Samedan, 11.10.2007
Dear Ladies and Gentlemen, dear Colleagues.
I would like to inform you that we are organizing in St. Moritz (Switzerland) from the 10th to 15th March 2008 the FOURTH INTERNATIONAL MEETING ON MINOR TRAUMATIC BRAIN INJURIES IN SPORTS.
The background of this meeting are the results published by the Concussion in Sports (CIS) Group following the IOC / IIHF / FIFA International Symposia on Concussion in Sports held in Vienna (2001) and in Prague (2004). Summary articles from these Symposia are available on the websites: www.olympic.org; www.iihf.com; www.fifa.com.
The Meeting is supported by IIHF International Ice Hockey Federation.
Additional background information from the First, Second and Third International Meeting on Minor Traumatic Brain Injury in Sport held in Samedan / St. Moritz in March 2005, 2006 and 2007 will also be integrated.
http://www.orthopaedie-samedan.ch/mtbi.html
This meeting will consider:
The latest research on mTBI with the emphasis on mechanism, pathology, pathophysiology and its clinical correlation to sport (i.e. amateur / professional) Diagnosis, classification, complications differential diagnosis, reports and medical treatment of mTBI A particular session will be also devoted to pediatric mTBI with special interest on the treatment of children Studies on specific injuries in contact sports and ways to decrease the risk for these injuries Role of rehabilitation and conditioning program, recovery, return to play, and prevention strategies of mTBI in contact sports such as boxing, soccer, American football, kick boxing, skiing, snowboarding, biking, climbing, etc.) The role of neurocognitive evaluation in sports concussion management with the “ImPACT program” (Immediate Post-Concussion Assessment and Cognitive Testing) including a full day of ImPACT Training workshop Role of coaching techniques in contact sports A session will be devoted to mTBI in ice hockey Role of Referees in contact sports controlling the game and decreasing the risk for injuries
Role of playing rules changes to decrease the risk for injuries Studies to reduce violence in contact sports among players, parents and coaches Research on awareness programs to help decrease the risk for injuries, especially catastrophic injuries, for players, parents, coaches, referees and administrators Innovative programs for injury prevention and management The Biomechanical aspects of brain injury and equipment with emphasis on studies on new and old protective equipment
Papers on the above subjects are invited from (but not limited to) the fields of sports science, sports medicine, athletic training, biomechanics, risk factor management, epidemiology, national governing bodies, sports psychology, injury surveillance, equipment standards, physical conditioning, behavioral factors, playing facilities, officiating and playing rules.
The abstract must include a clear definition of the objective and approach of the work discussed, pointing out material that is new, and present sufficient details regarding results. The presentation and manuscript must not be of a commercial nature nor can it have been previously published.
Please send us the abstract of your presentation using the Structured Abstract Format with max. 400-450 words. The deadline is the 1st January 2008. Please send the above-mentioned items to my email address: Biasca@medicmotion.com
Because a limited number of abstracts will be accepted, be sure that the abstract is complete to allow for careful assessment of the paper's suitability for this symposium.
The scientific committee of the symposium will notify you in writing by January 15, 2008 of your paper's acceptability for presentation at the symposium. If the preliminary abstract is accepted, the presenter/author will be requested to submit a final camera-ready abstract several months before the symposium. The final abstracts will be distributed in an abstract booklet at the symposium.
Papers presented elsewhere will be accepted. However, this work must NOT have appeared in print (except in abstract form) prior to the meeting. The scientific committee reserves the right to have the paper presented in oral or poster format.
For further information on this international meeting please visit our website: http://www.orthopaedie-samedan.ch/mtbi.html
I am looking forward to welcoming you personally as a participant of the symposium.
With kind personal regards
Nicola Biasca