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Durban - Sharks fullback Louis Ludik was stretchered off the field of play against Western Province at The Absa Stadium Durban on Saturday, but looks set to make a full recovery.
GALLERY: Currie Cup wrap
He left the field in the 28th minute of the game after taking a knock to the head in The Sharks final first round Absa Currie Cup match but was signing autographs after the game – a sure sign that there were no ill-effects to the knock, confirmed Sharks website editor, Michael Marnewick.
“In Louis case, he took a knock to the head and was stretchered off as a precaution,” explains Sharks Physiotherapist Deane Macquet.
“Often when someone takes a knock to the head, the neck is involved as well, so you have to assume because a patient is not completely coherent that there was a neck injury as well. It is a matter of being ultra-cautious in this situation – often it looks much worse than it actually is.
“Everything that people saw on the field was simply normal protocol. It does look quite dramatic and we have to take every precaution – but he is looking good. He was walking around after the game.”
“When I got the hit, I was out of it and couldn't remember everything, although my eyes were open at the time,” Ludik explains.
Macquet continues that he was re-assured that everything would be fine because of the reaction he received when he was assisting with the initial treatment. “It was quite funny, he has a particular “Louis” smile and when he came around, he smiled as if he realised he was with friends and was safe.”
Ludik adds that he still has “a bit of a headache but nothing particularly severe” as of Monday afternoon and that he hasn't experienced any feeling of nauseousness over the weekend which he admits can be problematic. “Initially I was confused when it happened, but it soon wore off and I was able to recall exactly what happened which I am told is a good reaction. If the immediate recovery is that quick, the assumption is that everything will be fine.
Having undergone a concussion test on Monday morning, he will undertake certain steps throughout the week to allow for a complete assessment, involving cycling (already done this morning) leading to more exertion to raise the heart beat, field training and some physical contact and by Wednesday or Thursday he will do another concussion test and after that a decision will be made.
Macquet explains that, “There is a concussion test that every player does at the beginning of each season to establish his baseline cognitive function, so after a head injury, a player can be retested based on those earlier results to establish how severe the effects of the injury were.
“He's been on treatment with a Bemer 3000 which has produced excellent results, he had from the moment he came off. His test results were remarkable – way better than we expected. If he is asymptomatic and passes his concussion test he could be available for selection on the weekend.”
GALLERY: Currie Cup wrap
He left the field in the 28th minute of the game after taking a knock to the head in The Sharks final first round Absa Currie Cup match but was signing autographs after the game – a sure sign that there were no ill-effects to the knock, confirmed Sharks website editor, Michael Marnewick.
“In Louis case, he took a knock to the head and was stretchered off as a precaution,” explains Sharks Physiotherapist Deane Macquet.
“Often when someone takes a knock to the head, the neck is involved as well, so you have to assume because a patient is not completely coherent that there was a neck injury as well. It is a matter of being ultra-cautious in this situation – often it looks much worse than it actually is.
“Everything that people saw on the field was simply normal protocol. It does look quite dramatic and we have to take every precaution – but he is looking good. He was walking around after the game.”
“When I got the hit, I was out of it and couldn't remember everything, although my eyes were open at the time,” Ludik explains.
Macquet continues that he was re-assured that everything would be fine because of the reaction he received when he was assisting with the initial treatment. “It was quite funny, he has a particular “Louis” smile and when he came around, he smiled as if he realised he was with friends and was safe.”
Ludik adds that he still has “a bit of a headache but nothing particularly severe” as of Monday afternoon and that he hasn't experienced any feeling of nauseousness over the weekend which he admits can be problematic. “Initially I was confused when it happened, but it soon wore off and I was able to recall exactly what happened which I am told is a good reaction. If the immediate recovery is that quick, the assumption is that everything will be fine.
Having undergone a concussion test on Monday morning, he will undertake certain steps throughout the week to allow for a complete assessment, involving cycling (already done this morning) leading to more exertion to raise the heart beat, field training and some physical contact and by Wednesday or Thursday he will do another concussion test and after that a decision will be made.
Macquet explains that, “There is a concussion test that every player does at the beginning of each season to establish his baseline cognitive function, so after a head injury, a player can be retested based on those earlier results to establish how severe the effects of the injury were.
“He's been on treatment with a Bemer 3000 which has produced excellent results, he had from the moment he came off. His test results were remarkable – way better than we expected. If he is asymptomatic and passes his concussion test he could be available for selection on the weekend.”
