The news on concussions keeps on coming. It is quite the hot
study topic these days, and for good reason; we do not know as much about their
prevention and treatment as we should.
Stanford researchers have been criticizing the helmet tests that
determine their safety by pointing out the fact that they may not be accurately
testing for concussions. Helmets do a great job at dissipating force that can
cause blunt force trauma and fractures, but they are not capable of
decelerating the brain on the brain stem. The researchers looked at the cause
of injury and noticed there was a rotational force component that was not being
accounted for in standard tests and they recommend that future tests take this
into consideration. While this is a great summary of the causes of concussions,
I am still skeptical at the ability of a helmet to effectively control the
acceleration and deceleration of the brain. I think the biggest factor in
preventing concussions is to properly train kids how to play.
This is also born out in another study that looked at the
causes of concussions in soccer. Heading the ball is typically blamed for the
injuries sustained, but the actual results show that individuals are more likely
to have a concussion in a collision. An aggressive play style increases the
risk over heading alone. Along with player education and training in football,
soccer athletes should be taught how to protect themselves and referees should
work to ensure that the play stays within the laws of the game. Keeping the
game under control can help to decrease the risk of sustaining a head injury.
When an athlete does suffer a concussion, it is not fully
clear why some athletes heal faster than others, until now. Researchers looked
at the brains of children with head injuries and compared them to their non-injured
counterparts and noticed that those who have a head injury have slower electrical
activity. This may be a result of damage the coating that surrounds nerve
fibers and aids in conduction. This lining may be injured in a concussion and
may help explain why some athletes take longer to heal. When this lining is
damaged, nerve impulses are not effectively transmitted which can cause some of
the common symptoms related to a concussion such as headaches, confusion,
vision trouble and difficulty concentrating. They may not return to normal
until this lining is healed.
Overall, lots of interesting new news on the head injury
front. Hopefully, in time we will have a better picture of what is happening
when the brain is injured so we can effectively work to decrease injuries and
improve healing.
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