Diagnostic tool’s testing could begin later this seasonTrial is part of joint action plan on brain health in footballersA saliva test designed to diagnose concussion is to be trialled in the Premier League. A joint action plan on brain health published by the league, along with the
Football Association, the EFL and the Professional Footballers’ Association, sets out details of work being done to protect current footballers from concussion and subconcussive impacts, and to understand why there is an increased risk of neurodegenerative disease among professional footballers compared to the general population.
It confirms the
Premier League is funding an academic study to validate a diagnostic tool which uses salivary biomarkers, and it is understood the trial could begin later this season. Players will provide baseline swabs, then at three further time points following a concussive injury, the plan said. Comparative swabs will be taken from an uninjured player and another player who has sustained a musculoskeletal injury in the same match or training session.