as having a positive outcome for athletes, the sport and the community more broadly, the building of the evidence base in the management of concussion and sport related injury rates could substantially reduce the financial burden on the health sector in the ACT, currently estimated to be $6.6 million annually according to 2009 Access Economic report,” said Mr Rattenbury.

“I encourage all community sporting clubs to register to use this free injury recording software in order to assist in the collection of accurate reliable injury information across all levels of sport. This data is pivotal in indentifying key injury prevention strategies in order to reduce injury rates for athletes and to help make the participation in sport safer.”

For further information about downloading and using the software, please contact Trish Donoghue, Executive Officer, SMA-ACT on (02) 6247 5115 or email trish.donoghue@sma.org.au.