Concussion

Concussions and head impact exposure in college football players occurred at a “disproportionately higher” rate during the preseason vs. the regular season and most often happened in practices, not games.

We often think of elite athletes as almost “superhuman” due to their fitness level, abilities and opportunities.

As a scientist, I evaluate the impact of behavioral interventions on stress and the brain. And as a long-time yoga instructor, I have a strong personal connection to the practices of yoga, mindfulness and meditation.

Concussions and closed-head injuries in children were the most commonly reported sledding-related injury from 2008 to 2017, according to published results.

Nearly half of adolescent drivers returned to driving fewer than 2 weeks after a concussion on average, according to a study published in the Journal of Adolescent Health.

Athletic trainers, coaches and doctors have often expressed concern about whether it is safe for a recently concussed athlete to fly, given that elite athletes frequently travel for games or matches and would then need to return home.

I recently worked with two professional hockey players on a team for which I provide sports vision care.

Service members with combat-related concussions demonstrated an evolution, rather than a resolution, of symptoms during a 5-year period, including selective worsening of cognitive function, according to findings published in Neurology.

Concussion was associated with an increased risk for being diagnosed with ADHD, mood and anxiety disorders, dementia and Parkinson’s disease later in life, according to a study published in Family Medicine and Community Health.

Published results showed high school athletes required 1 month of recovery after concussion before returning to sport, with longer recovery time among female athletes, players with a history of concussion and those with a delayed diagnosis.