What Exactly is a Brain Concussion and What Treatment is Helpful?

There are so many occurrences of brain concussion especially amongst young athletes that it behooves everyone, especially those involved in sports, to be aware of what happens, how to prevent it and what the treatments are for it. What is concussion and what causes concussion? What is referred to as ”mild traumatic brain injury” or concussion, can be defined as a temporary loss of brain function due to a trauma to the head. With concussion, function may be interrupted but there is no structural damage to the brain. The brain ”floats” in cerebrospinal fluid and is encased in the skull. These protections allow it to withstand many minor injuries that occur daily. However, if there is sufficient force that causes the brain to bounce against the bones of the skull, then there is potential for injury. It is the movement of the brain against the inside of the skull that can cause the brain to be irritated and thereby interrupt its function. This movement can come from a direct blow to the head or face, and also from other body trauma that can cause the head to shake. Temporary loss of consciousness due to the injury probably means that a concussion has taken place however there are concussions that occur without the patient being knocked out. To be sure there are studies of football players where the majority aren’t even aware that they had sustained a head injury. Types of concussion? Traditionally, the severity of concussion was based on the loss of consciousness and its duration together with the presence of amnesia. It was presumed that there was a correlation between those two events and the amount of potential brain damage. According to The International Conference of Concussion in Sports concussion be divided into two groups: simple and complex. Simple concussion: In a simple concussion, the symptoms gradually resolve, and the patient returns to normal function in seven to 10 days. Complex concussion: In complex concussions, symptoms remain and thought processes are affected. Patients who have repeated concussions would fall into the complex category. The Mayo Clinic recommends the following preventions. 1-Sports players should wear appropriate protective gear during games and other recreational activities. The equipment should fit well, be maintained and worn correctly. Players should follow rules and play responsibly and in a sportsmanlike way. Cyclists of any kind of vehicle should wear protective headgear. 2-Buckle your car seat belt. The belt can prevent an injury to the head in case of an accident. 3-Make your home safe. Since falls around the home are the leading cause of head injury for infants, toddlers and older adults it’s important to keep the home well lit and floors free of objects — meaning anything that might cause someone to trip and fall.. 4-Protect your children. To help lower the risk of head injuries to children, it’s a good idea to place padding around countertops and edges of tables. If there are very young children in the house, block off stairways and install window guards. Don’t let children play sports that are not at their age level. 5-Use caution in and around swimming areas. Don’t dive into a pool that is less than 9 feet (3 meters) deep. Follow posted safety rules at water parks and public pools. 6-Wear sensible shoes. Wear shoes that are easy to walk in. Don’t wear high heels, sandals with thin straps, or shoes that are either too slippery or too sticky. Concussion Treatment When there is bleeding under the scalp, but outside the skull, it creates a “goose egg” or large bruise, called a hematoma, at the site of the head injury. Generally this hematoma will go away on its own with time. The use of ice immediately after the trauma may help decrease its size however do not apply ice directly to the skin. Rather use a washcloth as a barrier and wrap the ice in it. One can also use a bag of frozen vegetables wrapped in cloth, as this conforms nicely to the shape of the head. Ice should be applied for 20-30 minutes at a time and repeated every two to four hours. After 48 hours there is little benefit to icing. Resting is important to allow the brain to heal. The patient should be seen by a professional health expert as soon as possible. According to the American Academy of Neurology any athlete suspected of having a concussion should be removed from play until evaluation by a physician. If a concussion is suspected , the Centers for Disease Control recommends implementing a 3-step plan: 1-The player should immediately stop playing and not return until the doctor approves. 2-Do not try to judge the severity of the injury yourself but rather have a professional do it. 3-Inform the athlete’s family about the possible concussion and give them vital information about concussions. If a second concussion occurs before the brain has recovered from the first one it can slow recovery or even increase the likelihood of having long-term problems. In some cases, repeat concussions can result in edema (brain swelling), brain damage, and even death. If, unfortunately, brain damage occurs and it results in paresis of one or more limbs then after the acute stage it is important to use the best physical therapy solution available. One of the most cost effective and efficient physical therapy products available is the TUTOR system. The HANDTUTOR, ARMTUTOR, LEGTUTOR and 3DTUTOR are products that are used to allow intensive exercise therapy to the brain injured patient. The newly developed HANDTUTOR, ARMTUTOR, LEGTUTOR and 3DTUTOR have become a key system in neuromuscular rehabilitation and physical therapy for interactive rehabilitation exercise. These innovative products implement an impairment based program with augmented feedback and encourage motor learning through intensive active exercises. These exercises are challenging and motivating and allow for repetitive training tailored to the patient’s performance. The training is customized by the occupational and physical therapists to ensure that the patient stays motivated to do intensive repetitive manual therapy and exercise practice. The TUTOR system is now part of the rehabilitation program of leading U.S. and foreign hospitals where they are used in rehabilitation clinics and in the patient’s home through the use of telerehabilitation. See WWW.MEDITOUCH.CO.IL for more information.