Final Paper Continued

.....Along with this type of assessment before return-to-play could be had the “Prague Concussion in Sport Group” outlined six levels that should also be followed before return-to-play can be followed. This procedure only progressed if only at each level the athlete remained asymptomatic, or free of any MTBI symptoms. The first level is the most basic, involving absolutely activity and complete rest. The second if level entails light aerobic exercise such as simple walking or the use of a stationary bike. No resistance training shal be performed though at this time due to the increased risk of heightened blood pressure, which as previously stated can be attributed to MTBI symptoms.

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Rough Draft Continued!

            In 2001 a meeting was held to discuss the matter of mild traumatic brain injury, and as to how this occurrence could be dealt with. The "Vienna Consensus Group of Sports Professionals" was assembled in which they would discuss the revision of as to what constitutes a MTBI. Also during this time the stringent guidelines regarding the return-to-play procedure was developed.


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Rough Draft: Return-to-Play

So in what way is mTBI most commonly acquired? Well as stated before around 85% of individuals that sustain a mTBI and have been treated for it within an Emergency Room Setting have not acquired it through through an assault, or motor vehicle accident. This primarily leaves sport and recreational activities to be the primary cause for mTBI. It is estimated that between the ages of five and seventeen that over 30 million children participate in some type of organized sport. The chances for an individual witnessing a mTBI first hand is quite great. 


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Rough Draft: What is a mTBI?

Skull and brain normal human diagram (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

The theories of what causes mTBI vary, but through research it has been found that there is indeed some consensus as to the origins of mTBI. During the accident that results in the event the brain is thrashed about that skull. The initial site of the impact is known as the “coup,” but what many fail to realize is that this impact is absorbed by the skull, passes through the brain, and then causes the brain to hit against the backside of the skull. This is called the “counter-coupe,” so the brain in fact can receive two injuries from one impact.

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Rough Introduction of Final

Each year it seems as though a new topic unveils itself within the area of health. This is especially so when the topic of health is interconnected with that of sports. Usually these ideas have to do with ways in which athletes can gain an edge on their competitor, or how new equipment has been designed to protect an athlete. The one topic that is usually under discussed is what happens when these programs and equipment fail, and the real impact that this can have on an individual’s life. As to why this information is “swept” away is unknown, but these thoughts and ideas need to be discussed in order to save the well being of individuals in the future. This particular area of injury within an athlete is probably the most overlooked, and under exaggerated injury that can occur. It effects close to 500,000 children up to the age of 14 each year, with 85 percent of them occurring within the realm of sport.


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Speaking Through the Fog

A rotating animation of the human brain showing the left frontal lobe in red within a semitransparent skull. The anterior cingulate cortex (ACC) is sometimes also included in the frontal lobe. Other authors include the ACC as a part of limbic lobe. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Another aspect of my life that I have noticed a change in is my ability to articulate words in a meaningful manner when I try to speak. If I have ample time, or the ability to write down my thoughts I can organize them better, and I can actually convey the meaning of my thoughts in a coherent manner. The problem is though when I speak plainly, or am asked a question I sometimes have trouble finding the exact words I am looking for. I was never the most verbal individual, but I have found the ability to speak has been greatly effected since the accident. The months directly after the concussion when my symptoms were at their peak was when I noticed the prevalence of this effect. Some instances I would sit there struggling with what word I wanted to say, or the sentences I spoke would be long and drawn out because I was thinking about the words as I spoke. So I recently asked myself this question. Could this be due to the multiple mtbi's I have experienced? My quest for the answer gave me some un-easing answers.

The first article that I looked into was the effects of mild traumatic brain injury on the verbal portion of the adult mind. The conclusion that this article came to was that mtbi has a large effect on linguistic functioning, especially that associated with complex linguistic operations. The main reason that this effect was contributed  to was a dysfunction that occurs in the frontal lobe area of the brain, as well as some other minor areas associated with speech. The next article that I read dealt with this very subject, but the effects that it can have on children. Now their conclusion was primarily the same. The general linguistic skills were not effected in children, they attributed this to a child's ability to recovery from mtbi more rapidly than that of an adult. What they did find though was that as the child develops and comes into that more complex way of speaking in a delayed manner. The mtbi that they sustain effects their complex linguistic functioning in a negative manner.

So I have my answer, and I can say that some of my speaking problems may in fact be rooted in the multiple mtbi I have sustained, but their is no true way of determining this. I have almost fully recovered though, it just takes time. If their is anyone out their reading this with similar problems, it just takes time to heal. Their is hope, you just have to keep moving forward!

Concussions and Dementia

Taken From
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bc-injury-law-brain.jpg

So this topic has been one that has haunted me in the past months. I have always heard from individuals that living a life where you sustain multiple concussion(mtbi) can result in the development of dementia in your later years. Now I have seen the impact that dementia can have on individuals. I in fact have people within my family with dementia, so I know genetically I am predisposed to this disease. I finally though wanted to research whether or not the concussions I have sustained have in fact put me at a larger risk for dementia than I already am.
I was only able to find a few articles related to this subject. I am sure their are more out there, I just need to broaden my search. This one though gave me the answer quite abruptly, and had significant research to back up their conclusion. What the article stated was that yes, I am indeed more susceptible to the effects of dementia after suffering repeated mild traumatic brain injuries over the course of my life. They said that for the reasoning that dementia is more prevalent in mtbi patients is due to chronic traumatic encephalopathy(CTE), or swelling of the brain. Now the part of this study that ergs me the most is that a comparison was made between individuals that suffered mtbi in sports, as well as elsewhere like an accident. What they found was that receiving an mtbi during either avenue resulted in an increased likelihood of dementia, but he individuals that received them during sporting events had an increased risk of complications. These complications were quite severe, decreased motor control and seizures were among these effects.
So I now have my answer to whether or not dementia may be in my future. It is a scary fact, but unfortunately it is a part of life. This is why I feel as though I need to play a role in making this knowledge more available, to try an prevent others from making the same mistakes that I have.