The meeting at Georgetown University this past weekend was more than fruitful for this athletic trainer. I went in trying to get two things done: one, provide info to you the follower as best as possible and move along the discussion on female concussion and two, to learn something that is applicable to me as a “boot on the ground” athletic trainer.
The first was probably painfully obvious that I accomplished if you follow on Twitter and didn’t mute me and were not interested in this event (you should have been interested). The second objective I did meet by learning some techniques when working with females, not only at incident but with recovery, education and overall attitude.
Certainly I could write 4000 words on this event but that would be boring to you and I am still recovering from the weekend the the docs there asked that I “rest” my fingers. That being said I will give quick synopsis’s of each speaker, info that I took away as an athletic trainer and advocate for education about mTBI/concussion. It is entirely possible that I misrepresented some thoughts and missed some very valuable info for some out there; don’t worry speakers and audience this was done the best possible.
Lets begin, and this will be in chronological order of the event with presenters last name, in bullet form. My hope is that you will use this as furthering your info about the female sequale and in some cases change how you treat.
- Kerr:
- The concussion rate is higher in females in males in college and high school sports, particularly in basketball, soccer, and softball/baseball.
- Research suggests differences in symptoms reported as well as RTP.
- More research needed at the youth level.
- Covassin:
- Showed that neck strength is a confounding effect on possible injury.
- MOI is different in the sexes: males contact with player while female is contact with ground/equipment.
- Lincoln:
- Exposed us to the lacrosse injury and problems that exist, which is important because this is an emerging sport.
- No head gear in woman’s lacrosse.
- Casswell:
- Impact sensors and injury and how it may relate to injury.
- Different types of injury for females vs. males (building on Covassin).
- Colantonio:
- Logitudial study showed about 24% of female pop has had mTBI.
- Females seek and get less care overall.
- Reproductive impact after a mTBI need to be understood.
- Gioa:
- Static and dynamic symptoms are different in female vs. males – needs research.
- Academic performance shows no difference between sexes. Continue reading
Although this blog primarily focuses on mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI) – concussion – and the ramifications on adolescents there are many segments of society that deal with brain injury. The most severe of this is traumatic brain injury (TBI); the difference at its basics is that there is actual physical findings of damage to the brain itself – a bleed, skull fracture, hematoma, etc. I am sure there may be a better way to put it but for the sake of being simple that is the difference.
I was just minding my business reading the news and getting lost in my Sunday mindless exercise, when I came upon a news story that shook me – on many levels. This story is about Captain Peter Linnerooth; a story worth noting and sharing. Does it have to do with concussions, I don’t know and I don’t care, it has to do with the well-being of humans – a plight that is part of the concussion story.
And this is another example of poor concussion management that sends the wrong message to the general public. Gilbert has returned to rehearsal, 
I watch Jersey Shore. I am neither proud nor ashamed of that. I just watch it. I doubt I’d watch it the same way if I hadn’t done a biology degree. Everything from examining ecosystems and watching vigilance behaviour to detailing the lives of fruit flies was based on objective observation. It is with that eye of an unimpassioned observer that I tend to watch any reality show, especially those shows that are trying to depict life in an ‘open’ environment. It’s fairly obvious that, although not scripted, Jersey Shore takes place in a well controlled, or at least well influenced environment. The Situation (Mike) – a nickname he seemingly gave himself – recently slammed his head into a wall. Purposefully I might add!
A man in Colorado says that he became a musical savant after a swimming pool injury. He claims that he sustained a concussion after hitting his head diving into a swimming pool, then shortly after he was able to compose and play the piano.
The Concussion Blog 