BounceBackAbility
Concussion
Traumatic Brain Injury
A concussion is a mild traumatic brain injury. It can occur after an impact to your head or whiplash-type injury that causes your head and brain to shake quickly back and forth. Concussions are usually not life threatening, but they can cause serious symptoms that require medical treatment.
RECOGNIZING SIGNS & SYMPTOMS
When do Concussion Symptoms Start?
Symptoms may begin immediately, or they may not develop for hours, days, weeks, or even months following the injury.
During the recovery period after a traumatic brain injury, you may experience the following symptoms:
-
Irritability
-
Sensitivity to light or noise
-
Difficulty concentrating
-
Mild Headaches
Common Symptoms of a Concussion
-
Brief loss of consciousness after injury
-
Memory problems
-
Confusion/Dizziness
-
Drowsiness or feeling sluggish
-
Double vision or blurred vision
-
Headache
-
Nausea or vomiting
-
Sensitivity to light or noise
-
Balance difficulty
-
Slowed reaction to stimuli
View the internal cause of a Tramtic Brain Injury
NFL Concussions and CTE
EMERGENCY CONCUSSION SYMPTOMS
Please note this website is to be used for informational purposes only, and should not be used for diagnistic purposes. If you are suffering from concussion like symptoms please consult a medical professional.
Seek Emergency Medical Treatment
If you experience any of the followoing symptoms:
-
inability to wake up (also called a coma)
-
seizures
-
draining of blood or clear fluid from the ears or nose
-
unequal pupil size (one pupil is larger than the other)
-
eyes moving abnormally
-
lasting confusion
-
slurred speech
-
repeated vomiting
-
weak muscles
-
problems walking
Emergency Signs of Concussions
Concussions may be accompanied by injuries to the spine. If you suspect that the person has a neck or back injury, avoid moving them and then call an ambulance for help. If you must move the person, do so very carefully. You should try to move the person’s neck and back as little as possible. This will avoid causing further damage to the spine.
"A Ticking Time Bomb"
Understand the importance of recognizing concussion symptoms through Benjamin Gray's battle with Post Concussion Syndrome.
Read the full story here.
IMPACTS OF CONCUSSIONS
Understanding Long Term Consequences of Concussions
Long term effects of multiple concussions are currently being studied by researchers around the globe. Not only can multiple traumatic incidents contribute to the development of mild cognitive impairments (MCI's), chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE), and other adverse outcomes, but a storied concussion history can also cause post-concussion syndrome (PCS). While we are still elucidating the causes of these long term effects, it is imperative that a person fully recover from one concussion before risking a subsequent one. Failing to do so adequately can lead to additional neurologic damage. Given this new understanding, managing concussions requires specialized, comprehensive and state-of-the-art approaches.
Post Concussion Syndrome (PCS)
Generally, athletes recover from a traumatic brain injury within 7 to 10 days after the initial impact. Symptoms lasting longer than the expected recovery time may be the result of a prolonged concussion or development of post concussion syndrome. PCS is characterized "by the Diagnostics and Statistics Model as (1) cognitive deficits in attention or memory and (2) at least 3 or more of the following symptoms: fatigue, sleep disturbance, headache, dizziness, irritability, affective disturbance, apathy, or personality change".
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3435903/
How is the NFL reacting to PCS?
http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/553967_3
Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy (CTE)
It is documented that repetitive brain trauma associated with various athletic sports may lead to progressive neurological deterioration. This neurological deterioration is referred to as Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy. CTE has been show to cause memory disturbances, behavioral and personality changes, Parkinsonism and speech abnormalities. CTE is characterized by complete atrophy (or the complete wasting away) of the cerebral hemispheres, medial temporal lobes (responsible for conscious memory for facts and events), thalamus (responsible for relaying motor and sensory signals to cerebral cortex and regulation of sleep, alertness and wakefulness) and brain stem (responsible for regulation of heart rate, breathing, sleeping and eating).
Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI)
Characterized by deficits in memory that do not significantly impact daily functioning. Unlike Alzheimer's Disease, MCI's may remain stable for many years, yet it has be observed in some cases to progress toward more Alzheimer like symptoms. Individuals with MCI's are generally characterized by having difficulty remembering names, trouble remembering the flow of conversation, increased tendency to misplace things, an increased reliance on notes and calendars and difficulty performing hobbies.
http://memory.ucsf.edu/education/diseases/mci
Are you prone to MCI? View 5 risk factors:
https://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/living-mild-cognitive-impairment/201409/five-risk-factors-mci
EVALUATION & TREATMENT
Please note this website is to be used for informational purposes only, and should not be used for diagnistic purposes. If you are suffering from concussion like symptoms please consult a medical professional.
SCAT 2 Evaluation
SCAT 2 (Sport Concussion Assessment Tool 2) is a standardized tool used internationally to evaluate athletes who have, or are believed to have experienced a traumatic brain injury (concussion)."This tool has been developed by a group of international experts at the 3rd International Consensus meeting on Concussion in Sport held in Zurich, Switzerland in November 2008". Used in conjunction with the Standardized Assessment of Concussion (SAC) score and Maddocks questions the assessment provides an accurate interpretation of the immediate severity of a traumatic brain injury. The cognitive and physical evaluation consists of a Symptom Score (out of 22), Physical Signs Score (out of 2), Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS), Maddocks Score, Standardized Assessment of Concussion (orientation, immediate memory, concentration), Balance Examination, Coordination Examination and Cognitive Assessment. This assessment tool is used by FIFA, IIHF, Olympics and the International Rugby Board. The entire assessment can be viewed here.
Treating a Concussion
Post concussion treatment methods vary due to lack of supporting evidence for various treatment methods. Currently, the most recommended post concussion treatment is an extended period of physical and cognitive rest until concussion symptoms have resolved. Generally, a few days following a concussion it is recommended that the individual is woken every 3 to 4 hours to evaluate potential signs of internal bleeding. Medication is not usually prescribed for an individual who has suffered a TBI as ibuprofen is effective enough to assist with headaches and swelling.
Returning to Activity
Returning to activity or sport before your concussion symptoms have completely dissipated may be at risk for "catastrophic cerebral edema and death, known as the second impact syndrome". It is advised not to resume physical activity until you have been medically cleared by a licensed medical professional. Generally, the individual will be instructed to begin physical activity in the form of light walking or cycling, and progressively more exertive cardiovascular activities. If you request further information or advice regarding concussions please contact Medicine in Motion.
CONCUSSION RESEARCH
Mindful Scientific Inc.
A local medical device company that seeks to advance neuroimaging techniques and systems providing in-depth and conclusive treatment for concussion, traumatic brain injury and concussion related injuries. Currently, the most recent advancement in concussion technology is the Halifax Consciousness Scanner (HCS), which aims to accurately asses an individuals conscious awareness aiming to reduce and improve concussion diagnosis. Learn more and follow Mindful Scientific Inc. here as they continue to advance concussion research technologies.
Harvard Medical School and NFL http://news.harvard.edu/gazette/story/2013/01/nflpa_hms_initiativ/
Football at a Crossroad
AWKNOWLEDGEMENTS
A Special Mention: Dr. Stan Kutcher
An influential figure in the development of this page, Dr. Stan Kutcher is a professor in the Department of Psychiatry at Dalhousie University. Dr. Stan Kutcher is currently the Sun Life Financial Chair in Adolescent Mental Health and the Director World Health Organization Collaborating Care in Mental Health Policy and Training at Dalhousie University and IWK Health Centre in Canada. Dr. Stan Kutcher has developed leading research in adolescent health and tramatic brain injuries.
Please click the link to view Dr. Stan Kutcher's "Teen Mental Health: Providing Ways to Increase Awareness about Adolescent Brain Injury". We appreciate Dr. Stan Kutcher's advances in the field of traumatic brain injuries and mental health, and look forward to further advances in the future.
This page has been brought to you by Nikolas Shymko at the Centre for the Study of Sport and Health, at Saint Mary's University. We aim to provide a resource base for individuals and in particular student athletes who have or are currently suffering from a tramatic brain injury. This page is not to be used to perform clinical diagnosis, but rather to be used as an information resource base for anyone looking to further their knowledge on the significance of tramatic brain injuries.
Nikolas Shymko
Centre for the Study of Sport and Health
Dr. Stan Kutcher
