Brain Balanz

Covid-Brain likened to concussion - Brain Balanz We are learning that Covid causes brain symptoms. How does this happen and why? Many of these symptoms resemble concussion.

Lives are at stake

Why concussion is the No.1 cause for players of both rugby codes being admitted to hospital Brain injuries have overtaken a broken nose, jaw and fractured ankles as the most common injury requiring hospital admission among league and union players.

Baseline testing for concussion - this article discusses the evolution of neurocognitive baseline testing, the reliability of such tests, and the supplementary tests that could be done to gather more "pre-injury" information.

https://brainbalanz.com.au/concussion-baseline-testing/

Concussion Baseline Testing - Brain Balanz Concussion baseline testing take some of the guessing game out of the very important decision regarding recovery and returning to sport.

Ever heard the term Blood-Brain-Barrier? This article attempts to shed some light on this fascinating feature of our brain, and what happens to it after brain injury.


https://brainbalanz.com.au/blood-brain-barrier/

The Blood Brain Barrier - Brain Balanz We need to have an organized thought process around categories of concussion, to enable us to better assess and understand what’s wrong.

https://brainbalanz.com.au/categories-of-concussion/

Categories of conussion - Brain Balanz We need to have an organized thought process around categories of concussion, to enable us to better assess and understand what’s wrong.

“According to research, up to 80% of concussed athletes show some eye movement dysfunction.” This article goes on to point out that despite this percentage, eye movement assessments for concussed persons are often disregarded. Lets moved forward!

Certain pre-existing factors can influence the likelihood of developing post-concussion syndrome. These factors fall into the categories of lifestyle, diet, autoimmune disease, gut disorders/systemic inflammation, physical health, mental health, and general wellness. If you’re still suffering from concussion, months after your injury, your challenge is to optimise every category because they each influence brain health and endurance. Not an easy task even for a healthy brain.

In this study, (https://lnkd.in/gaErwpr), PET scanning shows increased Tau aggregation and inflammation in the brain of young concussion (approx 20-30 years old) victims, more than 6 months after injury. Tau aggregation induces neurodegeneration in Alzheimer's disease.
How important is it for us to ensure the proper recovery of brain health, post-concussion?

Tau aggregation and increased neuroinflammation in athletes after sports-related concussions and in traumatic brain injury patients – A PET/MR study Traumatic brain injury (TBI) and repeated sports-related concussions (rSRCs) are associated with an increased risk for neurodegeneration. Autopsy find…

A 2014 study of 6704 high-school athletes found a relationship between concussion and neck strength, neck circumference and head-to-neck ratio, whereby those with weaker, thinner necks, were more likely to be concussed. It was postulated that athletes with these characteristics were targeted for preventative measures to improve neck strength. If your child were in the "high-risk" category for concussion, would you find these mitigation measures interesting?

It is common practice to use objective measurements to assess an injury. For example, we may measure a knee’s range of motion and muscle strength. The same concept should be applied for a brain injury whereby we can measure things like cognition, balance and eye movements. Without such measurements it’s very hard to set a baseline and validate improvements.

Most people consider concussion to be a short term “headache”. Yet too many times have I heard the story of a life in tatters, months or years later. Education about risk factors and management are crucial steps towards minimising the negative impact of concussion and risk of chronic brain dysfunction.

According to a 2019 article from the Australian journal of general practice, eye movement dysfunction is reported in up to 69% of concussions, yet standard assessments DO NOT typically include examination of the eye. Oculomotor examination SHOULD be part of every concussion assessment.

In the past twenty years, the management of concussion has changed significantly. We now know that it is crucial to have more rest in the vulnerable days following a head injury. The average return to play time in 2000 was 3 days, however, the average return to play time now is 12 days. The longer rest period has seen a 90% decrease in the likeliness of re-concussion.

What is the vestibular system? IF you didn't already know, your ear is important for balance! Inside your ear is the vestibular apparatus, which senses movement of the head. These sensors are crucial for the brain to know how to stay upright.

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