The recent debate among athletes, athletic trainers and sports medicine physicians focuses on concussion awareness. Here are 10 stories about the trend towards concussion awareness and brain injury prevention.
1. ImPACT Assessment Evaluates Cognitive, Physical Concussion Symptoms. The ImPACT test is a computer-based program measuring verbal and visual memory, processing speed and reaction time at 1/100th of a second. The test can be administered by an athletic trainer, school nurse, team coach or physician. The cognitive capabilities of the test measures the athlete's attention span, working memory and non-verbal problem solving.
Read the rest of "ImPACT Assessment Evaluates Cognitive, Physical Concussion Symptoms."
2. Traumatic Brain Injury Among Youth Basketball Players Increases. Researchers used data from the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission's national electronic injury surveillance system to estimate the number of children injured while playing basketball between 1997 and 2007. The research found that on average, over 375,000 youth patients were treated for injuries every year.
Read more of "Traumatic Brain Injury Among Youth Basketball Players Increases."
3. Athletes Can Experience Brain Damage Without Concussion Symptoms. Researchers monitored the helmets of 21 high school football players and found that four of the players were diagnosed through traditional methods. An additional four athletes who did not demonstrate concussion symptoms had measureable brain impairment worse than the players with diagnosed concussions.
Read more of "Athletes Can Experience Brain Damage Without Concussion Symptoms."
4. Neuromuscular Mouth Guard Designed to Prevent and Track Concussions. Several professional football and basketball players use neuromuscular mouth guards, designed to direct and distribute the impact of force to the jaw, which minimizes lacerations, damage to the teeth and concussions, according to a report in USA Today. There have also been reports of easier breathing when using the mouth guard. The mouth guard is designed to keep the mouth joint socket position down and forward.
Read more of "Neuromuscular Mouth Guard Designed to Prevent and Track Concussions."
5. 5 Strategies for Preventing Overuse Injuries in Sports Medicine. Young athletes, especially those involved in contact sports, are susceptible to concussions. Without adequate education, athletes may be unaware they suffered a concussion because they did not lose consciousness. However, symptoms such as dizziness are indicative of a concussion and incurring a second concussion could lead to cognitive delays, brain damage or death.
Read more of "5 Strategies for Preventing Overuse Injuries in Sports Medicine."
6. Research Links ASL-Like Disease to Competitive Athletes. The new disease was discovered while researchers were examining brains and spinal chords of 12 deceased athletes. Two NFL players and a former boxer who experienced neurodegenerative disease chronic trauma encephalopathy were thought to have contracted Lou Gehrig's disease before their death. However, the researchers discovered an abnormal protein TDP-43 in these athletes thought to be caused by repetitive head trauma, most likely connected to their sporting activities.
Read more of "Research Links ASL-Like Disease to Competitive Athletes."
7. Congress Considering Student Athlete Concussion Legislation. Nine states have already passed laws addressing concussions. The legislation recently introduced to Congress by the House Education and Labor committee would prohibit athletes from recreational and school sports until they have been evaluated and received clearance from a healthcare provider.
Read more of "Congress Considering Student Athlete Concussion Legislation."
8. Cleveland Clinic Conducts Research on Equipment for Concussion Prevention. Researchers will use equipment manufactured and donated by Rawlings to examine protective accessories for baseball and football athletes, assessing the equipment's ability to minimize impact. The team will also research assessment techniques for the amount of injury to the brain initially and over time.
Read more of "Cleveland Clinic Conducts Research on Equipment for Concussion Prevention."
9. Mayo Clinic to Host Ice Hockey Concussion Summit. Ice hockey leaders from the United States, Canada and Europe will discuss various topics, such as the science of concussions, the impact of concussions on children and the sporting world's response. Though the summit focuses on ice hockey, the concussion-related topics apply to all sports.
Read more of "Mayo Clinic to Host Ice Hockey Concussion Summit."
10. Chicago's Midwest Orthopaedics at Rush Opens Concussion Clinic. The clinic will include medical evaluations, neuropsychological testing, direct neurocognitive therapy and other treatment to ensure athletes have a safe return to their sports. The clinic uses the ImPACT neurocognitive and vestibular testing.
