Over the past 2-3 years we have seen a drastic increase in the science and general awareness of concussion. Much of the funding into the science has gone towards prevention (mostly helmets) and diagnostic care. We have taken a separate, much less traveled path towards treatment and will be publishing our first study in early 2017. But we’ll save that story for another time.
The most promising diagnostic tools for sport related concussion are movement and impact sensors placed in helmets and blood tests for elevated chemical levels usually corresponding with acute brain injury. Multiple Universities and have been using impact and movement sensors to measure g-force impact on players as well as rotational movement, usually corresponding with rips and tears of brain tissue. A concussion usually occurs around 95g’s or force of the blow divided by 32 feet/second (about a full sprint). This is amplified when two individuals collide moving towards each other, and when the blow is focused on a smaller area, like head to head contact rather than shoulder to chest. Researchers from multiple Universities have found that a hit over 100g’s is a common occurrence in professional levels of football. The blood tests are still in their infancy, but a paper will be published by the end of 2016 or beginning of 2017 showing that a simple blood test could be far more accurate than the team trainer or even an expert Neurologist. This, along with impact sensors will truly be a game changer.
What happens if every time a sensor registers over 95g’s the individual is placed in the concussion protocol and forced to sit out for at least 10 days? Helmets are currently in production that can do just that and can be ordered today. What happens if a blood test can be administered after a game to an entire team and half of the team has elevated levels? What does this do to the sport at all levels? See the research on blood tests here.
There are many questions still to be answered. And the future will look interesting for many contact sports. In the meantime, treatments such as our programs involving Neurofeedback and Biofeedback can help re-balance the brain and autonomic nervous system if someone is struggling with the effects from a concussion. See our latest ABC news story here…