New App Helps Diagnose Concussions

 

Have you potentially sustained a traumatic head injury during a sports game? There’s an App for that! A Wichita State University alumnus Chase Curtiss has developed an app called “Sway Balance” which can test the balance of players after they potentially sustain a concussion during a game or practice. Although it doesn’t diagnose concussions, the App gives trainers and coaches a baseline other than subjective observation from which to detect potentially dangerous head injuries. Already approved by the FDA, this app is out and ready to start helping detect brain injuries everywhere. Click here to read Roy Wenzl's article in The Wichita Eagle and to watch a video of the app in action... "Smartphone application can assist with concussion detection, treatment"

"New research reveals exactly how the human brain adapts to injury"

The brain is an amazing human mechanism, as proven by scientists at Carnegie Mellon University’s Center for Cognitive Brain Imaging. They’ve discovered, through a combination of neural imaging methods, that when an area of the brain is injured, other areas will band together to perform the task once assigned to the damaged area.

Researchers temporarily disabled the subjects’ Wernicke area –the area of the brain that plays a large part in forming sentences—and watched what happened. They noticed that the areas which helped the Wernicke area with its task were also impaired. However, they also noticed that the areas closest to and directly across from the affected area stepped up to help form sentences. A section of the frontal lobe, also, took charge “recruiting” areas with the same functions as the impaired Wernicke area.

This capacity for the brain to fix itself to the best of its ability shows just how amazing the human body is and gives hope to those who sustain these traumatic injuries that their bodies aren’t just giving up.

Check out the below article on MedicalXpress to learn more!

“New research reveals exactly how the human brain adapts to injury”

The Dangers of Water Tubing: Injuries Up 250% in Recent Years

Obviously being pulled in an inner tube behind a speeding boat sounds like a great time, especially for all those young folks out there. However, according to a study by researchers at the Center for Injury Research and Policy of The Research Institute at Nationwide Children’s Hospital, this isn’t such a good idea. Between 1991 and 2009, the annual number of water tubing-related injuries increased by 250%. More than 65 of these incidents are treated in emergency rooms each day during the summer.

The most frequently injured parts of the body were the head and upper extremities and these injuries usually ended up being sprains and strains or soft tissue injuries. Hitting the water or another person were the most common ways the victims were injured. Young people under the age of 20 were the most likely to come away with head injuries due to head collisions between tube riders and Adults were more likely to hurt their knees or come away with sprains or strains. They also sustained more injuries when coming in contact with the water.

On top of highlighting the dangers of tubing, the study's authors also note several precautions that can be taken to help prevent injuries. If the riders follow the rules and regulations that come with the tube, wear a life vest (and yes, a helmet would be a good idea, too), and make sure the driver of the boat acts carefully and responsibly, tubing can still be a fun summer activity.

To read more about this study, follow the below link to MedicalXpress.com: 

"New study finds water-tubing related-injuries up 250 percent" 

Reeve Health Minutes - Video Tips for Individuals Living with Paralysis

The Christopher & Dana Reeve Foundation is an organization “dedicated to curing spinal cord injury by funding innovative research, and improving the quality of life for people living with paralysis through grants, information, and advocacy.” In addition to their numerous initiatives and resources is a video series called Reeve Health Minutes. As the website describes, these videos provide “actionable tips for individuals living with paralysis to help them improve their health and wellness.” To check out what this site has to offer, click here: Reeve Health Minutes. Also, to learn more about the Reeve Foundation and how it helps, follow this link to the website’s home page: The Christopher & Dana Reeve Foundation.

O.J. Brigance: A Man of Inspiration

As the Baltimore Ravens prepare to take on the San Francisco 49ers tomorrow in Super Bowl XLVII, they’ll find their inspiration in one member of the organization you may not have heard too much about. O.J. Brigance, the Ravens’ Senior Adviser to Player Development, is currently suffering from ALS—also known as Lou Gherig’s disease—but he’s not letting the disease prevent him from making those around him into “better men.” O.J., pictured above with his wife Chanda, can no longer speak and only has movement of his eyes and lips. With the help of a specialized computer that translates his eye movements into words, O.J. is able to communicate with others and continues to work full time with the team.

According to O.J., better known to his teammates as “Juice,” “When people say I inspire them, it encourages me to continue to persevere through this light and momentary trouble. I realize that what I am enduring now is not only for my development but to also be able to help those dealing with the same issues.” Despite the daily challenges he has to overcome, O.J. still feels “…blessed to have the opportunity to serve God in this current state.” On top of his job helping players with whatever issues their dealing with, O.J. strives to help others living with ALS.  Not long after his diagnosis, he founded the Brigance Brigade to provide resources for those with ALS to purchase the expensive equipment they need.

In Coach John Harbhaugh’s words, “[O.J’s] a shining light in the building, and we all definitely are energized by that.” No matter who you want to win tomorrow’s game, we can all root for Brigance and be inspired by his determination to make a difference.

Check out Bob Glauber’s “Newsday” article on Brigance here: “O.J. Brigance inspires Ravens as he battles Lou Gherig’s disease.”