Read more of "Chicago's Midwest Orthopaedics at Rush Opens Concussion Clinic."
1. ImPACT Assessment Evaluates Cognitive, Physical Concussion Symptoms. The ImPACT test is a computer-based program measuring verbal and visual memory, processing speed and reaction time at 1/100th of a second. The test can be administered by an athletic trainer, school nurse, team coach or physician. The cognitive capabilities of the test measures the athlete's attention span, working memory and non-verbal problem solving.
Read the rest of "ImPACT Assessment Evaluates Cognitive, Physical Concussion Symptoms."
2. Traumatic Brain Injury Among Youth Basketball Players Increases. Researchers used data from the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission's national electronic injury surveillance system to estimate the number of children injured while playing basketball between 1997 and 2007. The research found that on average, over 375,000 youth patients were treated for injuries every year.
Read more of "Traumatic Brain Injury Among Youth Basketball Players Increases."
3. Athletes Can Experience Brain Damage Without Concussion Symptoms. Researchers monitored the helmets of 21 high school football players and found that four of the players were diagnosed through traditional methods. An additional four athletes who did not demonstrate concussion symptoms had measureable brain impairment worse than the players with diagnosed concussions.
Read more of "Athletes Can Experience Brain Damage Without Concussion Symptoms."
4. Neuromuscular Mouth Guard Designed to Prevent and Track Concussions. Several professional football and basketball players use neuromuscular mouth guards, designed to direct and distribute the impact of force to the jaw, which minimizes lacerations, damage to the teeth and concussions, according to a report in USA Today. There have also been reports of easier breathing when using the mouth guard. The mouth guard is designed to keep the mouth joint socket position down and forward.
Read more of "Neuromuscular Mouth Guard Designed to Prevent and Track Concussions."
5. 5 Strategies for Preventing Overuse Injuries in Sports Medicine. Young athletes, especially those involved in contact sports, are susceptible to concussions. Without adequate education, athletes may be unaware they suffered a concussion because they did not lose consciousness. However, symptoms such as dizziness are indicative of a concussion and incurring a second concussion could lead to cognitive delays, brain damage or death.
Read more of "5 Strategies for Preventing Overuse Injuries in Sports Medicine."
6. Research Links ASL-Like Disease to Competitive Athletes. The new disease was discovered while researchers were examining brains and spinal chords of 12 deceased athletes. Two NFL players and a former boxer who experienced neurodegenerative disease chronic trauma encephalopathy were thought to have contracted Lou Gehrig's disease before their death. However, the researchers discovered an abnormal protein TDP-43 in these athletes thought to be caused by repetitive head trauma, most likely connected to their sporting activities.
Read more of "Research Links ASL-Like Disease to Competitive Athletes."
7. Congress Considering Student Athlete Concussion Legislation. Nine states have already passed laws addressing concussions. The legislation recently introduced to Congress by the House Education and Labor committee would prohibit athletes from recreational and school sports until they have been evaluated and received clearance from a healthcare provider.
Read more of "Congress Considering Student Athlete Concussion Legislation."
8. Cleveland Clinic Conducts Research on Equipment for Concussion Prevention. Researchers will use equipment manufactured and donated by Rawlings to examine protective accessories for baseball and football athletes, assessing the equipment's ability to minimize impact. The team will also research assessment techniques for the amount of injury to the brain initially and over time.
Read more of "Cleveland Clinic Conducts Research on Equipment for Concussion Prevention."
9. Mayo Clinic to Host Ice Hockey Concussion Summit. Ice hockey leaders from the United States, Canada and Europe will discuss various topics, such as the science of concussions, the impact of concussions on children and the sporting world's response. Though the summit focuses on ice hockey, the concussion-related topics apply to all sports.
Read more of "Mayo Clinic to Host Ice Hockey Concussion Summit."
10. Chicago's Midwest Orthopaedics at Rush Opens Concussion Clinic. The clinic will include medical evaluations, neuropsychological testing, direct neurocognitive therapy and other treatment to ensure athletes have a safe return to their sports. The clinic uses the ImPACT neurocognitive and vestibular testing.
Read more of "Chicago's Midwest Orthopaedics at Rush Opens Concussion Clinic."