Concussions
Image From: http://www.ctvolympics.ca/video/collections/collectionid=45845/index.html
Friday, March 12, 2010
What is a concussion?

“Concussion may be caused either by a direct
blow to the head, face, neck or else where on
the body with an ‘impulsive’ force transmitted
to the head.” (Play it Cool, 2010)
Concussion Symptoms

From the “Play it Cool” website

“Concussion typically results in the rapid
onset of short-lived impairment of neurologic
function that resolves spontaneously.”
Examples include:

Nausea, double or fuzzy vision, sensitivity to light
or noise, headache, feeling sluggish, feeling foggy or
groggy, concentration or memory problems,
confusion
My Concussion History
Tuesday, February, 26, 2010
 Running an on-ice practice with the varsity
girls hockey team, I collided with a student &
hit my head on the ice (I was wearing a
helmet)


Symptoms:
Dizzy
 Felt sick to my stomach
 Was spacey (a.k.a. – I was out of it)
 Headaches for about 2 weeks

My Concussion History
Tuesday, March 2, 2010
 Hit in the back of the head with a hard rubber
ball while playing European handball with the
grade 12 co-ed class


Symptoms:
Instant headache (has not gone away)
 I was totally out of it
 Vision in left eye was blurry, out of focus, & I was seeing
lines across my eye

Concussions in the news

The Globe & Mail (Tuesday, March 9, 2010)


The Globe & Mail (Monday, March 8, 2010)


Concussion effects linger for decades, study finds
Concussions can’t be eliminated completely
National Post (Thursday, February 25, 2010)

NFL combine puts more emphasis on concussions
Curriculum Link
Grade 11 University Biology (SBI3U)
 Strand E. Animals: Structure & Function


Specific Expectation:

E1.1: Evaluate the importance of various technologies,
including Canadian contributions, to our understanding
of internal body systems ( e.g., ... Nuclear magnetic
resonance [NMR] imaging can be used to diagnose
injuries ...)
Curriculum Link
Grade 11 University Physics (SPH3U)
 Strand C: Forces


Specific Expectation

C 1.2: Evaluate the impact on society and the
environment of technologies that use principles of force
Relevance to students

You can suffer a concussion while engaging in sports such as hockey,
football, soccer, boxing and other sports, or leisure activities, for
example tobogganing

In the past 2.5 years, 200 concussions have been reported among
NHL players (Globe Sports, 2010, Section R7)

“Close to 10% of minor hockey players suffer concussions each
year” (The Globe & Mail: Concussion effects linger for decades, 2010)

“According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention,
between 1.4 and 3.6 million sports and recreation-related
concussions occur each year, with the majority happening at the
high school level.” (Science Daily, 2007)
Scanning Technology

“Traditional brain scanning techniques such as MRI and CT are
helpful in viewing changes to the brain anatomy in more severe
cases, but cannot identify subtle brain-related changes that are
believed to occur on a metabolic rather than an anatomic level.”
(Science Daily, 2007)

ImPACT Test



Immediate Post-Concussion Assessment & Cognitive Testing
Used a baseline and for post-concussion comparison)
Measures multiple aspects of cognitive functioning including
neurological tests that look at word discrimination, X’s & O’s, colour
match, symbol matching, visual attention span (http://www.impacttest.com/)
New Helmet Technology

The Messier Project
 “... is an all-encompassing grassroots and educational
initiative which aims to change priorities in the sport by
encouraging athletes to play smart and choose the best
protective equipment.” (http://www.cascadeicehockey.com/the-project.html)

The Technology
 “Seven Technology is tuned to absorb impact using lateral
displacement, providing the protection of two helmets in
the space of one – one for catastrophic hits and one for
concussions.” (http://www.cascadeicehockey.com/the-technology.html)

The Helmet
References

CBC News – Health (2010). Concussions should be termed brain
injury: study. Retrieved March 9, 2010 from
http://www.cbc.ca/health/story/2010/01/18/concussion-childrenbrain-injury.html

The Globe & Mail (2010). Concussion effects linger for decades,
study finds. Retrieved March 9, 2010 from
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/national/concussion-effectslinger-for-decades-study-finds/article1494423/

The Globe & Mail (2010). Concussions can’t be eliminated
completely. Retrieved Tuesday, March 9, 2010 from
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/sports/hockey/concussions-cantbe-eliminated-completely/article1494155/

ImPACT Test (2010). Retrieved March 10, 2010 from
http://www.impacttest.com/
References

National Post (2010). NFL combine puts more emphasis on concussions.
Retrieved Tuesday, March 9, 2010 from
http://www.nationalpost.com/sports/story.html?id=2613215

The Messier Project (2010). Retrieved Tuesday, March 10, 2010 from
http://www.cascadeicehockey.com/

Play it Cool – Keeping Hockey Safe (2010). Retrieved March 10, 2010 from
http://playitcoolhockey.com/home/index.html

Shoalts, D. (2010, March 9). NHL focuses attention on shoulder hits to head.
The Globe & Mail, pp. R7.

Science Daily (2007). Sports concussions research using Functional MRI
provides insight for safe return to play. Retrieved March 9, 2010 from
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2007/08/070806114252.htm