The Industrial Injuries Advisory Council (IIAC), the independent body which advises the Secretary of State for Social Security on the Industrial Injuries Disablement Benefit (IIDB) scheme, today announced the publication of its Position Paper 'Sporting Injuries'.
The Industrial Injuries Advisory Council (IIAC) has undertaken a review to examine whether there is evidence to support the inclusion of medical conditions that may arise as a consequence of being engaged in professional sporting occupations.
The review examined whether there is a risk of dementia resulting from head injuries to footballers, boxers and jockeys; the risk of osteoarthritis of the hip and knee in footballers and finally, whether footballers are at an increased risk of motor neurone disease.
Dementia and head injuries in footballers, boxers and jockeys
There is insufficient scientific evidence to recommend the prescription of
dementia as a consequence of head injuries in boxers and jockeys. IIAC found
insufficient evidence to support prescription of dementia, or motor neurone
disease in footballers as a consequence of heading footballs.
Osteoarthritis of the hip and knee in footballers
There is insufficient evidence to recommend the prescription of osteoarthritis
of the hip or knee in footballers. It is well established that discrete, identifiable,
traumatic injuries can lead to the development of osteoarthritis in later
life; this outcome is covered under the accident provisions of the Industrial
Injuries Disablement Benefit scheme.
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