How should brain
science affect
athletics?
Underlying Unit
Questions

On the most basic level…
 How does the brain work?
 What are common causes of brain
injuries?
 In what ways are the brain affected?

More important for us (as educators):
 Who is most at risk?
 What can be done about injuries?
Traumatic Brain Injuries:
Essential Information for
Educators
Thomas Richardson
Presentation Overview
Brain anatomy and physiology
 Common traumatic brain
injuries (TBI)


Concussions
TBI impact on youth
 Preventative measures

Basic Brain Anatomy &
Physiology
For a more detailed look, clickable
information, and educational videos,
head to The Interactive Brain.
Click the link to start your
exploration.
Cerebral Cortext

Subdivisions:
 Frontal lobe
 Parietal lobe
 Temporal lobe
 Occipital lobe
Frontal Lobe

Functions:
 Personality
 Organization
 Problem
solving
 Higher
cognitive
functions
Parietal Lobe

Functions:
 Motor
reasoning
 Sensory
processing
 Spatial
recognition
Temporal Lobe

Functions:
 Memory
 Short term
 Long term
 Visual
recognition
 Language
processing
Occipital Lobe

Function:
Vision
Cerebellum and Brain
Stem

Brain Stem
Functions:
 Communication
 Regulation
 Breathing
 Heart-Rate

Cerebellum
Functions:
 Motor Control
 Detailed
Movement
Don’t forget to explore here!
Traumatic Brain Injuries
(TBI)
Moderate and Severe TBI

Causes:
 Serious blunt force trauma
 Penetrating injuries

Life-long Results:
 Speech, hearing, memory loss
 Paralysis
 Seizures
 Emotional Dysfunction
The Concussion Myth
Concussions are mild TBIs?

Causes:
 Jarring blow
 Shaking
 Whiplash

Immediate effects:
 Wooziness
 “Ringing”
 Disorientation
In reality, concussions are a silent epidemic…
The Myth’s Negative
Consequences




Repeated exposure
Second impact syndrome
Emotional/psychological
deterioration
You’re woozy?
Tough it out
Death
and get back in
there!
Dave Duerson, a
cautionary tale
Who feels the greatest
“impact”?
Youth Concussions from
Recreation
Over 135,000 reported
cases annually*
*Number does reflect whole story
“Unlike a cut, scrape, or a broken
leg, concussive injuries are rarely
visually obvious...” (Faure &
Pemberton, 2010)
What can be done?
Take a look at
existing resources
and toolkits
 Hire and
coordinate with
more professionals
 Make necessary
monetary and
technological
commitments

Existing Resources

“Heads Up: Concussion in
High School Sports”


Information guide for
educators
Wallet and clipboard ready
access info






Diagnostics
Phone Number
Parent/student reference
Posters
Video
CD-ROM
Professional Presence
First response is
key
 Only 42% of
schools have
access
 Certified athletic
trainers (ATC)
are most
qualified
diagnosticians

Technological Screening
Baseline test of brain
functions
 Post-injury test
 Comparison of
results
 Diagnosis &
prognosis
 Windows-based
computer network

What are our
responsibilities?
Resources Consulted
Dave Duerson’s family sues NFL over his suicide. (2012, February 23). USA Today. Retrieved
from http://www.usatoday.com/sports/football/nfl/story/2012-02-23/dave-duersondeath lawsuit/53228680/1
Davies, S. (2011). Concussion awareness: Getting school psychologists into the game.
Communiqué, 39(7), 9-14.
Faure, C., & Pemberton, C.L.A. (2010). Concussion and the young athlete: Critical
management strategies. The Journal of Physical Education, Recreation, and Dance,
81(1), 19-26.
Mitchko, J., Huitric, M., Sarmiento, K., Hayes, G., Pruzan, M., Sawyer, R. (2007). CDC’s
approach to educating coaches about sports-related concussion. American Journal
of Health Education, 38(2), 99-103.
New NFL rules designed to limit head injuries. (2010, August 6). NFL Wire Reports. Retrieved
from http://www.nfl.com/news/story/09000d5d81990bdf/article/new-nfl-rules
designed-to-limit-head-injuries
Sarmiento, K., Mitchko, J., Klein, C., & Wong, S. (2010). Evaluation of the Centers for Disease
Control and Prevention’s concussion initiative for high school coaches: “Heads up:
Concussion in high school sports. Journal of School Health, 80(3), 112-118.
Photo/Graphic Credits
http://deadspin.com/5420732/friday-night-blight-why-high-school-football-is
ground-zero-of-the-concussion-crisis
http://www.healthybrainforlife.com/images/brain/brain-lobes-color.gif/view
http://www.bluejacketscare.com/columns/nutrition-and-health/heads-up-concussion
in-youth-sports/
http://www.wcu.edu/4640.asp
http://www.pps.k12.or.us/news/6409.htm
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/law-and-order/3110306/X-ray-shows
knife-embedded-in-head-of-teenage-boy.html
http://blog.lib.umn.edu/lars3975/adolescentsportconcussion/
http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/playoffs/2010/columns/story?columnist=clemmons_anna_katherine&p
ge=rogers-100614
http://beargoggleson.com/2011/02/18/dave-duerson-found-dead-at-50/
http://www.usafootball.com/news/featured-articles/see-where-your-state-stands-concussion-law
http://theconcussionblog.com/2012/01/17/tuesday-quick-hits-10/
http://news.medill.northwestern.edu/chicago/news.aspx?id=182698
http://tkwsports.blogspot.com/2011/05/concussion-culture-of-youth-football.html
http://onwisconsin.uwalumni.com/features/head-on-collision/
http://autos.aol.com/gallery/insurance-does-not-cover/
http://www.denverpost.com/broncos/ci_16392370
http://whyfiles.org/2010/traumatic-brain-injury/