The Concussion Blog

Although the information on this blog at times can seem like it is based in opinion, that is truly not the case.  A vast majority of the education and awareness comes from much smarter individuals that spend time in the research field discovering things.  The largest problem with brain injury, especially concussions, is that we do not fully understand the dynamics of the human brain; secondarily we struggle with the exact concept of the injury.  More and more research is “hitting the press”, however it is geared toward/written for an audience that has background in science.

The occasional article will get media coverage that can redefine the information so it can be consumed by the public, similar to what is being done here.  Frankly, the general public (see coaches, teachers, parents, athletes) rarely spends time in the journals for information.  That is what ATC’s, MD’s, DO’s, PhD’s, etc. are for, right?

Recently the Annals of Biomedical Engineering (ABME) ran a special edition compiling 21 different articles as it relates to concussion from various authors.  The information is from a wide variety of perspectives: sports biomechanics, to automobile safety, to military blast events.  The online version of this issue was released earlier this month and it will be in print January 2012.

Here is a list of the articles (with links to abstracts);

The Relationship Between Subconcussive Impacts and Concussion History on Clinical Measures of Neurologic Function in Collegiate Football Players                                

Kevin Guskiewicz, et al           DOI:        10.1007/s10439-011-0421-3

http://www.springerlink.com/content/p1018802811p7665/

 

Rotational Head Kinematics in Football Impacts: An Injury Risk Function for Concussion                                       

Steven Rowson, et al               DOI:        10.1007/s10439-011-0392-4

http://www.springerlink.com/content/n1125618744180r6/

Dynamic Changes in Neural Circuit Topology Following Mild Mechanical Injury

David Meaney, et al                DOI:        10.1007/s10439-011-0390-6

http://www.springerlink.com/content/q900381736gnx352/

 

High School and Collegiate Football Athlete Concussions: A Biomechanical Review

Steven Broglio, et al                DOI:        10.1007/s10439-011-0396-0

http://www.springerlink.com/content/j2u46912k4855029/

Effect of Mouthguards on Head Responses and Mandible Forces in Football Helmet Impacts  

David Viano, et al                   DOI:        10.1007/s10439-011-0399-x

http://www.springerlink.com/content/e2888728p7718g40/

Viscoelastic Properties of the Rat Brain in the Sagittal Plane: Effects of Anatomical Structure and Age               

Barclay Morrison, et al            DOI:        10.1007/s10439-011-0394-2

http://www.springerlink.com/content/p623h56635233r08/

Validation of Concussion Risk Curves for Collegiate Football Players Derived from HITS Data                            

James Funk, et al                     DOI:        10.1007/s10439-011-0400-8

http://www.springerlink.com/content/kjn246661ngp2061/

The Effect of Play Type and Collision Closing Distance on Head Impact Biomechanics                                             

Jason Mihalik, et al                 DOI:        10.1007/s10439-011-0401-7

http://www.springerlink.com/content/r0g3w74268j862r4/

Football Helmet Drop Tests on Different Fields Using an Instrumented Hybrid III Head                                            

David Viano, et al                   DOI:        10.1007/s10439-011-0377-3

http://www.springerlink.com/content/50r5xq6h0938r834/

A Review of Return to Play Issues and Sports-Related Concussion                                     

Gunnar Brolinson, et al           DOI:        10.1007/s10439-011-0413-3

http://www.springerlink.com/content/q81hl280vm75006j/

 

Mild Traumatic Brain Injury Predictors Based on Angular Accelerations During Impacts                                       

Hideyuki Kimpara, et al           DOI:        10.1007/s10439-011-0414-2

http://www.springerlink.com/content/157l435282542550/

 

Maximum Principal Strain and Strain Rate Associated with Concussion Diagnosis Correlates with Changes in Corpus Callosum White Matter Indices                                       

Thomas McAllister, et al         DOI:        10.1007/s10439-011-0402-6

http://www.springerlink.com/content/t46572573q2120m5/

 

Head Impact Biomechanics in Youth Hockey: Comparisons Across Playing Position, Event Types, and Impact Locations

Jason Mihalik, et al                 DOI:        10.1007/s10439-011-0405-3

http://www.springerlink.com/content/x267n64313171140/

Concussions Experienced by Major League Baseball Catchers and Umpires: Field Data and Experimental Baseball Impacts       

Steven Rowson, et al               DOI:        10.1007/s10439-011-0412-4

http://www.springerlink.com/content/0706k1q1nh5x3810/

Impact Performance of Modern Football Helmets                                 

David Viano, et al                   DOI:        10.1007/s10439-011-0384-4

http://www.springerlink.com/content/f7023u7117154721/

Change in Size and Impact Performance of Football Helmets from the 1970s to 2010                                

David Viano, et al                   DOI:        10.1007/s10439-011-0395-1

http://www.springerlink.com/content/u12741g1wn370135/

 

Brain Injuries from Blast                                               

Cameron R Bass, et al             DOI:        10.1007/s10439-011-0424-0

http://www.springerlink.com/content/85303005m0765647/

Development of a Multimodal Blast Sensor for Measurement of Head Impact and Over-pressurization Exposure            

Jonathan Beckwith, et al          DOI:        10.1007/s10439-011-0410-6

http://www.springerlink.com/content/y82188wu74247641/

Evaluation of Three Animal Models for Concussion and Serious Brain Injury                                              

David Viano, et al   DOI:        10.1007/s10439-011-0386-2

http://www.springerlink.com/content/07537710n2727056/

Mild Neurotrauma Indicates a Range-Specific Pressure Response to Low Level Shock Wave Exposure                

Pamela VandeVord, et al         DOI:        10.1007/s10439-011-0420-4

http://www.springerlink.com/content/v3086694006u6422/

Measuring Head Kinematics in Football: Correlation Between the Head Impact Telemetry System and Hybrid III Headform      

Jonathan Beckwith, et al          DOI:        10.1007/s10439-011-0422-2

http://www.springerlink.com/content/w2k5438126x1535t/

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There should be enough information to keep me and others busy reading and digesting all the conclusions.  Remember in no way is this the “be-all-end-all” of resources, but it is a good collection to continue our learning of concussion.  I would like to thank Stefan Duma, PhD for working on this issue and sending me the information.