Progressive Rugby welcome caution over Lawes return
This article is written by Progressive Rugby
Like many, Progressive Rugby is pleased to see Courtney Lawes returning to action but say his delayed return is a reminder how important it is to take concussions seriously.
The Northampton backrower last played against Ulster on January 16 but left the field after 64 minutes and had been undergoing return to playing protocols since.
As a result, Lawes, who captains England against Wales, has missed the opening two rounds of the Six Nations but, after some concerns, he told the Independent he is back firing on all cylinders.
“It wasn’t in one particular game. I had just taken a couple of little knocks the past month or two,” Lawes told the newspaper.
“I guess pretty much the day after I had headaches which didn’t go away for a little while. I also had headrush-like symptoms.
“I was a little worried, obviously because it is to do with your head, but I came into camp and we got a scan and saw a specialist. He said it was nothing to do with my brain, which was a massive relief.
“It was to do with my vestibular system, so the connection between your eyes, ears and neck had essentially got a bit rattled.
“When your brain has to compensate with that you get things like headaches and trouble with the eyes, which is why I was getting headrush or those kind of symptoms.”
A spokesperson for Progressive Rugby said: “Progressive Rugby welcomes back Courtney Lawes to the England team and captaincy. We are relieved that he has been carefully investigated and given the full time to recover.
“Reading the player’s own statements in the media he sustained a series of minor blows, or sub-concussive injuries, that ‘flew under the radar’ for himself and his medical team allowing him to play on 16 January before developing significant symptoms affecting his vestibular system.
“Despite not sustaining a single major brain injury, it has taken him five weeks to recover from these cumulative effects. It is a reminder that symptoms after head trauma can take a considerable period to recover from – even if seemingly innocuous at the time. Although symptoms of dizziness, vertigo and poor balance may have many causes, they should always be taken seriously in the context of an impact sport.”